A worksheet to help you understand your audience on a deeper level — A while ago, I wrote about the importance of finding your ideal reader, as well as a few thought-starters to help writers build that persona. Below, a more advanced version of that exercise, with sections to help you build out that reader on multiple levels, from what their job is…

Do we really want to talk about this stuff? — I am feeling existential dread/internet ennui lately, which you may not see reflected in the below things. But it’s there, and I feel like sometimes writing about this is so pointless when the world is on fire (this tweet was like a gut punch). But, I suppose, routines bring us…

I have a lot of trouble acknowledging it’s actually August — Hi! It’s August. I personally don’t necessarily believe it’s August, but every trusted robot in my life (Siri, Alexa, the magical anchorperson behind AccuWeather) tells me it’s August. I will mull on it, and decide whether or not I choose to pursue this line of thinking. In the meantime: a…

Three things and a tweet / Today’s is short and sweet — This week, a WSJ article is making the rounds, but the Twitter conversation is arguably more interesting/important than the piece. Also, Substack continues to grow and The New Yorker has a game that’s the perfect blend of trivia and snark. Let’s go! 1️⃣ Here’s a quote that made me nod…

The 💰 edition — Sorry to depress you, but we have to talk about social media salaries. Rachel Karten, author of the Substack Link In Bio, sent out a survey several weeks ago asking social media professionals at all levels, in all industries, to self-report salaries, identities, tenure, etc. The entire spreadsheet is worth…

Instagram is testing links for *everyone* 👀 — There was a lot to choose from this week! New Instagram features on the horizon, a guide to virtual programming, and some very legit questions about why the NY BOE decided to be cute during a tense mayoral election. Let us start! 1️⃣ File this under the “FINALLY” category —…

The “OOO” edition 🌴 — I am currently on a river, writing to you from the past and into the future thanks to the handy “schedule this post for later” feature. Forgive me if anything major has happened in the audience development world between July 2 and today. …

An amazing tomato strategy, plus two other things — Okay, the first thing is from a while ago but it absolutely DELIGHTED me and it also allows me to make a pun. Here we go: 1️⃣ How did we not realize that the key to audience growth was actual growth? I loved reading about Alex Groves’s “Garden Party” newsletter…

Yes, let’s talk about email. But also, two other things. — Back at you with more of my favorite reading on audience. Guess what? Everything you read about content is secretly (or blatantly) about audience. That is your free lesson! Speaking of free content… 1️⃣ “Everything is copy” was nice as a Nora Ephron slogan; “everything is content” feels a little…