Columns are an excellent method to exchange information and ideas, promote your company and philosophy, and have some fun while doing so. But that’s only one aspect of their attraction. They also aid in the development of your “voice” and writing muscle, allowing you to take on more ambitious tasks, such as articles or books, with greater confidence.
How do you create–and market–a successful column that attracts a devoted readership? Continue reading!
Understand the genre
Columns are usually between 350 and 1,000 words long, which is shorter than typical newspaper and magazine articles. Their writing is tight, lively, and brilliant, and their subject matter is predictable, as is their format. The columns themselves, on the other hand, are unpredictably new. Readers return for more because they know they’ll obtain new facts and ideas with each edition.
Know Your Best Careers Take Psychometric Test
Learn from the masters
Over the course of several weeks, follow the work of three to five well-known columnists. Alternatively, look for the collected works of favorite columnists at your local library or bookshop. Actively reading is a great way to learn important trade secrets. Examine how columnists structure their writing, how they open and conclude their pieces, and how they intertwine quotes and figures. Examine how each has a distinct “voice,” or style, similar to a fingerprint. Make a list of what you like and don’t like, as well as why.
Determine your goals
Columns, as previously stated, can be excellent vehicles for marketing your service or cause. They’ll get you where you want to go, but only if you know where you want to go. As a result, take a few seconds to consider where you want to be in one, two, three, or more years. How can a column aid your efforts, help you achieve your goals, and keep you on track?
Question yourself
Articles are self-contained units; when they’re finished, they’re finished. Not so with columns; finish one and a dozen or two more are ready to be written. Your audience and editor are counting on you to provide the next installment, whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly. So, given your hectic schedule and conflicting objectives, here’s the main question you must ask and answer: Do you have what it takes to write a column over time?
Serve others
The successful column has a loyal following. These people take time out of their busy schedules to seek assistance from you, whether it’s in the form of knowledge, insight, or amusement. It’s your job as a columnist to give them everything they want–and more. And you do so by figuring out how you may help them in a variety of ways. The more willing you are to service their distinct and individual requirements, the more relevant and popular your column will become.
Take Psychometric Test To Know Your Best Career
Attract the right reader
Different strokes for various people–as well as different columns. That’s because each column caters to a specific group of people. Identify the primary features of the group you want to attract. What is their age and gender, for example? What is their educational and economic status? What are their political and religious beliefs? What cities do they call home and where do they work? The more your ability to “speak your reader’s talk,” not simply in terms of topic matter but also in terms of word choice, the more detailed you can be.
Play with format
Although columns are short, they allow for a lot of freedom. Anything goes as long as it is reader-friendly and repeatable. Try out a few different forms before settling on one. Examine the work of other columnists and use it as a model. Create a completely unique format that is specifically tailored to your target audience and message. The idea is to try new things and make sure your content and structure are in sync.
Develop your prototypes
Write five to seven sample columns once you’ve decided on a format. This accomplishes two goals. You’ll start by getting your feet wet, shaking out any bugs, and polishing your writing style. (The column will be more unique if the style is distinct.) Second, you’ll construct a representative sample of your work that you may promote or launch; after all, editors want to see a column writer’s treatment over time, not just a single column.
Choose your marketing approach
Columns can be advertised in a variety of ways. You can distribute your work through syndicates, which are firms that act as your sales, marketing, and public relations teams all in one and take a percentage of the profits. Alternatively, you can self-publish your work by contacting particular newspapers, magazines, or Web sites. You can also promote your column through your own e-mail or snail-mail newsletter, as well as a Web site.
Know Your Best Careers Take Psychometric Test
Be patient
Columns take time to create, so if you’re seeking instant gratification, try elsewhere. They seem to improve with time, much like a quality wine. Their horizons broaden, their work improves, and their audience grows. These things take time and patience, but the rewards can be huge if you’re actually prepared to put in the effort.
