Many people today are using blogs as a way to marketing their business model. For that reason alone it is important for blog owners to be careful not to offend the very people who might buy what they are selling whether it happens to be products of services. How can you avoid offending your readers in your blog posts?
Know Your Readers
One of the easiest ways to avoid this mistake is to know your readers. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to know them individually, but you do want to know the type of audience that comes to your blog. By knowing your target audience you can gain some kind of perspective into the type of audience that would be interested in what you are marketing.
Avoid Bias in Your Posts
If you are writing about controversial topics, avoid showing your opinion to your readers. Use an informational tone rather than opinion. For instance, if you are writing about a government policy with which you don’t agree, do not allow that to show in your post—just present the facts and let your readers draw their own conclusions. The purpose of your blog is to inform your readers without malice.
Avoid Foul Language
While most people today are used to reading a hearing curse words, most are still not comfortable with foul language. If you develop the habit of using words that most people find offensive, you will decrease rather than increase your readership. If you do happen to use a word that may be offensive, it should be when you are directly quoting someone on a controversial topic.
Sex, Violence and Religion
How much of these topics you wish to include in your blog will depend on the type of audience you have. It’s important to understand there are religious groups that find pre-marital sex offensive (Muslims and many Mormons for one) while others are averse to reading about violence, especially brutality or child molestation and sodomy.
Do Not Make Assumptions
You can also offend your audience if you pretend to know how they feel on certain topics. For instance, you may not believe in abortion under any circumstances, but your audience will probably consist of those who are pro-life and those who are pro-choice. It is not good business to use your blog as a way to judge the beliefs of your audience.
The rule of thumb is simple – if you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t say it on your blog. Your blog is a place for you to post your honest ideas and opinions. Keep it real while respectful and your readers will love you until the end.
About the Author: Brenda is a full-time writer and blogger with a passion for helping others succeed in the online world. She also enjoys writing about health and wellness and currently contributes to a growing ultrasound tech career guide.
