---

Understanding your audience gives your writing the power to reach its goal. 

---

***

Perhaps no one thinks about an audience more than a professional public speaker.  Consider this acronym, adapted from Lenny Laskowski, from LJL Public Speaking Seminars.  It has been restructured with the writer in mind:

A nalysis - Who is my audience?
U nderstanding - What is their knowledge of the subject?
D emographics - What is their age, gender, educational background or culture?
I nterest - Why are they reading this?
E xperience - How does their experience compare with what I am presenting?
N eeds - What are their needs?
C ustomize - How can I customize my approach to their needs?
E xpectations - What do they expect to learn or hear from me?

 

Considering the identity and needs of your audience is a form of respect.  When you are considerate of who will be reading your writing, and adjust your approach accordingly, you will become more readily understood.  

***

Having something to say (purpose) 

and having it be understood (received by an audience) 

is really the end goal of all effective communication.