The simple answer is that the vast majority of readers are in an information overload mentality when going through an overwhelming number of emails. They are glancing at subject headlines and maybe making it through the first paragraph. This is due to the mindset of our times....2 minute videos that capture attention, one sentence comm…
The simple answer is that the vast majority of readers are in an information overload mentality when going through an overwhelming number of emails. They are glancing at subject headlines and maybe making it through the first paragraph. This is due to the mindset of our times....2 minute videos that capture attention, one sentence comments on social media, etc. To click on "Read more" pulls them out of their email box and onto the full article with images. I am not sure I can address the full psychology behind it, but clearly there is a "Read More" feature as it came to me by way of another Substack article. I am simply looking for the "how-to" implement it.
From what I know of research on this point, I don't believe your assumptions are correct. Any time there is a need to click to find out more information, you lose people who might otherwise have engaged.
Thanks, Marcia. I appreciate your perspective. However, it begs the question why some pretty big name authors might be using this feature. Perhaps they know something we don't?
The "pretty big-name authors" can AFFORD to put roadblocks, buttons, things to click, etc, because they know their fans (already well familiar with their work) will go anywhere and do anything to hang onto their every written word!
At some point, Kirk, fame and fortune notwithstanding, your readers will shake out to be "fans" of what you're writing, and be more than happy to follow you, regardless of your word count.
If I understand your original dilemma, Kirk (also, see Mills' great suggestions below), I write however long the article needs to be. I, long ago, stopped caring if my subscriber post e-mail was "too long."
What I write I consider an "article," and not a newsletter (an otherwise personal note from me to my subscribers), as most here appear to do (which is fine...They do they!).
It will be as long as it needs to be to live and exist on the web long after the functionality of a "newsletter to my dear subscribers" has long past!
In short, I have two audiences: My subscribers, and I try to "teach" and remind them (at the top of my post e-mails) that they can always read the articles from my site page.
Second audience is anyone on the web (I've been cited a few times on Wikipedia, I'm proud to say!), as I share my articles on various social media sites (many times, the artists/musicians about whom I write touch base with me, thanking me, as well as offering interview opportunities!
Hope some (if not all) of this helps, and again, seek out Mills' helpful tips below!
Big or small name authors with fervent fans automatically get better and different responses than anyone who offers information lacking that emotional bond with readers. For instance, someone with fervent fans can say "buy my new album/book/whatever" and the fans will rush to buy with no real information about what the new thing is. Others can't get away with that
The simple answer is that the vast majority of readers are in an information overload mentality when going through an overwhelming number of emails. They are glancing at subject headlines and maybe making it through the first paragraph. This is due to the mindset of our times....2 minute videos that capture attention, one sentence comments on social media, etc. To click on "Read more" pulls them out of their email box and onto the full article with images. I am not sure I can address the full psychology behind it, but clearly there is a "Read More" feature as it came to me by way of another Substack article. I am simply looking for the "how-to" implement it.
From what I know of research on this point, I don't believe your assumptions are correct. Any time there is a need to click to find out more information, you lose people who might otherwise have engaged.
Thanks, Marcia. I appreciate your perspective. However, it begs the question why some pretty big name authors might be using this feature. Perhaps they know something we don't?
The "pretty big-name authors" can AFFORD to put roadblocks, buttons, things to click, etc, because they know their fans (already well familiar with their work) will go anywhere and do anything to hang onto their every written word!
At some point, Kirk, fame and fortune notwithstanding, your readers will shake out to be "fans" of what you're writing, and be more than happy to follow you, regardless of your word count.
Thank you. Yes. It will take more than the few months I have been at it to shake out a "fan" base. No shortcuts there.
If I understand your original dilemma, Kirk (also, see Mills' great suggestions below), I write however long the article needs to be. I, long ago, stopped caring if my subscriber post e-mail was "too long."
What I write I consider an "article," and not a newsletter (an otherwise personal note from me to my subscribers), as most here appear to do (which is fine...They do they!).
It will be as long as it needs to be to live and exist on the web long after the functionality of a "newsletter to my dear subscribers" has long past!
In short, I have two audiences: My subscribers, and I try to "teach" and remind them (at the top of my post e-mails) that they can always read the articles from my site page.
Second audience is anyone on the web (I've been cited a few times on Wikipedia, I'm proud to say!), as I share my articles on various social media sites (many times, the artists/musicians about whom I write touch base with me, thanking me, as well as offering interview opportunities!
Hope some (if not all) of this helps, and again, seek out Mills' helpful tips below!
Big or small name authors with fervent fans automatically get better and different responses than anyone who offers information lacking that emotional bond with readers. For instance, someone with fervent fans can say "buy my new album/book/whatever" and the fans will rush to buy with no real information about what the new thing is. Others can't get away with that