Hey! 👋
This week I want to talk about writing your first guide:
- People should have already shown an interest in the topic
- Verify the delivery mechanism works before you hit publish
- The information needs to be condensed and presented clearly
Looking for the best post scheduling tool?
The reason is because there were a few issues I encountered when after publishing my first one. But once you understand how to write an excellent guide, then you’ll save yourself a ton of time and heartache by doing it right the first time.
A guide swiftly solves a reader’s problem
Let’s Dive In!
In order to write a guide, you first need to make sure you don’t make a few of the most common mistakes:
- Not choosing a relevant topic
- Presenting the information poorly
- Disregarding constructive criticism
The reason people tend to make these mistakes is because nobody taught them how to make one, they can’t simplify a complex topic, and their ego gets in the way. And as a result, they keep themselves stuck writing about things their audience doesn’t care about.
Here’s how to fix it:
Step 1) Analyze Feedback
The very first step to writing a great guide is discovering what people want.
If you don’t write something people want to read, it’s a waste of time.
Whats important to you, may not be important to your audience.
Instead, data mine your analytics for clues.
For example, I’ll check out what topics and patterns are hot in my engagement and impression metrics.
Data-driven decisions are always better than assumptions.
Step 2) Choose Tech Stack
The next step to writing a great guide is pick the right software.
Using tech you’re already comfortable with saves a ton of time.
Paid products aren’t always better than open source.
Instead of paying a monthly subscription, check out Inkscape
I’ve every graphic design software on the market, and it’s more than capable of creating a guide.
The right tech stack speeds everything up.
Step 3) Use the Writing Process
And finally, the last step to writing a great guide is using what already works.
You don’t need to get clever with this step.
A new writing framework will not save you from choosing a poor topic.
Instead, make the process automatic and seamless.
I’ve been using the prewrite > write > revise > edit > publish for years with outstanding success.
Nail the fundamentals and everything else will work itself out.
That’s it!
As always, thanks for reading.
Hit reply and let me know what you found most helpful this week—I’d love to hear from you!
See you next week,
Jake