As a writer, I know that identifying the needs of the intended audience is crucial to successful communication. If you give the readers too much information, they may get bored or confused, but if you do not supply enough information, the readers may feel that their time has been wasted. Providing the right information can only be achieved after a clear purpose has been established. Why am I writing this and why does the audience want to read it?

I have been working, mostly in retail, since age fifteen. I began at a small soccer-specialty store while in high school, held a few miscellaneous jobs ranging from food service to general maintenance, spent four years working in the footwear department at Dicks Sporting Goods, and two years working as a bartender and catering assistant manager.

Each customer presents a unique target audience with a specific need and point of view. I have extensive practice discovering the needs and creating a personal experience for each customer while maintaining a professional atmosphere. I have developed a long and diverse history of customer service practice, learned first-hand how merchandising and marketing strategies are implemented, and witnessed both successful and failed programs. This knowledge has reinforced the need to identify the explicit needs of each customer to ensure a successful exchange.

I use this experience to influence my writing for special circumstances, target groups, or intended message. Just like the sweet, little, old lady shopping by herself is probably not in the market for new football cleats, that same woman also probably does not want to read a technical and jargon riddled user documentation for using a new appliance.

Every audience has essential information they hope or expect to gain no matter the context or form of communication. The ability to identify those needs quickly and completely and address them appropriately is vital to becoming a successful communicator, and more specifically a successful writer.