Web+Content+and+Audience

Content
People choose to visit specific websites to find answers quickly and easily to help them perform tasks. When people search for content on the web, they expect to find relevant information on the topic that they are searching. Internet searches produce results which are most often __[|skimmed]__ for specific content. Due to the large amount of information available, most information is skipped over, and only information from a specific search is read.

Since skimming is so common among users, it is important to recognize why people come to choose websites over customer service. People use websites and searches to satisfy goals, and to get quick answers to questions. The key is, people believe that using the internet will help them find what they are looking for more efficiently. It is therefore important for the user to be able to access the information quicky. It is impossible to do this without understanding to whom you are writing: your audience.

People
A good step to understanding an audience is by [|storyboarding] individual pages or by creating [|personas]. Being empathetic to an audience will make or break a writing. Understanding the audience also makes it easier to know what individual needs are and what people are looking for. It is important to take into consideration what information is needed by an audience.This will improve chances of captivating the target audience and keeping them on the page. Never make assumptions. Go by facts based on audience's personal profile using:
 * Experience/Age
 * Emotions
 * Values/Morals
 * Technologies
 * Demographics
 * Social/Cultural Environments

Connecting with people through characteristics or traits that are close to them such as those listed above, will allow them to feel better about what they are reading due to the fact that they can relate in some way. Web designers should also take into consideration the purpose of the web site and remember their audience. Take //[|Pandora] Internet Radio// for example. The site simply requires basic information to use their site. Once you have skipped a certain amount of songs they send a pop-up that asks the user/you to rate the site and to give detail to what was not liked on the page. This will help people find music they would rather hear and avoid bringing up music that was skipped and helps the site creators manage the site more efficiently.

Seven steps to understanding your audiences: 1. List your major audiences. 2. Gather information about your audiences. 3. List major characteristics for each audience. 4. Gather your audience's questions, tasks, and stories. 5. Use your information to create personas. 6. Include the persona's goals and tasks. 7. Use your information to write scenarios for your site [2].