Start here · Essential guide
Audience Research Basics for Creators
A plain-language overview of low-cost ways to learn who your readers and viewers are, what they need, and how to use what you find without overreading it.
Writing and Editing
Audience Research Basics
Learning who your readers and viewers are and what they need.
Gathering Feedback with Short Surveys
How to write a few clear, unbiased survey questions, keep a questionnaire short, and treat small numbers of replies with appropriate caution.
Learning from Reader Questions and Comments
How to treat recurring reader questions and comments as a steady source of future topics, and how to sort, record and respond to them thoughtfully.
Reading Basic Content Metrics Wisely
What common counts such as views, visits and time on page can and cannot tell you about your audience, and how to read them without overreacting.
Talking to People Before You Make Something
How to hold short, respectful conversations that test whether an idea fits real needs, with tips on questions, listening and avoiding leading or pitching.
Understanding Search Intent
How to read what a person actually wants behind the words they type into a search box, and how that shapes what a page should deliver and how it is organized.
Writing a Reader Profile
How to describe a typical reader in terms of needs and context, keep the profile clearly hypothetical, and use it to guide decisions without stereotyping.
Related topics