Comments on: Should You Write to Women Differently Than Men? http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:19:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: peter http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-60012 peter Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:54:35 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-60012 There is a big difference between men and women. Females are more emotional creatures, as for the males they stick to the logical approach. While writing one should keep in mind this difference and choose the target audience correctly to succeed. There is a big difference between men and women. Females are more emotional creatures, as for the males they stick to the logical approach. While writing one should keep in mind this difference and choose the target audience correctly to succeed.

]]> By: Paula http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59998 Paula Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:09:11 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59998 Interesting post. Being a women in what would say an aggressive male oriented field I do agree with the gentle mentality that marketing does need to promote differently to females than to males. I also agree with Loquacity in that the product (and I would add the location) would also dictate how the product is presented. My mind, attitude and behavior is different at work than it is at home. So the softer’ verbiage might be okay at home and not at work. Interesting post. Being a women in what would say an aggressive male oriented field I do agree with the gentle mentality that marketing does need to promote differently to females than to males.

I also agree with Loquacity in that the product (and I would add the location) would also dictate how the product is presented. My mind, attitude and behavior is different at work than it is at home. So the softer’ verbiage might be okay at home and not at work.

]]> By: Mary http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59939 Mary Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:14:06 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59939 Great question! And interesting comments. Like Bonnie S., I grew up in the sixties, and gender rights are still an issue to Boomers. I also agree with Loquacity's quite rational response. Now, I'm wondering how my students would answer the question. I teach Communication in Business at a local university, and my students (mostly Gen Y) have a hard time adapting their writing to any audience other than themselves. Great question! And interesting comments. Like Bonnie S., I grew up in the sixties, and gender rights are still an issue to Boomers. I also agree with Loquacity’s quite rational response. Now, I’m wondering how my students would answer the question. I teach Communication in Business at a local university, and my students (mostly Gen Y) have a hard time adapting their writing to any audience other than themselves.

]]> By: Dany http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59934 Dany Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:33:28 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59934 You were right...It hasn't value who you are!! You were right…It hasn’t value who you are!!

]]> By: Shane http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59929 Shane Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:58:44 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59929 Women and men are totaly different...I think when writing for women we must approch their emotion, but we can't do the same with men. Logical approach works better for men. Women and men are totaly different…I think when writing for women we must approch their emotion, but we can’t do the same with men. Logical approach works better for men.

]]> By: Goran Giertz http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59928 Goran Giertz Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:57:14 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59928 Absolutely! Boy talk versus girl talk are two totally different things. You raise a very good point regarding identifying your target audience and tailoring the language used to engage them accordingly. Different strokes for different folks! Absolutely! Boy talk versus girl talk are two totally different things. You raise a very good point regarding identifying your target audience and tailoring the language used to engage them accordingly. Different strokes for different folks!

]]> By: Natalie Brahan http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59919 Natalie Brahan Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:45:33 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59919 I think women get something different that men do, that is why it is necessary to write for them in different words I think women get something different that men do, that is why it is necessary to write for them in different words

]]> By: Ntarugera François http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59917 Ntarugera François Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:48:55 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59917 Mike: Though you have met tough time during your training,but you have been also inspired by the question Should you write differently to women than men? I as a journalist who have perfoming in different domain, I do not share the same view of writing differently to women than men because men also are different. Any wat you gave a home work for the week-end Ntarugera Mike:

Though you have met tough time during your training,but you have been also inspired by the question Should you write differently to women than men?
I as a journalist who have perfoming in different domain, I do not share the same view of writing differently to women than men because men also are different. Any wat you gave a home work for the week-end

Ntarugera

]]> By: Loquacity http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59898 Loquacity Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:54:54 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59898 In marketing in general - yes, there is a difference. For some products, those differences are massive (think personal hygiene products, health services, and clothing). This is because there is a big difference in the way that men and women use those products, and in the way that men and women go through the purchasing decision for those products. In other marketing instances (grocery items, electronics and vehicles, for example), there is little difference between the sexes in either the use of the products or the purchase decision. In the case of white papers, the writer (or marketer) needs to evaluate how their customer is going to use the paper (the product). If the paper discusses female reproductive health, and it is intended to be read by patients, then you can safely assume that mostly women will be reading it, and should therefore target them directly - use 'softer' verbiage, describe your concepts in plain language, use a layout and design that is visually pleasing. If the same paper is designed to be read by GPs (who, for the sake of argument, may be split 50/50 between male and female), then write for the doctor, not for the sex - use more technical verbiage, explain concepts in a scientific manner, use a more structured layout and design. If the paper is designed to be read by the male partners of patients, you need to hit the tone somewhere in between - use 'stronger' verbiage, without being overly technical, explain the concepts in plain terms, and use a layout and design intended to appeal to a male audience - bolder lines, straighter fonts. In essence, the question of "does the sex of my readers matter" when discussing white papers is no different to asking "does the profession of my readers matter?" or "does the level of education of my readers matter?". On those things where the purchase decision is influenced by sex (or profession, or education level, or any other demographic), then you need to make sure you're wording things in such a way as to attract that audience. L In marketing in general - yes, there is a difference. For some products, those differences are massive (think personal hygiene products, health services, and clothing). This is because there is a big difference in the way that men and women use those products, and in the way that men and women go through the purchasing decision for those products. In other marketing instances (grocery items, electronics and vehicles, for example), there is little difference between the sexes in either the use of the products or the purchase decision.

In the case of white papers, the writer (or marketer) needs to evaluate how their customer is going to use the paper (the product). If the paper discusses female reproductive health, and it is intended to be read by patients, then you can safely assume that mostly women will be reading it, and should therefore target them directly - use ’softer’ verbiage, describe your concepts in plain language, use a layout and design that is visually pleasing. If the same paper is designed to be read by GPs (who, for the sake of argument, may be split 50/50 between male and female), then write for the doctor, not for the sex - use more technical verbiage, explain concepts in a scientific manner, use a more structured layout and design. If the paper is designed to be read by the male partners of patients, you need to hit the tone somewhere in between - use ’stronger’ verbiage, without being overly technical, explain the concepts in plain terms, and use a layout and design intended to appeal to a male audience - bolder lines, straighter fonts.

In essence, the question of “does the sex of my readers matter” when discussing white papers is no different to asking “does the profession of my readers matter?” or “does the level of education of my readers matter?”. On those things where the purchase decision is influenced by sex (or profession, or education level, or any other demographic), then you need to make sure you’re wording things in such a way as to attract that audience.

L

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59897 Michael Stelzner Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:08:43 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2008/07/29/should-you-write-to-women-differently-than-men/#comment-59897 Thanks everyone for your comments! Thanks everyone for your comments!

]]>