What was offensive to me wasn’t that you said soaps were directed at women. They are and always have been – that’s just plain fact. The offense was taken when you said they were badly written and then basically: “oh well” cuz they’re just for stay-at-home moms and stuff. And that’s perfect how?

What you are essentially saying is that women aren’t very discriminating about what they watch and, to take it a step further, that perhaps women can’t even recognize crappy writing when they “see” it. What is that saying about women?

The key to soaps – and you made the point yourself – is that they are escapist. The women in the 18-34 demographic at which soaps are targeted are not addicted (and it is an addiction) because of award-winning writing or acting. Although, to be fair, some soaps have been very ground-breaking when it comes to social issues like AIDS and interracial relationships. But the target audience here is looking for drama and a break.

As for zafer’s comment about only some women responding to soaps…I’m not sure I understand your point. I know plenty of women who work at home and DON’T watch soaps and probably even more who work outside their homes and Tivo their soaps or catch them on Soapnet. Basically, it isn’t about what a woman does for a living, it is about personal preference. What you said would be like me saying: “I believe that only some men like to watch golf.”

This post was seriously disappointing. Not all of the people who read this blog are in the straight, white 18-34 male demographic. Ryan, you really ought to take your own advice and step outside of yourself and consider YOUR audience. A lot of your ideas in this post are very interesting and original, you maybe just need to be more aware of the reach of this blog and the power that your words can hold.

Sara

P.S. No. I do not watch soaps. But I actually hosted a radio show about them when I was in college. Soap Talk. =)

“The consumer is not stupid. She’s your wife.”
David Ogilvy

My point is: Writers write for an audience. If men respond to soap operas better than women, I’m sure they’ll write it for men.

On the “wives and mothers” comment, I believe that that only some women respond to soap – some spend their waking hours working away from home.

And I’m late to the party

These techniques work because they are delivering something very valuable to the reader

That’s all I would watch out for, is trying these tips with content that is not top-notch and being surprised when it does not work.

Afterall, people read what you write and you get fans/people who are like minded to be attracted to you

Great tips

Any website or blog that’s in it for success has to be written with it’s target market’s personality in mind.

In fact, those blogs and sites that are heralded by many followers win attention by continuously delivering targeted and appetizing content for their readers.

You hit the nail on it’s head when you said:

“When it comes to its target audience, daytime soaps are written perfectly—and by perfect I mean it was written for the intended viewer.”