So, What Do You Think of This? Getting Feedback on What You've Written

Keys to getting valuable feedback on your marketing and other writing

Have you ever asked someone for feedback – either on something you wrote, maybe creatively or for your business, and the response was…um, less than helpful?

I’ve had this happen to me, and I’ve seen it happen with other coaches, healers, or creatives. Over and over again, I see people ask for feedback – either through masterminds, colleagues, writing groups, business communities or Facebook groups.

Sometimes what they get in return is really insightful, helping them clarify something that isn’t or add in additional information where needed. And that’s wonderful! I love how the process of sharing can help us see something that we’ve been unable to or can bolster what we’ve already crafted, making it shine even more.

Other times though, I’ve seen people receive all different kinds and levels of review or advice – some of it even contradictory. It can be overwhelming, confusing, and not helpful.

It might look like wordsmithing “Why don’t you say ‘investment’ instead of ‘price’ or “I think you should capitalize ‘Spirit’. It can be too general – “It’s great!” or “What a good job! I loved it!” It can be too simple, like “?” with no context as to what, exactly, the question mark refers to.

And, with business or creative writing, it can also be presumptive – telling the writer what needs to be changed, without explanation or just assuming the author’s approach is (or should be) the same as theirs.

Sometimes all this can leave them feeling vulnerable, shaken or otherwise disappointed.

Or worse.

I’ve seen floods of feedback leave writers or business owners so discouraged they set the creative project or business development work aside. Which is so discouraging.

The good news is there are things you can do to avoid being in this type of situation.

Essential Ingredients for Helpful Feedback

There are several things to look for to ensure the feedback you receive is as beneficial as it can be.

Readiness

Sometimes when you’re writing something, it can be tempting to show it to people as a way of unconsciously seeking validation. This is often true when you’re writing something new. It’s hard to know if you’re heading in the right direction, and sometimes you’d just like a sign that you’re doing it well.

Plus, writing can feel intimidating at times - this is especially true if you’re doing your soul’s work.

The thing is, creative work – whether it’s your new offer, website copy, fiction or scenes in a memoir – needs a gestation period. A time where you hold it close to your heart, protectively, so both it and you have time to grow stronger.

If you haven’t put a lot of time in on a piece and you feel the urge to just run it by someone or share it, I’d invite you to pause and ask yourself if the work is ready to be shared for feedback.

Clarity

When you’re seeking commentary, it’s important to be clear yourself what type of feedback you are looking for.

You might be in the early stages of drafting, or you could be a few rounds in, and you might have a specific question about your writing or marketing piece. You might have a passage you’re concerned is confusing. Or you might be merely looking for encouragement. You could be looking for direction, a sign you’re heading in the right direction.

Knowing what you’re looking for makes it more likely you’ll get what you need.

It’s important to know what kind of review you are not looking for. Maybe you don’t want grammar input or wordsmithing. Or you don’t want a detailed review, only a quick once-over.

Sometimes it’s easier to ascertain what won’t be helpful first, and that can aid you in identifying what you’re really looking for.

Kind Honesty

When you’re thinking about sharing your work with someone, ask yourself about the person (or persons) you’re considering sharing it with.

Asking for feedback on your words can feel vulnerable. You’ve put your heart onto the page or your story or your new offer, and having someone come in and tell you what’s not working, can feel a little scary.

You need someone to review your work that will be operating from a place of kindness, compassion.

At the same time, you need someone who will be honest with you, based on their perspective. You don’t want someone to tell you it’s great when it might be confusing or need more information.

In addition, depending on the type of feedback you’re looking for, the person you ask needs to be a good fit. If they’re not anywhere near your target audience, they may have a hard time relating to your marketing, for example. Or if they don’t care for poetry or don’t read much, they might not be the best person to look at your experimental fiction piece.

Clear Communication

Once you’ve clarified what exactly you’re looking for, it’s critical to communicate all this up front, being as direct as possible. Some effective ways of being clear are:

  • “I’m not looking for wordsmithing or grammar advice.”

  • “I’m trying to convey that my aunt was scared when this happened, did you sense that?”

  • “This is my sales page. Is it clear who the offer is for?”

  • “I’m looking for things you really liked in this piece. No suggestions for changes please.”

If you’re giving and receiving commentary like this in a group forum, such a Facebook page or group, be sure to kindly redirect anyone who doesn’t respect what you’ve asked for, so others reading the post and comments can see that clarity in action.

And, it’s OK to give your reviewer context for your request as well. The more they know, the better they can be at providing good input.

If you want truly useful feedback on your marketing or writing, first decide if the work is ready to be reviewed. If so, spend time thinking about what type of feedback you need at this stage, consider who you want to ask, and clearly communicate with your reviewer.

Do all this and you’ll have a much better chance of receiving a helpful assessment.


If positive, supportive feedback on your writing is something you’re looking for, check out The Alchemy of Writing Group, a new online writing group to inspire, connect and get you writing.

The early-bird registration discount ends today, March 1st.

Photo by Martin Ferreira on Unsplash