Kyle Adams POV

Author: kyleadams

  • Why Social Media is The Best Trailer for Writers

    Image Source: Generated by Google Gemini

    If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? This metaphor can also be applied to releasing a long-form article on your blog.

    All great writers build a reputation on social media to connect with their audience and promote their work. Social media is part of the marketing mix and a necessary level of the funnel to get your customer (reader) to land on your website and read your article.

    Here are three social media post mock-ups teasing my upcoming article, “Social Media’s Obsession With Caffeine: The Reality of Consumption & Its Effects.”


    Instagram


    As attention spans shrink and more people are interested in entertaining and educational content that will stop them in their scroll, it’s vital to have eye-catching visuals for your Instagram post.

    In addition to using a futuristic dramatic visual that’s almost dystopian in some ways, I focused on making my caption short and pithy to motivate my followers to engage with the content.

    I encouraged them to read the article through the link in my bio since you can not hyperlink websites in Instagram captions.

    Now, I want to show you how I will promote this content through X.


    X

    For this post on X, I kept the tone very conversational by asking my followers a relatable question to start the post. After I posed the question, I transitioned to making a bold claim that poses a statement I know people will have different opinions on.

    The end of this post has several emojis to add some emotion and keep it casual. I used a pointing down finger emoji to act as a clear CTA. My followers can click that to read the article or click on the asset, the header image pre-populating my article.


    LinkedIn


    When I went to create this post for LinkedIn, I knew the tone of my copy would have to be slightly more serious. I wanted to focus on educational content that adds value while creating a hook that is a personal and relatable experience many of us have gone through.

    This hook is intriguing. Most people have had this thought. And if they haven’t, they are immediately curious to figure out what I’m talking about.

    Quantifying your opinions and research is popular on LinkedIn. When you have a number attached to your post, it validates you as a thought leader and trusted source.

    Social media posts are one of the most effective tools in the marketing mix to lead readers to long-form articles.

    I hope this encouraged you to read my long-form article, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts about it!

  • Everything Good Doesn’t Have to Come to an End: Want to Know Why?

    Everything Good Doesn’t Have to Come to an End: Want to Know Why?

    Image Source: Generated by Google Gemini

    You’ve probably heard the phrase, everything good must come to an end. But what if I told you I disagree with that phrase? This famous proverb is an undertone used often in movies and television to express regret when something that brings you happiness ends. It’s also used to accept that even enjoyable experiences cannot last forever.

    When it comes to writing well, I believe there’s an exception to this proverb. Instead of focusing on the proverb’s literal meaning, the best writers take it one step further.

    The best writers prioritize leaving their readers with one provocative thought. Even if that “good” thing does end, writers cleverly do two things to get to this point with their readers.

    It’s as Easy as ABC

    Good writing knows how to spot the difference in scenarios with writing for the ear vs. writing for the eye. Writing for the Ear Instead of the Eye, an article by Jill Swenson, explains this concept perfectly.

    “Writing for print addresses the intellect: the intent is to communicate an idea or present the facts and let the reader infer the meaning and significance of the words. When you write for the ear, you want to evoke an experience, a set of sensations in the listeners.”

    Rhythm and alliteration matter for every sentence. As soon as you incorporate these things into your writing, you’re one step closer to having your readers hooked. There’s one more thing that can help you as a writer.

    Everyone Needs an Anchor

    Using unity to keep the reader from straggling off and satisfying their subconscious for order is the foundation of good writing. There are lots of variables you can choose as a writer to infuse unity into your writing. William Zinsser in his book, On Writing Well, explains this with the example of the unity of mood.

    “You might want to talk to the reader in the casual voice that The New Yorker had strenuously refined. Or you might want to approach the reader with a certain formality to describe a serious event. Both tones are acceptable. In fact, any tone is acceptable. But don’t mix two or three.”

    Everything good does come to an end, but that doesn’t mean you can’t harness the power of good writing to leave people wondering. Wondering about that new, provocative thought you left them. And wanting to read the next thing you write. Knowing how to write for the eye vs. ear and using unity are the first two steps. 

  • Don’t Look Into the Mirror For Too Long

    Don’t Look Into the Mirror For Too Long

    Image Source: Generated by Microsoft Copilot

    One of the easiest things to do is react before thinking. This goes for conversation, and even more so for writing.

    The words you say to someone or write in a communication must be chosen carefully. But there’s something equally important when it comes to writing.

    Understanding that if you write for yourself, there’s an inherent tradeoff.

    William Zinnser, author of On Writing Well, explores this and makes you ponder a complex contradiction. Zinnser argues that you need to simplify and shorten to remove clutter, but you also need to write in your own style that’s for yourself.

    Let us examine two issues he dives into that led me to my conclusion above.

    Zinnser says writers need to consider craft and attitude.

    Practice Makes Perfect

    Becoming a subject matter expert is important to build a foundation that turns into a reputation, but you need to have a realization first.

    Another article that explains this piece of this puzzle perfectly is The Source of Bad Writing by Steven Pinker.

    Pinker explains a concept called “The Curse of Knowledge.”  This is the belief that leads writers to assume readers know everything they know. He gives a great example of a speaker at a biology conference falling into this trap by giving a presentation packed with technical jargon geared to fellow scientists only.

    The speaker knew this presentation was being filmed and distributed to millions of people who aren’t scientists.

    Initial Impressions

    How you use a skill to express your personality defines how someone perceives you. In this case, it’s how your reader sees you as a writer.

    As a writer, an interesting and important consideration is giving the reader enough valuable information right away. Amy Schade, author of an article named, The Fold Manifesto: Why the Page Fold Still Matters, discusses the importance of this initial impression.

    “When users fail to see information of value, they stop scrolling. In usability testing, the occasional user does a “lay of the land” scroll to get a sense of what’s on a page before engaging, but this behavior is far from standard. Users scroll when there is reason to.”

    Writing for yourself has an inherent tradeoff if you don’t consider your craft and attitude as separate issues. Once you do and focus on reducing clutter, letting your style lead your writing, and following key principles, your writing will improve drastically.

  • Degrees and Detours: Using Empathy & Curiosity to Tell Stories

    Degrees and Detours: Using Empathy & Curiosity to Tell Stories


    Origins

    Kyle Adams is a 28-year-old who loves storytelling via writing and visuals. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2018 with a bachelor’s in public relations and a minor in Marketing. After working in agency environments for several years and gaining skills in traditional PR, content marketing, business development, and project management, he transitioned to higher education.

    For the last year and a half, Kyle has been working for the development department at Quinnipiac University, focusing on digital engagement. Kyle utilizes email marketing, social media, and web design to engage with Quinnipiac alumni, whether it’s event marketing, annual fundraising, or storytelling opportunities.

    Image Source: Quinnipiac Alumni Association


    The Quinnipiac Interactive Media and Communications graduate program interested Kyle because of the depth of its curriculum. He has a strong background in research, writing, and content marketing, but Kyle does not have a formal education in design, UI/UX, and other visual storytelling practices. He wants to develop and use these skills to engage and inspire people.


    Inspiration

    Image Source: Crocs

    One of Kyle’s favorite interactive media projects is a campaign created by the designer/artist Salehe Bembury. Specifically, his partnership with the footwear brand Crocs and his project, which released a brand-new Croc called the Croc Pollex.

    His social media promotions, activations in cities, and other marketing collateral grabbed Kyle’s and millions of others’ attention because it is ground-breaking work that goes against the grain.


    Aspirations

    Kyle wants to become more adept in digital writing and UI/UX work. He wants to grow into a career role focused on managing a university website. He wants to be responsible for the design and maintenance of a website’s content management system.

    Kyle is excited to learn from his peers in an immersive setting where everyone creates tangible work. He is especially looking forward to his classmates and instructors reviewing, critiquing, and offering new perspectives that will help him improve anything he creates.

    Something Kyle wants his classmates to know about him is that he’s passionate and curious. Both in his work and relationships, he leads with empathy and wanting to uncover the why behind someone’s opinion or the reason something works the way it does.

    Kyle is excited to take this Writing for Interactive Media course to sharpen his writing skills, learn from others, and get a chance to share his perspective on topics he hasn’t explored before.

  • Why Writing Well Can Be Your Road Map to Navigate Through the Instant Economy

    Why Writing Well Can Be Your Road Map to Navigate Through the Instant Economy

    Image Source: Generated by Google Gemini

    In 2025, we are living in a world known as the instant economy.

    Whether ordering your lunch with just one click, rescheduling an appointment through the voice technology of your phone, or even taking a picture of your check to deposit it directly into your bank account, all these actions have one thing in common.

    They are instant and frictionless.

    With the development and mainstream adoption of AI, delivery of news through social media, and connectivity of people through digital worlds, there is an expectation that everything will be instant.


    What is the bad thing about all of this?

    It is not as simple as categorizing this as a bad thing but rather an observation of a direct correlation.

    The rise of the instant economy has directly resulted in the regression of deep thinking and the ability to understand what we read and see online.


    What is the solution behind all of this?

    It is not a solution per se, but there is something you can practice to make sense of a topic and establish a clear perspective.

    Writing well.

    After I read an article titled 16 Rules of Blog Writing and Layout. Which Ones Are you Breaking?, I had a better understanding of the importance of incorporating things into your writing like:

    • Using images like that one at the beginning of this piece of writing
    • Having short paragraphs that are typically 2-3 sentences long
    • Using lists to create more white space and help people find information quickly

    Another article titled Is Google Making Us Stupid by Nicholas Carr has a quote from a playwright named Richard Foreman that captures the essence of this instant economy dilemma.

    “As we are drained of our inner repertory of dense cultural inheritance; we risk turning into pancake people-spread, wide and thin as we connect with that vast network of information accessed by the mere touch of a button.”

    The instant economy is here to stay, and there’s no argument about it or against it.

    Writing well, creating an environment conducive to deep thinking, and applying the principles of readability are just a few simple steps you can take to thrive in this new world we live in.