How to: Be a Good Digital Media Writer 101

By Fion Chua

 

Hey everyone! Recently, a fan of The Five Spoons named Jane asked us a question:

"Hey team, what makes a good digital media writer?"

We thought it would be a good idea to share her question and also our reply to her with everyone on our blog, so that all of us can learn together.

Read more after the jump!

 

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Dear Jane,

There are many things to take note of for one to be a good digital media writer.


1. Target Audiences: WHO ARE THEY?

The first, and also one of the most important points would be to pay attention to the target audience of the content produced. Identifying who your readers are is crucial because it means that you will be better able to cater to their preferences.

We cater to our target audience of the different social media platforms i.e. Facebook, Twitter and this main blog, by varying the amount of content included for each and how they are all being used. For example, our audience on Twitter is more inclined to reading snippets of information rather than that of our blog, who would be more willing to spend extra time browsing.



Image Credits: http://graduatepromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/social-media-companies.jpg

 
2. Interactivity: TALK TO THEM!

A good digital media writer is one that engages in multi-way communication with his/ her readers. Simply reading what the audience has to say about your content is not enough! You have to return the favour and interact with them too, be it a tweet or a reply to a Facebook comment.



Image Credits: http://media.webdesignviews.com/2009/10/Interactivity.jpg


3. Relevance: WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?

If your words is not related to the chosen theme, readers are going to find difficulty understanding the purpose of your content. It is never a good idea to confuse your target audience. Decide on a clear theme and ensure that your content has relevance to it!

Image credits: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5-3KwNQFaX8/ULa5GyP3KnI/AAAAAAAAEIA/NjwRaJd7U7w/s1600/right-words22kl.jpg

4. Multi-media: SPICE IT UP!
 

Readers of online content usually look out for visuals and audio- both of which can engage people more easily than text. Breaking up chunks of words with images or videos would immediately make information easier to read.

One example would be this post (our interview with Chef Justin Chua)!
 

5. Reaching Out: DRAW THEM IN!

 

As someone writing on the web, it is important to market your content e.g. across more than one social media platform. Even if you are writing about the most 'in' trend among teenagers at the moment or a large-scale natural disaster that took place the day before, no one would be looking at it if they do not even know about it!

 

You can include a hyperlink on your Facebook page to your newest blog post or even take the time to film a video; it may even go viral overnight!

Image credits: http://www.digitalsherpa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/small-business-internet-marketing1.jpg

The key is to get the word out there. Whatever works, works! Because, why not? ;)

 

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The Five Spoons hope that our reply has answered your question, Jane! These top five tips serve to help all of you, our dear readers out there, become good digital media writers!

 

Please don't forget to comment on this post and drop us a mail if you have any feedback for us too.

Till next time! :)

Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert

By Fion Chua

Hello everyone! There's a new post in store for all of you today and guess what it's about- dessert! I believe most of us have a sweet tooth each, and I am definitely no different.

Just last week, I decided to visit Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert to satisfy my craving for a dessert to end the night. It was my first visit and I walked to the counter with an open mind, making sure that I didn't let any preconceived notions cloud my judgement of what it had to offer.

Read on to find out more about my experience at Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert!

Background

A wide array of authentic desserts such as those commonly found in Hong Kong are served here, and, according to the company's official website, are "prepared with quality ingredients to tantalize your taste buds". However, this is not just a place for dessert lovers to frequent as there are savoury items available too, such as wanton noodles and carrot cake- all prepared 'the Hong Kong way'.

Part of the shop's exterior (outlet in basement of Causeway Point)

My Choice

It was tough for me to just settle on a single order, but I managed it in the end and bought a bowl of 'Osmanthus Aloe Vera'.

My order of Osmanthus Aloe Vera

Presentation

When my order was served, it left a strong first impression on me with how good it looked. I would be lying if I had said that it did not take my breath away, at least... just a little bit. Haha! The star of the show was tiny dried Osmanthus flowers, sprinkled over the top (for both taste and garnish maybe?) and made the entire dessert look very delicate and appealing. Everything was topped off with a small stalk of mint leaves.

Look at the tiny dried Osmanthus flowers- pretty, aren't they? :)

Taste & Texture

My first mouthful of the dessert actually threw me off guard because of the bitterness of the pomelo. The bitterness gradually transitioned to a bittersweet flavour, though, after being mixed around with the sweet aloe vera cubes. The few Goji berries which were added were not exactly flavourful. As for the Osmanthus flowers, they had their typical fragrance and provided a slight 'flowery' taste but I would say that was about it.

I thought the texture was very interesting, since every spoonful of the dessert meant something different every time. The cubes of aloe vera were crunchy and juicy, contrasting well with the fleshy pulp of the pomelo and the juicy Goji berries, both of which burst in the mouth pleasantly when my teeth bit into them. However, as the Osmanthus flowers were simply too small, they did not provide much texture to the overall dish. As for the crushed ice, I would say that it served as a blank canvas for all of these flavours to stand out on their own while coming together in a refreshing fusion.

Price

According to the menu, a bowl of Osmanthus Aloe Vera costs $4.30 but, apparently, this price was not inclusive of GST and I only realised that when I was making my payment to the cashier. The total bill amounted to $4.65 and while the additional 35 cents were not a lot, it was definitely not a very nice surprise since I wasn't aware of it. Personally, I felt that this dessert was good and definitely worth a try- but not worth paying $4.65 for. At best, it would probably have been a better deal if the maximum price was between $3.50 and $4 (...inclusive of GST).

Rating

Causeway Point

1 Woodlands Square, #B1-24

Opening Hours:

Sun to Thurs; 11am - 10.30pm

Fri to Sat; 10am - 11pm

(The store above was the one I visited. To find out other outlets' locations and opening hours, visit this page on Sheng Kee's official website!)