No one wants to read your tutorial, until they do

This essay was quite good that I will even share it with my friends who are interested in writing.

I have a few points to add though.

> People don't read tutorials unless they need them. Average people, that is. Some people will be superfans and read everything, and that's great. Your average reader only wants solutions when something's broken, much like going to the doctor only when sick.

I believe that many people's tutorials are not getting much attention exactly due to this reason. Most of the time, people choose topics that have already been extensively covered by numerous other people on the internet; this not only creates competition but also makes their tutorials redundant.

When creating tutorials, either you need to do a better job than everyone else, or choose a topic that has not been widely covered yet, or add a unique style to your tutorials. Otherwise, you are not likely to success.

> Write clearly, keep it focused and short, avoid stories and anecdotes

Sure, but this isn't always the case. Stories and anecdotes often make your essays unique and reinforce the point you're trying to make. For example if you're telling your audience to stop using a certain practice and to adopt a better pattern, it's often best to illustrate your point with interesting stories and anecdotes.

> Longreads, on the other hand, are written for those dedicated followers---and to gain new ones. They're the articles you should share with everyone, and share again when it's been a while. They're what you should include in your email newsletter, what should be featured on your blog's RSS feed if you have one. They should get shared in any community where you think they'll get an audience.

It's smart to make a clear distinction between longreads and tutorial essays, particularly from a marketing perspective. I appreciate it a lot.

Based on my observations, most people who consistently follow me do so because they enjoy my writing style and the topics I discuss. Unless you are creating a systematic series of tutorials or content that you believe people actually need, it is your style that will attract followers.