I recently asked the wonderful readers of my newsletter for a bit of advice on what things I should focus my attention on for the next few months and years.

I thought I’d share the results here, partly to show the respondents that I appreciate their effort and have paid attention; partly because I hope it might help you with your newsletters / plans; and partly because it’s a way of me thinking out loud and trying to reach some conclusions…

Here are the results of the questions, plus my conclusions on them.

First, a bit of info on the demographics of my readers, and those who chose to respond to the survey…

I was interested to see how other people see me.

I found this the most interesting chart of all. Microadventures and local adventure top the pile, followed by (and overlapped with) books. My Shed newsletter and sustainability come next.  Global travel, newsletter series, podcasts and videos are all bottom equal.

Next, I asked what I should focus on next.

These topics are the ones that interest me most at the moment. The winners, in order, are encouraging people to have microadventures and explore locally (clear winner if I combine the two). Then it’s the importance of the outdoors for our mental and physical health, then land access / right to roam, low carbon adventure, rewilding, land use, the connection between land use and diet.

Now on to the specifics of how I communicate my ideas…

The respondents are all ‘Shed’ readers, which will have really skewed this. But I’m surprised the Doorstep Mile is as high as 20%.

I love automated newsletter series, and these results have made me keen to come up with a new idea for one.

This confirms my gut feeling that I don’t want to charge for newsletters (and therefore need to turn newsletters and newsletter readers into books and book customers).

I need to bear in mind that these respondents are all newsletter readers. It might have looked very different had I asked these questions at a speaking event. Other than writing books, I am not sure this graph helps very much. It certainly doesn’t discount an avenue for me – something I always like being able to do.

Now on to books, and which of my books are the most popular…

The winners here, in order, are Microadventures, The Doorstep Mile, My Midsummer Morning, Local (which has only been out for two months), and then the stories of my big journeys, and kids’ books.

This surprises me, in as much I thought that my big trips and kids’ books would rank higher. What does this tell me…? That people like microadventures, getting advice on what to do in life, honest introspection, and exploring locally and sustainably. Although that is contradicted by this graph…

And now onto podcasts…

There’s a strong preference, if I resurrect my podcasts, to do another one like Living Adventurously which interviews interesting people. There is still enough interest in the other ones for me to feel justified in serialising my books into podcasts.

My book Local seems to appeal equally for its story, encouraging of people to have their own adventures, and for its environmental message.

The trouble with data is that you can skew it to see whatever you want! What do YOU think I should make of all this? Please do email me if you have any ideas. Thank you. I asked ChatGPT for its opinions and it said this:

Here’s a summary of the findings and reflections:

Demographics and Reader Interests:

• The survey attracted responses primarily from my newsletter readership, which might have influenced certain outcomes.
• Interests ranked highest were microadventures and local exploration, emphasizing outdoor activities’ significance for mental and physical well-being, land access rights, low carbon adventures, rewilding, and the nexus of land use and diet.
• Books related to these themes, especially “Microadventures,” “The Doorstep Mile,” and “My Midsummer Morning,” resonated the most, suggesting a preference for content about practical advice, introspection, and sustainable local exploration.

Communication Preferences:

• Despite my affinity for automated newsletter series, feedback suggested a desire for diverse content formats, without a clear preference for paid newsletters. This aligns with my inclination to transform newsletter content into book formats for broader reach.
• The concept of the “Doorstep Mile” garnered surprising interest, indicating a potential area for expanded content.

Podcasts and Books:

• A preference emerged for podcasts featuring interviews with intriguing personalities, similar to my “Living Adventurously” series. This suggests an appetite for inspirational stories and practical advice on embracing adventure.
• The book “Local” was well-received for its narrative, encouragement of personal adventures, and environmental advocacy, indicating these themes should continue to be a focus.

Conclusion and Reflections:

• The feedback points towards a demand for content that promotes microadventures, local exploration, and sustainable living, with a strong narrative element.
• While the data provides direction, it also reflects the diversity of my audience’s interests, highlighting the challenge of catering to all preferences.
• I’m contemplating these insights to refine my content strategy and am open to further suggestions from my audience.

This survey reinforces the value of engaging with my audience and the importance of flexibility and openness to diverse content formats and themes.

 

I also asked for you to offer me suggestions in the survey. Doing this is always helpful / confusing / time consuming! I’ve printed out your 25 pages of responses to read through.

But I also plugged the whole lot into ChatGPT to see what it would make of it all…

Based on the comprehensive analysis of the poll responses from your audience, here are the major themes, problems, concerns, and suggested next steps for the direction of your work:

### Major Themes Covered:
1. **Sustainability and Environmental Consciousness**: Your audience is deeply interested in content that emphasizes sustainability, environmental stewardship, and responsible adventure.
2. **Local and Microadventures**: There is a strong preference for exploring local areas and engaging in microadventures, highlighting the value of accessible and low-impact activities.
3. **Inclusivity and Accessibility**: Content that makes adventures accessible to everyone, including families, older individuals, and underrepresented groups, is highly sought after.
4. **Connection with Nature**: Engaging with and appreciating the natural world is a recurring theme, with an emphasis on fostering a deeper relationship with the local landscape.
5. **Personal Growth and Development**: Audiences are interested in adventures that offer personal reflection, growth, and the overcoming of challenges.

### Major Problems and Concerns:
1. **Environmental Degradation**: Concerns over climate change and the loss of natural spaces are prevalent, with a call for more advocacy and action towards conservation.
2. **Lack of Access and Awareness**: There’s a perception of barriers to adventure, whether due to lack of knowledge, financial constraints, or physical ability, that audiences believe could be addressed through your work.
3. **Mental Health and Well-being**: The therapeutic benefits of adventure and nature are recognized, pointing to a societal need for more engagement with the outdoors to improve mental health.
4. **Societal Disconnection**: A disconnect from nature, community, and even oneself is identified, with a desire for content that bridges these gaps.

### Next Steps for Direction:
1. **Focus on Local and Sustainable Adventures**: Continue to highlight and create content around local explorations and sustainability in adventure, addressing environmental concerns directly.
2. **Create Inclusive and Accessible Content**: Develop resources and narratives that make adventuring accessible to a broader audience, including instructional content for families, older adventurers, and those with less access to nature.
3. **Leverage Multiple Media Platforms**: Prioritize the creation of diverse content across books, podcasts, YouTube series, and workshops. Each platform caters to different aspects of your audience’s preferences:
– **Books**: Focus on topics like microadventures, sustainability, and personal growth narratives.
– **Podcasts**: Include interviews with diverse adventurers, discussions on environmental issues, and practical advice for accessible adventures.
– **YouTube**: Create visually engaging content documenting local adventures, “how-to” guides, and environmental activism.
– **Workshops/Events**: Host both in-person and online workshops that teach practical skills for adventuring, with a focus on sustainability and inclusivity.

4. **Engage in Advocacy and Community Building**: Actively engage in or support campaigns related to the right to roam, environmental conservation, and community engagement in local issues. Use your platform to advocate for change and inspire collective action.

5. **Explore Personal and Reflective Themes**: Integrate more personal stories and reflections into your work, encouraging your audience to see adventure as a tool for personal growth and well-being.

By focusing on these areas, you can continue to inspire, educate, and engage your audience in meaningful ways, addressing both their desire for adventure and their concerns for the environment and society.