I suppose, from a business standpoint, that I think of readers as customers. They have to be willing to “buy” what you are “selling”, which means they must want to read what you write. More important, they must want to share your “product” with other people. I’m no marketing genius, but I know these are the basics of selling goods and services, and I don’t see why writing is any different. If you are writing as a profession, you’re selling thoughts, ideas, adventures, or perhaps even goods and services to readers through your writing. If what you are writing does not satisfy some need within the community, your writing will not be successful.

If you are writing on behalf of a business who purchased your skills as a writer, you better be darn sure your writing can sell what they are offering whether it is ideas, goods, or services. They are counting on you, and you are counting on them!