Read on Twitter
1/ I've been writing for http://www.returnoncap.com for about a year, and a personal [but public] investment blog since 2015. Since quite a few people on FinTwit have their own blogs/newsletters, I thought it would be helpful to share some tips I've learned.
(Thread)
(Thread)
2/
Tip 1: Keep it Simple, Stupid
While a long article might LOOK like quality, typically more words = lower quality. I learned early on that 10k-word articles are not the way to go. The sweet spot for an investment write-up is ~2-4k words [and 4k is pushing it!]
Tip 1: Keep it Simple, Stupid
While a long article might LOOK like quality, typically more words = lower quality. I learned early on that 10k-word articles are not the way to go. The sweet spot for an investment write-up is ~2-4k words [and 4k is pushing it!]
3/
Most of your readers clicked on your article b/c they already know about the company/are looking for confirmation. Don't annoy them with a huge backstory Don't chase quantity. Your readers know quality when they see it... even in a shorter article.
Most of your readers clicked on your article b/c they already know about the company/are looking for confirmation. Don't annoy them with a huge backstory Don't chase quantity. Your readers know quality when they see it... even in a shorter article.
4/
Tip 2: Stay Away from Recommendations
I can't stress this enough. Each of your readers has a different financial situation and risk/reward threshold. What might be a good risk/reward profile for you might not be a good profile for them.
Tip 2: Stay Away from Recommendations
I can't stress this enough. Each of your readers has a different financial situation and risk/reward threshold. What might be a good risk/reward profile for you might not be a good profile for them.
5/
Don't let your "not investment advice" disclaimer fool you. If you've been doing this long enough, you have a loyal follower base that trusts you. A completely one-sided bull thesis is basically a buy recommendation, and you better bet your LT followers will trade on that.
Don't let your "not investment advice" disclaimer fool you. If you've been doing this long enough, you have a loyal follower base that trusts you. A completely one-sided bull thesis is basically a buy recommendation, and you better bet your LT followers will trade on that.
6/
"They made the decision, not me." Yes, but their decision was informed by YOUR analysis. Point is: you want to give them the relevant info to make a decision. Don't make the decision for them, and that includes the tone you use when describing an investment opp.
"They made the decision, not me." Yes, but their decision was informed by YOUR analysis. Point is: you want to give them the relevant info to make a decision. Don't make the decision for them, and that includes the tone you use when describing an investment opp.
7/
Tip 3: Don't be One-Sided
Your blog isn't a stock pitch competition. You CAN and SHOULD present a nuanced case that reflects your own thinking. The future is probabilistic. Your writing should reflect that. The more however's and on the other hands you include, the better.
Tip 3: Don't be One-Sided
Your blog isn't a stock pitch competition. You CAN and SHOULD present a nuanced case that reflects your own thinking. The future is probabilistic. Your writing should reflect that. The more however's and on the other hands you include, the better.
8/
Not just for your readers, but also for you. Writing is a way to step back and analyze your thinking. After writing a sentence, think about how you can negate it and the probability of the counterfactual. If you must, consider it more of a research paper than a stock "pitch"
Not just for your readers, but also for you. Writing is a way to step back and analyze your thinking. After writing a sentence, think about how you can negate it and the probability of the counterfactual. If you must, consider it more of a research paper than a stock "pitch"
9/
Tip 4: If you are going to recommend, put your money where your mouth is
Self-explanatory. Don't be ingenuous. If you have a professional relationship that prevents you from investing, disclose that. But NEVER recommend something you wouldn't do yourself.
Tip 4: If you are going to recommend, put your money where your mouth is
Self-explanatory. Don't be ingenuous. If you have a professional relationship that prevents you from investing, disclose that. But NEVER recommend something you wouldn't do yourself.
10/
Tip 5: Don't Market Yourself
Let the ideas market themselves for you. If you have good ideas, people will notice. They will share your ideas. They will link your blog in their blogs. The more you market yourself, the less sincere you will look.
Tip 5: Don't Market Yourself
Let the ideas market themselves for you. If you have good ideas, people will notice. They will share your ideas. They will link your blog in their blogs. The more you market yourself, the less sincere you will look.
11/
Tip 6: Make your blog work for you
You have a large reader base, congrats! Now interact with them. Find out where they disagree with you. The biggest value-add of a blog/newsletter is creating a community that will share ideas, and your process will benefit from that.
Tip 6: Make your blog work for you
You have a large reader base, congrats! Now interact with them. Find out where they disagree with you. The biggest value-add of a blog/newsletter is creating a community that will share ideas, and your process will benefit from that.
12/
Tip 7: Primary purpose is to help you
As viewership grows, so does pressure. At the end of the day, think about why you started your blog. For most people, its to track their thinking in real time. Never compromise this for the sake of appealing to an audience.
Tip 7: Primary purpose is to help you
As viewership grows, so does pressure. At the end of the day, think about why you started your blog. For most people, its to track their thinking in real time. Never compromise this for the sake of appealing to an audience.
13/
The blog is meant to compliment your investment process. If you ever feel like you're losing focus, re-evaluate your priorities and think hard about the role you want your blog/newsletter/newfound community to play in your life.
The blog is meant to compliment your investment process. If you ever feel like you're losing focus, re-evaluate your priorities and think hard about the role you want your blog/newsletter/newfound community to play in your life.
14/
To end, I thought it would be nice to curate a list of investment blogs/newsletters. If you have one, link it in the comments. For readers looking to uncover some gold, bookmark this thread and check back after folks have commented!
I'm excited to read your work!
To end, I thought it would be nice to curate a list of investment blogs/newsletters. If you have one, link it in the comments. For readers looking to uncover some gold, bookmark this thread and check back after folks have commented!
I'm excited to read your work!
