We live in a world that provides anything, at any time. It is pertinent to note that many gadgets ease our daily chores but at the same time condemn us to a more and more static lifestyle. Making today’s society adopt a healthy lifestyle is now more than ever important due to the fast pace of life. Even though many health-related apps can encourage you to take better care of your body, the way this is communicated is extremely essential.
This can be done through text messages or some other ways of communication. However, people should become more aware of the fact that adopting healthier habits is part of a personal journey that can lead to a more fulfilling and balanced life. The rise of sedentary behavior, poor dietary choices, and stress-related health issues has led to a global health crisis. And it is currently affecting individuals across all age groups and demographics.
As there are many gadgets, you can start with health and fitness using smartphones to keep track of your physical exercise. But as a health professional who wants to promote a healthier lifestyle, how do you optimize messaging so that it reaches your audience? Explore more details about it in this guide that will help you advocate efficiently for wellness.
Understand the Audience
One of the things you have to start with is understanding your audience. Of course, in an ideal case, you would want to encourage everyone to adopt healthier life habits. However, if your messages are for everyone, they will reach no one. So, you should start with segmentation. This means learning more about the demographics of your audience. This way, you will know how to convey the message.
For example, class, sex, age, economic status, and region are some of the aspects you can take into consideration. This means that messages for teenagers are not the same as the messages to be passed to senior citizens. Learning more about each segment of your audience is essential, as you learn about the gadgets they use too.
For example, most youngsters have iPhones. So, you can make use of iMessages too. But first, you would have to enable iMessage for it to work. If you see that a popup iMessage says waiting for activation, you should proceed to activate it. And this might be something you could teach your audience too so that they get your messages. iMessage waiting for activation is just an issue that can be easily solved and you can continue promoting your health apps.
Besides learning about the demographics of your target audience, you should identify the habits and behaviors of different segments. For example, you can divide them into groups: sedentary vs active individuals. Learn about their motivations and values and common barriers. Some might prioritize physical appearance. Others might focus on health and longevity. They might be time-constrained or financially limited.
Use Clear and Simple Language
Once you have learned more about the demographics and characteristics of your audience, you can start designing your messages. The most essential piece of advice is that you should avoid using jargon. As a health professional, you already have the domain-specific vocabulary. However, the general population doesn’t.
And if you want your message to reach them, you should use language they understand. For example, you could replace “glycemic index” with “how quickly your foods affect your blood sugar levels”. This way, you make sure they understand your message. Also, make sure you break down complex information and use visuals like infographics to summarize it.
Focus on Benefits
However, making lifestyle changes is challenging for everyone. This is why your messages should focus on immediate and long-term benefits. Also, tailor the benefits to different audience segments. Young adults might respond better to messages about improved fitness and appearance. Older adults might value messages about independence and mobility.
Positive Framing and Actionable Steps
Your audience might be aware of the benefits a healthy lifestyle comes with. But they might feel that the effort is too big right now. They might feel demotivated by the amount of changes they have to do. So, emphasize gains and highlight success stories. Share real-life examples and testimonials. And more essential, provide clear instructions.
Final Thoughts
If you are a health professional or a wellness advocate, you might have thoughts about promoting a healthier lifestyle through optimized messaging. But for this to reach your audience, you first have to do some things. Understand your audience and segment it based on demographics. Understand their motives but common barriers too. Use clear and positive language and focus on the benefits they would gain.
This way, you can motivate individuals to adopt and maintain healthier habits. Make sure your communication is consistent and empathetic so that it reinforces these messages. This is how you inspire a lasting change.
