The advertising industry created the slogan “Give me something new!” But is that truly what people want? There is another maxim that crosses many industries: “Give them what they expect.”
The reason cliché images and keywords work so well in attracting browsers is simply that people know (more or less) what they are looking for when they surf the net or browse a store or buy a product or service. They have expectations, and if those expectations are not met, they may be disappointed.
So, despite the advertising slogan, people actually go for something known. The known is comfortable. And the known promises to meet their current needs.
Nonetheless, within that boundary, creativity flourishes and genre writers offer something both new and old, something expected but with a twist. That is why genre fiction remains popular.
What are your expectations when you read? Do you stick to the same genre and the same writers?
[Thanks to Gerd Altmann of Pixabay for the featured image.]
I read all different types of books depending on the mood I am in. Sometimes I like romance, sometimes drama, sometimes something totally different. Recently I picked up a book and read the first chapter and then gave the book to the Opportunity Shop. It wasn’t at all appealing to me.