FAQ: How can I get my Audience to Interact with my Content?

Mike, a sales coach, came to me frustrated and ready to throw in the towel on content and social media marketing. He told me he had been consistently posting his blogs and staying active on three of the leading social media platforms. He posted high-quality content but was not getting any interaction from his target market. I discussed this with Mike and he went back to work armed with these tips:

Know your niche.

Niche is a word you frequently hear in the world of internet businesses. It can be used to define several different things.
Your business niche is your specialty in your overall profession. For example, while a coach is an all-encompassing profession, most coaches specialize. Their niche may be life coach, relationship coach, business coach, etc.

A marketing niche is a small, specific and well-defined segment of your target audience. For example, if you are a relationship coach, your market niche may be “married couples, over 40 who have been married 20+ years and are having issues with their marriage.”
Niches don’t just exist. They are created by identifying needs, wants, and requirements of your target customer. When you have defined your niche market fully you can develop and deliver the exact services your market wants and needs.
When you know your niche like your best friend, give them the content they want. Start a conversation and answer their frequently asked questions, comment on what they say, and hang out where they do. Offer advice, hints, and tips they will not only read, but respond to and share.

Join the conversation.

Web publishing allows your information to spread far and wide, but it should not be a one-way street. Your audience expects you to interact.

“According to Search Engine Watch, 7 in 10 Twitter users expect to receive a response from brands that they reach out to. Of these, 53% expect it in less than an hour. And if they’re tweeting a complaint or providing negative feedback, that number rises to 72%.” (Source: Social Media Today)

This stat holds true with any platform – including your blog. Join in conversations. Don’t be a lecturer. Comments, likes, and shares on your part will encourage your audience to behave in the same way.

Invite guests.

Inviting guest bloggers and encouraging contributions is a win-win for guests and hosts. The primary benefit is that both of you increase your reach. When your guest posts to your site he introduces himself to your audience and when he promotes to his audience, you are introduced to them. This builds relationships with your existing followers but can also bring in new ones connected with your guest.
Another benefit is your guests broaden the conversation. Look for guests who bring a new viewpoint or deeper understanding of a topic your audience is interested in. For example, you may be a relationship coach and discover many of your audience are also struggling in their business. A guest blogger who is a business coach could address your clients’ needs around business.

Create surveys, polls and contests.

People love to be asked what they think. Create short surveys and polls to get information and encourage an atmosphere of interaction. You can also give them an incentive or little surprise thank-you gifts, such as special reports, handouts, cheat sheets, and other free information items that can also expand the conversation as it applies to your niche.
There are many free or low cost solutions you can use to deliver your surveys and polls. Try a few of those below and see which one best fits your needs.
Survey Monkey
Survey Gizmo
Type Form
If you already have a contact management program, be sure to check if they have the ability to create and manage your surveys. Many of them do and include seamless integration with your list. You should check your social media platforms as well. Most have an app for surveys or polls such as: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.

Use images strategically.

Branded image sharing can grow your social reach up to 10x (Social Media Marketing Industry report from Social Media Examiner).

A picture is often worth a thousand words. You should use images to support your content and grab attention in a way that a headline might not. The image could also encourage comments and other forms of engagement.
Here are some basic guidelines to use when selecting your images:

• Your image should be related to the text of your post.
• Your image should be visually appealing and attention grabbing.
• Know what size image works best on each platform.
• Your image should be branded.

To learn more about these guidelines, read this article.

Use slide shows and videos.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a good slide show or video could be worth tens of thousands of words. Post on prominent social sites and embed it in your own site or blog. Consider including a transcript to post on the social site page and you will pick up traffic based on keywords. Turn on the comments section and see what people are saying.  Engage in conversation with them as appropriate.
It’s easy to create slide shows and videos even if you’ve never done one. Try one of these free or low cost programs:
Wondershare Filmora
Biteable
Slideshare
Wevideo
What would happen if you focused on writing for more reader interaction, rather than more traffic? Try these suggestions and test out your theory. The results may surprise you!