One of the biggest fears of website owners and bloggers is that their website won’t attract any visitors or engagement. After so many weeks and months of creating a fully-functioning website and all the content too, having no viewers commenting or sharing your content can be disheartening.
Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to encourage engagement on your website or blog, making the experience as exciting as possible. The goal is to get people to share tips, ideas, and get involved in discussions around your content, or to make purchases via your website. This is what makes owning a website or blog worth it.
Before we get started, it is important to remember that commenting on blogs and sharing website content is a voluntary action on the audience’s part. The following steps simply encourage engagement, but the main reason why people comment and share is that they enjoy the content or find it valuable in some way. So get your content up to scratch first.
Commenting functionality
How easy is it for people to leave a comment on your blog or website? Some websites and blogs don’t even have a comment box. Others have annoying Captcha codes that many viewers deem to be a waste of time and energy just to leave a thought on your content.
Don’t have unnecessary requirements for people to engage on your website, such as usernames or login systems. You want to make the commenting and sharing process as easy as possible for the visitor.
Look at your website’s commenting requirements from the audience’s perspective – if you find it labourious and tedious, then your visitors certainly will too. Keep your commenting systems basic and straightforward.
Poor site design
If the viewer doesn’t like your website’s design, they’re unlikely to engage with your content further. Design affects user experience, which affects further interaction with your website. Your website should be designed to support interaction with your audience.
Some websites hide previous comments to save space, but this makes it hard for new commenters to know what has previously been discussed or already been said. They don’t want to jump into the middle of a comment thread without first seeing what others have said. So make sure your website shows all the previous comments.
Have a personality
People engage more with content that they relate to. A boring corporate article is unlikely to stimulate responses from viewers, whereas ones that have an audible voice and personality will encourage engagement.
Be original and keep your content fresh. This will help you stand out from the millions of other blogs available to your audience. Originality is a great way to let your personality shine through.
The most popular blog posts or articles are those that come from individuals, not corporate businesses. Readers react to emotions, experiences and personal expressions. Be yourself and write from the heart. This gives a personality to the article, rather than coming from a soulless mouthpiece.
Don’t ignore comments
Creating content for your website means that you’re actively starting conversations. It is polite to respond to comments and keep the conversation flowing, even if you disagree with some of the viewpoints.
If your audience takes the time to comment, you should take the time to engage in a reciprocal fashion. Don’t ignore negative comments, rather address them in the best way you can.
Remember to be courteous and respectful, it will go a long way to prove your point and to keep commenters coming back. If you’re rude, your audience will simply stop visiting your website.
Ask for comments and engagement
There’s nothing wrong with asking for comments – in fact, some of the most successful websites and bloggers actively ask their audience to share their views in the comments section.
At the end of your articles, or within your video content, ask for feedback from your audience. Invite them to start a dialogue around your content, or ask them to share it with their friends. Keep these calls to action simple and clear.
A few good ways to encourage comments include asking thought-provoking questions at the end of your articles, starting a discussion yourself in the comments section, and encouraging your audience to lend their voice and input to the thread.
When asking for comments and shares, try to be as natural and engaging as possible. A simple “please comment” won’t work as well as “I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, or tell me if you have a similar story”.
To sum up, if you’re looking to increase engagement on your blog, to generate shares and responses from your audience, you need to make sure that your content is worth sharing in the first place. High-quality videos and well-written articles are the foundation of good content, so make sure this is your first priority.
Once you’re happy with your content, you need to make sure that commenting is easy. It should require Captchas or login details; keep it simple and quick. Make sure your site design is also user-friendly.
Next, let your personality shine through your content. People respond better to emotions and personal insights. Remember to respond to as many comments as you can. Engage with your audience and make them feel appreciated too.
Lastly, include a sincere call to action at the end of your articles, or ask open-ended questions that will encourage the audience to engage with your content. You should be able to put an end to the dry spell with these tips.
If you wish to partner with someone who knows how to apply the best practices to achieve your online goals, don’t hesitate to email us at zani@mobimeme.com.
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