1. Break It Down
A giant paragraph can scare your readers off before they even start the first line. If you want to boost audience engagement, you need to make it easy for them to read your content.
First, make sure to break down large paragraphs into smaller chunks. Try restraining each paragraph to three or fewer sentences.
Mix up your paragraph lengths as well for variety.
Next, keep your sentences short! Shorter sentences are easier to read, which will encourage people further into your content.
You can also break your content down using bullet points or lists.
To keep your ideas organized, try using headers and subheaders. Headers draw the reader’s attention to a focal point within your content. They’ll also keep your ideas on track.
Headers, bullet points, and lists are ideal for skim-readers, too. They can find the information they’re looking for before focusing on that piece of your content.
2. Add Graphics
A picture is worth a thousand words, right? In order to improve engagement with your writing, add imagery to your blog piece. These graphics can include:
- Pictures
- Illustrations
- Videos
- Charts
- Graphs
- Animations
These images will draw the reader’s eyes to a segment of your content. At the same time, they’ll increase engagement and hook the reader.
Make sure to choose powerful, entertaining images. Low-quality images, on the other hand, will only make your brand look cheap as well. Make sure these images match your branding.
For example, if your brand is lighthearted and fun, try using caricatures and cute illustrations. If your brand is more on the serious side, use crisp photography instead. Images can enhance your content while reflecting your brand.
3. Know Your Audience
Over 409 million people read over 23.7 billion blog pages every month. In order to appeal to your target audience, you need to know who they are, first.
Start by separating your broader audience distinct buyer personas. Separate them based on their interests, buying behaviors, age, gender, and other demographics. Separating your audience into smaller groups will make it easier to develop content that appeals to their interests.
Next, determine what type of content your audience is already searching for. Develop a list of target keywords you can base your content on.
You can use tools such as SEMRush, Keyword Planner, Google Trends, and Ahrefs to get started. You can also check out this article for dental blog ideas.
The better you know your audience, the more likely you’ll create content that keeps them engaged.
4. Tell a Story
Engaging content focuses on telling a story while keeping the reader guessing. Don’t put all your cards on the table at the beginning. Instead, spark their intrigue by teasing your content a little.
Then, tell stories about the company’s history, interactions for customers, or your products.
These stories will keep readers enamored as they continue reading.
5. Remain Clear, Concise, and Consistent
Make sure your content is short, sweet, and to the point. Cut back on run-on sentences that might overwhelm your readers.
Delete excess words that don’t add value to your content.
Otherwise, you risk boring the reader.
6. Ask Questions
Want to boost audience engagement? Start by asking your readers a question.
Questions can capture the reader’s attention and encourage them to continue reading for an answer. You can ask questions about the customer’s pain points or paint a picture. Some questions, like “Ready to get started?” work as a transition to speed up the flow.
Try adding a question within the content, where the reader’s attention will start to fade.