When It Comes to Building an Audience, Engagement Matters
As a content marketer, I can get so wrapped up in the process of creating fun and exciting content that I leave very little time left over for engaging with my current or future audience. But when you are building an organic, sustainable community, engagement is ESSENTIAL!
Think of engaging like dating. You probably wouldn’t like it if all your date did was talk about themselves. What if your date never asked you how you were doing, what makes you tick, or how you felt or thought about a particular topic? What if they never commented on the things that fired you up? You’d likely never go on a second date again - or you might even ghost/block them.
Building a community follows the same logic. Yes, spend time creating relevant, unique content, but also make sure you allot enough time for engagement. It’s important!!
Here are some tips on how to engage well with others…
Follow folks who produce relevant content, either direct competitors or folks with similar values.
Like other people’s posts (including dream clients, past clients, brands who hold similar values, brands you’d like to collab with, and brands who are direct competitors)
Reshare others’ content and make sure to add your own thoughts, opinions, or spin on their content.
Comment on other people’s posts.
Post content you didn’t create but that resonates with your marketing pillars directly on your feed but make sure to tag the original creator/brand.
Partner with a relevant brand/influencer and run a simultaneous promotion, that way you can tap into THEIR audience.
Don’t have time to engage with your followers? Don’t fret. While I always encourage clients to engage with their audience when they have time, consistent engagement just isn’t feasible (or enjoyable) for busy entrepreneurs. If that’s the case with you, feel free to outsource your engagement to someone else (like, uh, ME! )