11 tips to create engaging online content

There are more than 600 million Facebook updates, 500 million Tweets and 80 million Instagram posts uploaded daily. So you can see that it’s easy for your audience to get lost in the social media universe when there’s such a high volume of content coming in everyday.

Here are 11 secrets on how to create engaging content to not only help you stand out amongst all of the white noise, but to also keep your audience hooked and coming back for more:

1. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Knowing and understanding your audience is the key to social media success! The better you get to know the person scrolling through their phone, the more effective and engaging your content will be. Being aware of everything from their interests and what they get up to on weekends to their shopping behaviour and browsing habits, will help you create content that will catch their attention.

2. DIVERSIFY YOUR CONTENT

Don’t just stick to a classic flat lay post after post – mix it up a bit and keep your audience guessing. By diversifying your content you’re giving your audience something interesting and new. Whether it’s a video, boomerang or quote tile give them something that will break up their feed and make them ‘thumb stop’ and take notice.

3. INCLUDE A CALL TO ACTION

By having a call to action you’re instructing your audience what to do next, try including website links to specific products or ask a question. Top tip: Always use bit.ly or the like, so you can see what click-throughs you’re getting and where they’re coming from.

4. VALUE YOUR AUDIENCE’S OPINION & ASK QUESTIONS!

Give your audience the ability to contribute, make them feel that they are valued. Pose questions to them about new products and ask for their input. Asking questions is a great way of generating conservations.

5. BE REAL

People aren’t going to engage with your content if you’re trying to sell 100% of the time. Converse with your audience just like you’re talking to a friend, this helps to create a relaxed tone of voice making your brand more relatable and less ‘salesy’.

Sometimes it’s good to show a different side to your brand and share real time content to break the wall between your brand and your audience.

6. DELIVER CONSISTENT, QUALITY CONTENT

Your brand should be posting consistently and regularly to keep your audience engaged. The more often you post, the more familiar your brand name will appear to your audience. It sounds so simple, but one of the oldest tricks in marketing is to ensure your brand name is as visible as possible.

7. USE HASHTAGS

The more people that find your content, the more people will see your content. Sounds so simple right? Try using popular hashtags and start your own trend hashtag that will engage your audience. People who use hashtags are more likely to get involved in social conversations and promote your brand in front of their friends.

8. CHECK OUT YOUR ANALYTICS & INSIGHTS

Look back at your previous content and see what performed well and what didn’t. This will give you a good understanding of what your audience likes and give you an idea of what not to post in the future.

9. INCLUDE INFLUENCERS

People tend to trust their circle of friends more than companies so why not look to influencers or bloggers to create content for your brand? Most followers consider influencers to be a sort of “friend” and therefore trust their opinion about products and services. Not only does this get someone else talking about your brand, it also opens your brand up to a new audience that may not know about you already. It also gives you different content to post, an added bonus. Not sure how to get started with influencer outreach? Be sure to drop us a line so we can have a chat!

10. GIVEAWAYS

Everyone loves a giveaway and they’re an easy win when it comes to engagement! Just be sure to pair it with beautiful imagery and catchy copywriting that will get people’s attention. Pay special attention to the rules around running social media hosted giveaways and competitions, and think carefully about your competition mechanic.

11. SHARE USER GENERATED CONTENT

Get closer to your audience by sharing the content they create. Remember to check your tagged photos and any specific hashtags your brand uses for any interesting and creative UGC. By sharing their content, your audience will be more inclined to create this content sharing it with their own audiences and getting your brand out there.

Want some help with your social media marketing and management? Milkbar Digital is a Melbourne social media and digital marketing agency, here to help you gain REAL results for your small business. Get in touch with us today!

Edwina Toohey is a social media coordinator at Milkbar Digital. She’s into eating all the food, Snapchat filters and one day hopes to own a Dachshund.