10 steps to
more engaging content
Whether you’re a small business, an entrepreneur, or a marketer, creating engaging content is essential to the success of digital marketing campaigns. But crafting great content can be more challenging than it seems, particularly when it comes to standing out amongst the online competition. To help you get started, HexaHive has compiled 10 steps you can take to create engaging content that will help captivate viewers and drive conversions.
1.
know your audience
Before you begin creating content for your website, social platform, or blog, make sure that you’ve done your research on who your target audience is and what kinds of topics they will connect with. Knowing your audience will go a long way in helping you craft engaging content that interests and resonates with them.
2.
start with an outline
Creating an outline before you dive into writing (whether blog posts or captions) is one of the best ways to ensure that the structure of your content is sound and easy for readers to follow. You can use this outline as a roadmap for your finished piece so that nothing gets left out and everything flows together in a cohesive manner.
3.
focus on the visuals
Visuals such as images, videos, and graphics are essential elements in creating engaging content. They serve as visual cues for readers which can help keep them interested in what you have to say and also allow them to better digest information quickly and easily. Plus, visuals often break up text making it easier on the eyes!
4.
make it skimmable
People tend to skim rather than read online, so make sure that your paragraphs are short and concise (no more than 2-3 sentences). That way, if someone does decide to skim rather than read all of your content, they won’t miss anything important. All of the key points should be contained within shorter paragraphs to make it easier for skimmers to process quickly without having to wade through too much text at once.
5.
make it actionable
Give readers something they can take away from your content – whether it’s tips or advice – so that they feel like their time spent reading was worthwhile and worth their while! This could be anything from how-to guides or step-by-step instructions on how to do something related to what you’re discussing in your post/article/guide etc… The more actionable items there are within your piece, the better!
6.
Focus On Quality Over Quantity
Don’t just churn out generic filler content just to fill space – make every word count! Quality really does trump quantity when it comes down to crafting engaging content; people want useful information, not fluff pieces that don’t really add any value or insight into whatever topic you might be discussing within the content!
7.
make it shareable
Think about what types of things people like sharing with their friends or followers on social media; this could include infographics, surveys/polls, quizzes, etc. Anything interactive is usually very shareable because people naturally love showing off their knowledge or opinion – so capitalize on this by including snippets within existing posts/articles/guides/etc. You can even create entire pieces dedicated solely to these interactive elements!
8.
Add Humor Whenever Possible
People love humor, so try adding some lighthearted jokes throughout your blog posts/articles/guides/etc. Adding this will not only help break up long bouts of text but also give readers something other than just straight facts about whatever topic you might be discussing – keeping them engaged until the very end!
9.
include statistics or facts
Including numbers, statistics, and facts can help support claims made within certain pieces of content, as well as provide additional evidence and proof points needed for backing up whatever stance is being taken regarding the said topic(s). Numbers are always good for getting attention, as people tend to pay attention more when there are actual numbers involved instead of just words alone. Using stats and facts also can help build trust with your audience, since they will know exactly where the figures came from and why they matter!
10.
make it authentic
Last but certainly not least – always strive towards authenticity & honesty when creating any type of content. Being genuine helps build trust with your audience because they will know that whatever information presented has been properly researched and verified before being published. In addition, honesty goes a long way with readers, as they appreciate knowing where businesses stand on certain issues without having sugar-coated rhetoric thrown at them instead!
