15 Tips for Writing Engaging Content
What Does Content Have To Do with Client Engagement?
Online efforts are vital for creating an effective marketing strategy, increasing business profits, and attracting customers. However, having an online presence alone is not enough; rather, creating content on your website and blog that is engaging is the key to furthering your business goals. The content that you create should always make readers want to read it, and your content should be designed with this question in mind: “Does this content connect with people and encourage them to engage?”
If you’re struggling to create engaging and interesting content for your customers, here are 15 tips that can help to make your writing more effective:
1. Use Headers and Sub-headers
Using headers and sub-headers is great for two reasons: first, they draw your readers’ attention by acting as a focal point of your content, and second, they help to keep your content organized and on track.
2. Be Concise
When creating content, you should keep your information short, sweet, and to the point. Run on sentences or information that is overwhelming isn’t engaging—it’s boring and hard to follow.
3. Use Graphics
Graphics, such as pictures, videos, or charts and graphs are an awesome way to increase client engagement and get readers hooked. By choosing powerful graphics, you may be able to convey an idea much easier than you could with text.
4. Use Lists
While lists shouldn’t always be used, lists can be engaging to readers as they’re easy to follow and understand. Additionally, lists are easy to skim, and provide immediate information without having to read large amounts of text.
5. Have a Call to Action
Every piece of content you create should have a call to action. At the end of each post, have a short sentence or paragraph telling readers what it is you want them to do, and give them the appropriate tools (such as a link) to do so.
6. Edit Your Work
Even the best content can be ruined by a lack of a great editor. For best results, have someone else read your work before posting to check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors in addition to more creative or better ways to convey ideas and structure sentences.
7. Write for Your Audience
If you want to engage your audience, you have to write for their needs. If your customers are women aged 35-50, make sure that your content is targeted specifically for that gender and age group and is written for them. Content that is relevant to men 19-25 won’t attract your main customer base.
8. Tell a Story
Some of the most engaging content is writing that tells a story and keeps the reader guessing. You can use stories to talk about a specific product, your business history, or even an interaction you had with a customer.
9. Be Clear
Information should be stated in a way that is clear and easy to understand without room for ambiguity. Vagueness or ambivalence is rarely engaging, and your readers may be confused or frustrated by your lack of lucid writing.
10. Use Great Sources
Readers love when you provide them with interesting and factual sources. Statistics, data, and newsworthy information are all great tidbits to include in your writing. Quotes are also a fabulous thing to incorporate.
11. Format Wisely
Format your content in a way that’s both easy to follow, read, and understand. Space where appropriate, use titles and headers, bold where necessary, incorporate appropriate margins, use twelve point font, and choose a text and background color that is easy to read. Even if your content is great, it can’t be engaging if it can’t be read!
12. Use Keywords
Keywords will not only help to increase your search engine ranking, but they’ll also help you to stay on topic and create content that is more engaging and interesting. Stay true to your title and keywords throughout the post to ensure that all content you’re creating is relevant.
13. Incorporate Internal Links
A great way to keep users on your website and to continually drive traffic to your site is to use internal links. When placed appropriately, internal links can help to create more engaging content and provide the user with relevant and useful information.
14. Be Consistent
Not only should you be consistent in your writing style and the type of content that you publish, but readers will be more inclined to read your blog if they know that you’re posting consistently and that they can count on you for new content. Set up a posting schedule and stick to it.
15. Let Your Passion Shine Through
The most engaging content is content that’s written by someone who’s passionate about the topic they’re writing about. You love your business, so let others see that love in your writing. Writing with passion and telling readers why it is you’re passionate may just convince them that they should love your business too. Moreover, show your audience how you’re different by touting your unique selling points and convincing your audience that your content is one-of-a-kind.
By creating engaging content that attracts your audience and acquires new readers, you’ll be on your way to growing your business and increasing your profits.