If you write online, chances are you’re always looking for ways to get more followers and increase reader engagement.
A1: Engaged readers are advocates for your work! A reader will give you a view, a fan will get others to read too. #gswriterchat @GameSkinny
— Jay Ricciardi (@ThatJayR) February 17, 2016
Quintlyn: “The more engaged your audience is, the more likely they are to come back and share your content with others.”
How can I get more people to visit my portfolio, blog or site?
A2. SHARE! Twitter, FB, etc. Actively engage w/ other people’s content build a network that cares ’cause you care. #gswriterchat @gameskinny
— Q ~ MiscreationX (@QuintLyn) February 17, 2016
JR: Share it and tell people! Don’t expect someone to just find your work if they don’t know it exists.
A2: Sharing is caring :3 But really. Tell your kids. Tell your wife. Tell all your friends. Tell strangers. #gswriterchat.
— K Farrow (@farrowk87) February 17, 2016
How do I figure out who my audience is?
A3: Go into the communities you are writing about and talk to them. Participate! That’s how to understand your audience #gswriterchat
— Jay Ricciardi (@ThatJayR) February 17, 2016
“Also, consider drafting up ‘reader personas’ to think about what common problems and interests your target readers have.”
Quintlyn: “They’ll figure it out for you. Create content you believe in & it will attract them. You can’t really force an audience.”
JR: “Typically, people share 3 things: A. Content that reaffirms their beliefs; B. Content they want to argue with/refute; and C. Content that will make them look helpful and knowledgeable to others. People also want to share things that help them demonstrate their emotional intelligence and empathy!”
Quintlyn: “Stuff that’s fun, makes them feel good, teaches them something or is interesting. Easy to consume and understand is a huge plus!”
What’s more important: followers, likes or shares/retweets?
A5. You kinda need the first to get the others, but the others will help you get the first.. #gswriterchat @GameSkinny
— Q ~ MiscreationX (@QuintLyn) February 17, 2016
“The more followers you have to share, the more followers you’ll bring in as a result of that sharing.”
JR: “It depends on what you define as success! Shares are often the most beneficial if you define success as reach & influence.”
Should I spend time commenting on other people’s blogs?
A6: Absolutely, yes! If you aren’t engaging other people, don’t expect them to engage you. #gswriterchat
— Jay Ricciardi (@ThatJayR) February 17, 2016
“This is also part of both getting your name out and participating in communities to understand your audience better. Do it!”
Quintlyn: “Yes! But makes sure your comments really add to the conversation.”
A6: Yes! Give a little to get a little. It’s not all about you, you know. #gswriterchat
— Ryn (@BusinessLioness) February 17, 2016
Quintlyn: “ It depends on what you’re looking for. People are more likely to interact with live, genuine responses. On a personal level, I quit following people who automate. But others may not care. The internet lets us to communicate with people we couldn’t have before. It helps if we ACTUALLY communicate.”
JR: “ It’s a good idea to have consistent tone for your internet presence, but I would strongly avoid having canned responses. You need to be genuine. Know who you are and what you want to support/advocate; don’t be a robot.”
Why is time spent on page important?
A8: Time spent on page is also a good indicator of if people are actually reading and being invested in content. #gswriterchat
— Jay Ricciardi (@ThatJayR) February 17, 2016
“ Also! More time spent on a reference-style page shows that people are actively keeping that page up to refer to for info.”
A8. If they’re there for 5 seconds and gone, you failed to pull them in. #gswriterchat @GameSkinny
— Q ~ MiscreationX (@QuintLyn) February 17, 2016
“ Use this information and look at your content to see what works and what doesn’t.”
Quintlyn: “Make good use of keywords. Make the topic apparent clear and apparent at the top of the arcicle…And seriously, interact with the people in your comment section. Google picks comments up too!”
JR: “Great question! To narrow it down to three… 1.Write excellent, authoritative content. There’s no shortcut there. 2. Provide value to your reader so they want to keep reading and sharing. 3. Format your work so it’s easy to read and understand. If it’s not, no one will stay on your content!”
How can I set and track engagement goals? What is realistic?
A10. Starting out, try to interact with everyone who does so with you. Your posts, socials, other people’s too. #gswriterchat@GameSkinny
— Q ~ MiscreationX (@QuintLyn) February 17, 2016
“It’ll become harder as your community grows, but try to make the effort. Honest engagement matters!”
JR: These goals will vary wildly from person to person, topic to topic. Just always strive to top what you’ve already done. For a start: analyze your performance and try to boost your numbers 10%+ for each article. Got 10 shares? Great, get 11. Set specific goals for your own, unique content & think critically about how and why you hit or miss those goals.”
What are your answers to some (or all) of the questions above? Share your thoughts and expertise in the comments below, and be sure to join us for our next Twitter Chat #gswriterchat.
