Updated June 1, 2022
Reading Time: 3 minutes5 Things Every Post Should Do
Ask anyone who’s ever even thought of dabbling in the blogosphere what the number one secret for success is, and they’ll say “good content.” Many people struggle with turning out good content on a regular basis. So, here are five things you should do in every post or article to make content more engaging.
Grab Attention
It’s the Internet — the reader has millions of other choices. Why on earth are they going to read your dry recitation of product facts? The truth is, most of them are going to bail on uninteresting content within seconds. They’ve got important Twitter or Facebook business to attend to.
No matter what information you want to present, grab your reader’s attention in 5 seconds or less. Your headline and the first sentence of your engaging content can do this by:
- Making a controversial statement
- Citing a funny, interesting, or shocking fact
- Posing a question that resonates with people interested in your topic
Tie those statements, facts, or questions into your topic, and you have the beginnings of a narrative post.
Inform the Reader through Story
When possible, weave a story instead of laying out a series of naked facts. Use anecdotes from your life, things you’ve heard from other people, or examples you make up. A narrative is always easier to read than a list of dry data.
Engaging Content Asks a Question
Engagement doesn’t end at the final paragraph. You want the reader to do something, whether it’s sharing a link, making a comment, clicking on an offer, or purchasing a product/service. Close with a question or call to action that brings the entire post around to the reader. It’s not about you — it’s about them. Give them a chance to share, to shine, to be the first on their street with a piece of knowledge or a new product.
By the way, Google’s Hummingbird algorithm rewards engaging content that answers a question. Avoid thin and unoriginal content as its a telltale sign you don’t respect your reader.
Use Good Grammar and Style
Pay attention to how you write and try to get the punctuation in all the right places. In an online world where most users take shortcuts when communicating via social media and text, engaging content providers aren’t afforded the same luxury. Subconsciously, readers will have a lower impression of your site if content is poorly written. Good grammar makes the story flow better, reduces the time it takes to read a post, and invokes a greater trust.
Engaging Content Uses Strong Sources
Strong sources are similar to good grammar. Engaging content builds trust with the reader. You don’t always have to cite sources. Yet when you do, use something authoritative like a news journal, .gov or .org site, or a well-respected blog or similar source.
Go forth and apply these hot tips to your blogs and articles, or drop us a comment and tell us: What floats your boat when it comes to engaging content?