Engagement Interactivity Creating a conversation building an audience

Engagement, Interactivity Creating a conversation, building an audience of loyal followers

Some Video links How to build an Engaged Audience, from Scratch (and for free), 3 mins, 2011, firepolemarketing. Moves fast, visuals from 37 experts offering Twitter –like comments on techniques to engage http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=3 YOH-t 2 Ar 5 k Beginning the engagement process – not writing, but sales per se. And very good. Gitomer, 90 secs http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Xq. WXUci. Fb. Dg Outstanding video 4 mins by blogger Chris Ducker. Great overview of effective engagement tips, and interlinking different platforms. Really focuses on feedback and interaction, too. http: //www. chrisducker. com/audience-engagement/ Additional Resource: Engaging your reader with Sentence Structure, Walden Univ. 1: 15: 00, posted Feb 2013. Excellent, in-depth, much longer video. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=h. Go. Diy. CXl 2 Y

Engagement v Interactivity Engagement: Your audience is actively interacting with your content. Reading, watching, writing, sharing, etc. Interactivity: The means by which you engage your audience beyond them simply viewing, reading your content. An interactive site will have a more engaged audience. This audience will also likely stay on your site longer, return more often, be more happy with your product / service, and more likely to share.

Interactivity The means by which your followers interact with you and your content • Leaving their own comments • Ask readers to post images, videos, links etc. • Interaction between visitors (forums, etc) • Ratings, rankings, etc. (ie product, movies) • Seek user experiences (ie travel blog, product user) • Polls, surveys (will they see the results? Tell them) • Ask for Likes, Shares, Follows (Social Media)

Interactivity How do you encourage interaction? • Ask questions such as “what do you think? ” or “What would you do? ” • Add buttons “Rank This” “Rate This” Thumbs Up, or Down” • Provide comment, discussion areas (not the same) • Allow people to subscribe to newsletters, email etc • Allow subscriptions to conversations, discussions

Interactivity Why does engagement via interactivity matter? • Engaged visitors stay on your site longer • Engaged visitors will likely return to your site • Active website, SM accounts encourage more activity – it’s like a circle that feeds on itself • Interacting with your visitors shows they matter to you • Fulfills the ‘you’ factor: Acknowledges their voice • Engagement encourages sharing, creates viral lift for your content

Interactivity Tactics to increase engagement: • Post interesting, informative, timely content • Update existing content with new developments • Respond to your audience – daily (at least) • Offer incentives (prizes, discounts, sneak peeks etc) • Say thanks for good ideas, suggestions, reviews etc. • Acknowledge good, constructive criticism • Act on good, constructive criticism (even better!) • Stay upbeat, but don’t make it pedantic • Admit errors, problems; thank whoever found them • Fix them in timely fashion (even better)

Interactivity Some Don’ts when it comes to interactivity: • Don’t respond to rants, flamers etc. You can’t win (though there are, sometimes, exceptions) • Don’t poke fun, or insult people who disagree with you • Ignore responsible criticism – bad stuff goes viral, fast • Think you are in control. You are not

Closing Thought Never talk AT people, Just talk WITH them

Now you try it: You have 15 minutes to create a blurb, or paragraph, seeking engagement on these webpages. How would you ask people to interact in a Discussion forum or Comments page? Write your answers as a REPLY in the appropriate thread in the Week 9 Discussion Forum. • Read the top scenario in this Ask Amy advice column, about the abusive spouse. http: //www. ottawasun. com/2013/10/29/sister-insists-family-include-abusiveex • Just skin the information on this do-it-yourself page for laying roof shingles. No need to read every word, just get a feel for the content

Some Article links 37 Tips to Engage your Website Visitors (frogloop blog) with ppt. slideshare http: //www. frogloop. com/care 2 blog/2012/8/14/37 -tips-to-engage-your-website -visitors. html Different types of interaction – and an explanation of multi-user interaction vs single user interaction. Her English writing skills only so-so but information is good. http: //www. webdesignviews. com/2009/10/interactivity-in-web-design-abeginners-guide/