6 Tips to Improve Engagement on Your Content

So, you’ve noticed your engagement on content has been pretty quiet lately, huh? Well, it could be because summer is right around the corner and your audience is generally less engaged in social media and more out and about living life in the sun.

Or, it’s possible you’re simply posting content that just isn’t cutting it. 😐

Well, no matter the time of year or type of content you’re posting, you’re in the right place if you’re looking to get more likes, shares, and comments. I’m going to be sharing with you some of my tried and true creative methods to get more engagement and activity on your content.

Heads up! Before we dive in, check out my Content Creation Planner to get started.

I’ve bundled together a planner, templates and checklists to make your content planning and creation simple. To take control of content and make things simple, you can start planning now when you Download a copy of my free content planner

Let’s get started…

1) Pay close attention to what your audience is talking about, and then make content about it.

Honestly, there’s no magic trick here. But, most people who read this, won’t follow through. Don’t be that person! By paying attention to what your audience is talking about, you’ll start getting a clearer picture of what your audience already engages with, but more over, you’ll be able to create impactful and personalized content that truly resonates with real people.

So, first off, to start – just keep an eye on who’s commenting on or liking your posts right now.

• What are they liking or commenting on?
• Do you notice any patterns or topics that keep popping up?

Make note of any topics that get the most comments or engagement (as of today) as possible topics to expand on or repeat within new content

Then, take a peak at their profiles and their stories. What kind of stuff are they sharing or discussing on their profiles? This isn’t about being nosy; think of it as getting to know your friends better. You’re simply learning more about what lights up their day.

Choose the relevant topics they are talking about on their profiles and make content that is easily relates to their possible pain points or desired goals and your niche, lead magnets, and products.

This kind of targeted content creation and approach not only helps Emily feel seen and supported but also demonstrates your expertise in a very direct, practical way to your entire audience. It shows you’re not just another “guru” in your niche throwing out general tips; you’re ready to address their unique challenges personally. This all about paying close attention and caring about the folks who take the time to engage with your content.

2) Run a recurring monthly challenge or contest (but not your average giveaway) 

The idea here is not to simple post content that say “GIVEAWAY” – but instead, to create a monthly recurring event and something your audience looks forward to engaging in. Where your followers have the chance to be recognized for their active participation and engagement with your content – but also encourages them to take action on things they already want to do.

Back in the day when I started Ivory Mix, this is exactly what I would do. I would host monthly opportunities for followers to influence which stock photo collections I would create next and I would give them their own personal collection to use as well. The way it worked was I would pick a person from the community who submitted interest, I would ask them questions about their brand and then create a series of stock photos based on their small business.

I called it the Ivory Mix “Influencer of the Month”. The process worked wonders in generating leads, word of mouth, and gave me a chance to listen to feedback as well as share my expertise. The first instance of the Ivory Mix Influencer program was October 2016. Below is a peak at the very first winner / collection created from this process. It went so well that I continued doing this (free) for at least a year.

Another example of this done well is Canva. They have frequently done a “design challenge” within their community and have used this as an opportunity to show off how their platform can be used in real use-cases made by their community:

It’s a fun way to get everyone talking and gives you as the business a sneak peek into what your followers really care about based on their engagement and interest. Plus, it’s a fantastic opportunity to show you’re paying attention and value their input/participation.

By keeping things simple and engaging directly with people to get their input or participation, you’re bound to see a boost in your engagement. It’ll also make your followers feel seen and appreciated.

Start making or sharing memes that really hit the nail on the head when it comes to “relatable” content. The goal here is to post something to make your audience LOL or even better, full-on ROTFL (that’s ‘rolling on the floor laughing’).

One way to do that is by creating a ‘Meme of the Week’ that uses something unique about your niche. Pick something that’s so spot-on, your followers can’t help but tag their friends. (btw, in case you were wondering. No, you don’t have to literally label it ‘meme of the week’ when you post it.)

When you get memes right, they’re a fun, easy way for your followers to say, “Yep, I totally get that” and then go on to spread the word by liking, commenting, tagging, and sharing your post.

The trickiest part is finding that sweet spot where your niche and your audience’s sense of humor meet. Plus, laughing together (even if it’s just a meme) can make your followers feel more connected to you as a person and a brand. And who doesn’t love a good laugh, right?

For Example, here’s a funny meme we laughed at together a couple months back:

Step by Step Checklist for Making Memes:

1. Find the Humor in Relatable Scenarios that your audience would laugh at
2. Use Branded Templates so people begin recognizing you and your brand as relatable /funny and someone I could definitely work with
3. Pick the Right Image – there are plenty of apps for creating memes , you can check out ‘meme’ accounts on Instagram, or go to Twitter / X and search for the trending memes and see how it can relate to your niche.
4. Craft Your Caption: The caption ties everything together. It should be short, punchy, and deliver the humor of your meme.

Remember, the goal is to make your followers pause, chuckle out loud, and feel like they’re in on the joke with you/your brand. When they see that you not only understand their challenges and joys but can also make them laugh about it, they’re more likely to engage or possibly even share your content. Keep it light, relatable, and brand-relevant, and you’ll find your audience tagging their friends to share in the fun.

4) Treat Social Media Like a Party and Celebrate Wins (even the smallest of wins)

Celebrate the small stuff all the time, even just a little-known quirky anniversary like the first time you bought a domain name for your business.

When you start posting these kinds of celebrations, you invite everyone to join in and have fun to. It lightens things up but also gives them a glimpse into your personal story and helps them to become more familiar and invested.

Sure, consistency and strategy are key in social media and content, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Mixing things up with fresh, fun activities like little celebrations, encourages your followers to stay engaged.

5) Post More Series Content and Cliffhanger Content

Pick a topic you could break up into a series, or share the behinds the scenes of something you are making in your business. Then, regularly post short updates to that story or behind the scenes that leave your followers wondering what happens next.

People love a good story, and enjoy following along with a story that unfolds piece by piece. By not revealing everything all at once, your followers have a reason to keep coming back. They’ll want to know what you’ll share next and how the story will move forward.

For example, you could post an image like this below, and share some sneak peak info in the caption to give an update on something you’ve been talking about the past week or two. This post could be right before the big reveal!

6) Random acts of kindness with a simple shoutout or mention of your followers 

Sometime next week, why not pick a few of your most loyal or engaged followers and make their day by giving them a shoutout for everyone to see. To make sure it has the impact and effect you want, you would keep this to yourself and just surprise them with the mention. You could tag them in a story or just simply drop them a compliment or a thank you in one of your next captions. It could be as big as an IG story that’s labeled “Certificate of Awesomeness” (or something less silly and more professional) then add the follower’s name to it and jot down a couple of reasons why you think they’re great or really appreciate their support. Trust me; it’ll mean a lot to them.

Doing nice things for others, just because you can, is a pretty cool way to spread some good vibes and being genuinely appreciative of the people who support you.

Bonus Tip: Remember to write like a real person

Do: Write and post captions, emails and other content like you would in real life. That means, post with personality – your personality. Think of it like you’re having a chat over lunch with a rowdy group of BFF’s. Would you really say something like … “Try XYZ to Leverage Instagram content for enhanced market reach’? Or would you say, “‘Ok Ladies, you have to check out this new tool I just found. I tried it last week and it helped my Instagram reel reach 1000 new people in 24 hours” – Keep it real, relatable, and true to who you are.

Don’t: post generic content on a consistent schedule because you “have a business and that’s what businesses do.” Yes, you may have a business, but you are not the business. Your followers know you are the person writing and posting the content. If your content sounds nothing like you, then they’re less likely to engage with it. What works best, especially for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners like us, is to post real and authentic content in our own personal voice.

So, what’s next?

When you’re ready for more engagement and ease in your content process, I would love to hand you the content plans, Canva templates, captions, and stock photos included in the Profitable Content Membership. With over 18,000 templates, photos, reels, video templates, captions, and more at inside the library, your content stress relief is within reach.

I’m excited to share with you my newest release inside the membership. It’s a personal favorite! Members of our exclusive community just received their monthly content planned for them, including unlimited access to everything you see below, which includes 400+ new Canva templates, stock photos, and caption templates.

Here’s a Preview Of Content Plan #1 (Released May 2024)

Here’s a Preview Of Content Plan #2 – (Released May 2024)

Including these 2 New Months of Captions + Reels Templates

150+ New Canva Templates

250+ New Styled Stock Photos

2 New MRR Products You Can Resell

These include over 2000+ Content Prompts for Chat GPT & strategic Collection of 40+ Blogging Templates that are ready to convert! This right here is why I get excited! The new MRR products are, by far, the most helpful and useful things I have created in a while. I think members may even use them every week / month in their content creation process. 😍

Let me introduce you to the Conversion Ready Blog Bundle and the AI & Chat GPT prompt kit. These were meticulously crafted and packaged to combine actionable blog writing templates, alongside AI prompts – all for use in converting your audience into leads. Each component is tailored to help you on your content creation, providing a foundation for generating evergreen content that effectively nurtures leads and drives sales. I’ve included step-by-step instructions so that you can seamless integrate this bundle into your content process. But, the real treat is that you can resell these too!

if you’re ready to reach content zen, come join us inside the Profitable Content Membership 🥰

Learn More