What characteristics would your “ideal customer” have? This is someone who consistently offers suggestions on how you might do better in your side business, purchases all the goods you offer, and comments on all of your postings. However, this person does not enter the store as the “ideal customer.” They become engaged and activated by consistent, high-quality material, which raises their investment in your brand, through a series of events. If you want to improve your brand engagement and increase sales, follow these five proven strategies:
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Resilience
Consistency may be the element that has the most impact on engagement. This implies that you blog regularly, not just when you feel like it—every week or every month. Or, if you run a podcast, you release new episodes on the second Tuesday of every month rather than haphazardly in the fall when things are a little slower.
People will want to interact with you if your message is compelling. However, there is a decreased possibility that people will regularly engage with you if they cannot arrange their schedules around the delivery of your information. Why would we, after all, anticipate a more constant response from our audience than we do? Organizing a simple posting calendar or blog release schedule can make all the difference.
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Variety
The golden rule of engagement is that if you keep a “consumer” interested, they will continue to be interested. Sounds straightforward enough, doesn’t it? Actually, there’s a little more to it than that.
It’s time to add more diversity to your content output once you have consistency down to a science. If you typically only publish on social media, try something new and start sending out a weekly email with a blog post based on the sermon for that week. Or, if you already have a sizable email list from your regular blogging, you can increase value by sending out podcasts every two weeks to that list.
As a result, there will be more opportunities for consumers to interact with your brand. This will encourage “oldies” to continue returning or even move them closer to the goal of being a “perfect customer.” Since these new formats may better correspond with “newbies'” preferred method of brand connection, it will jump-start the engagement process for them.
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High-grade
At the end of the day, it could be preferable to refrain from posting altogether if your content is poor. When I say “excellent,” I don’t always mean crisp sound or high-quality production—I’m more thinking of the message you are conveying as a whole. Make sense? Is what you’re saying? Do you believe your message is genuinely beneficial? How is the “cost” of engaging with you (time, small fees, etc.) massively outweighed by the value you provide to your audience?
The increase will happen if what you are communicating to your brand audience is excellent.
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Reaction
This is an important element that many leaders overlook. They want their team to condense their speaking engagements and graphics into snappy Instagram trailers, but they overlook the crucial fact that social media is social.
Your followers won’t leave comments on your article if they don’t believe they will receive a response from you. A simple thumbs-up, “hallelujah,” or “like” can work wonders. Even better is if your leader can answer with a picture or a video. Engagement rises if your brand appears less like a business and more like a real person.
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Organic Content
The spontaneous, impromptu posting comes last but not least. It’s a picture of someone praying in the green room before a new service or of a volunteer taking down after the eighth Easter service. It’s either one of your high school lacrosse or wedding pictures from 20 years ago. This information is devoured by audiences because it feels authentic.
Your results will substantially improve in just a few months if you implement these five tested tactics to enhance brand engagement. Rome, as they say, “was not built in a day.” Always keep in mind that “perfect customers” don’t just stroll in the door. It is your obligation to develop, engage, and activate them.