Are you tired of creating social media posts that barely get any engagement? It's time to shake things up with interactive posts! From polls to live videos, these 9 creative strategies will boost engagement and foster a sense of community among your followers.
Interactive posts: the key to engaging your audience
If you're not utilizing interactive posts on your social media channels, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to engage with your audience. These posts allow your followers to participate actively in the conversation and make their voices heard. And when your audience feels like they have a say in what you're doing, they'll be likelier to stick around and engage with your content. So don't be afraid to mix things up with polls, quizzes, and live videos.
What are interactive posts?
Interactive posts are social media updates that invite your followers to participate in some way. Whether voting in a poll, taking a quiz, or sharing their own content, interactive posts allow you to engage your audience and create a sense of community. These posts are much more effective at driving engagement than just posting a plain old status update. So if you want to up your social media game, give interactive posts a try!
Top 9 brilliant ideas engagement interactive posts
1. Polls: Make your followers' voices heard
Polls are a quick and easy way to get your followers involved in your content. Not only do they give your audience a say in what you post, but they also provide valuable insights into what your followers are interested in. Plus, polls are super simple to create on most social media platforms. So why not give them a try and let your followers' voices be heard? You might be surprised by the results and increased post engagement. Give polls a shot and watch your audience participation soar!
Social media post example:
Ideally, create a vote on issues close to your brand and its audience. Then you will get authentic engagement. Also, ensure that such voting is quick and easy to understand. Adobe has made its own in the form of several stories - this way, users quickly move on to the next question and are not even discouraged by the number of queries, as they feel engaged.
2. Quizzes: Engage your audience through fun
Quizzes are a fantastic way to engage your audience on social media. They are fun for your followers to participate in and provide valuable insight into what your audience is interested in. Plus, quizzes are super easy to create and can be tailored to fit any niche or topic. So go ahead and give your followers a chance to show off their knowledge and have a little fun – they'll love it!
Social media post example:
The popular SEO tool, Semrush, continues to reach for colorful graphics in its social media communications. In this case, they posted a quiz on it. It's hard to pass by such a graphic without trying to solve it! If you want to keep users for longer, try to make the solution itself not too simple.
3. Questions: Spark discussion
Are you tired of posting content that gets little to no response from your followers? It's time to switch things up with open-ended questions! These types of inquiries not only spark discussion but also show your followers that you value their opinions and input. And don't forget to respond to comments and questions from your followers. This interaction not only increases engagement but also helps build a sense of community on your social media platforms.
Social media post example:
Grammarly asked users a simple question as to which brand didn't get such obvious and uniform answers at all. Users are always eager to share their tips and experiences - take advantage of it! Ask them questions and encourage them to leave their answers.
4. Contests and giveaways: Excite your audience with prizes
Contests and giveaways are the ultimate way to get your audience excited about your brand. They provide an incentive for followers to engage with your content and create a sense of exclusivity and FOMO (fear of missing out) that can drive even more engagement. Plus, who doesn't love the chance to win a prize? Make sure to promote your contest or giveaway heavily and consider partnering with other brands or influencers to expand your reach. And remember to clearly outline the rules and guidelines to ensure a smooth and fair process for all participants.
Social media post example:
Giveaways are a great way to drum up engagement quickly. In the rules, you must include conditions such as liking a post, following a profile, or leaving a comment (exactly how cosmetics brand Kiehl's did it).
5. User-generated content: Showcase your follower's in action
User-generated content is a game-changer when it comes to social media engagement. Not only does it showcase the love and support your followers have for your brand, but it also saves you time and resources in creating content.
So go ahead and ask your followers to share their own stuff featuring your brand or product. You'll increase engagement and develop a sense of community among your followers. Plus, reposting and featuring user-generated content shows appreciation for your loyal customers and helps to strengthen that connection with them.
Social media post example:
For many industries, it's easy to encourage users to create their own content, which you can then freely use in your own media. A perfect example is cosmetic brands like Catrice, eager to show content where users use cosmetics.
6. Live videos: Connect with your audience in real-time
Live videos are the ultimate way to connect with your audience in real-time. These broadcasts allow you to engage with your followers more personally, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at your brand or answering their questions on the spot. Not to mention, live videos have a higher reach and engagement rate on social media, making them a no-brainer for boosting your online presence. So if you want to truly connect with your audience and give them a unique experience, make sure to incorporate live videos into your social media strategy.
Social media post example:
Live streaming has never been so simple but also so popular. It is really worth incorporating it into your strategy. A popular magazine - Cosmopolitan, does this by organizing Facebook live streams with various specialists.
7. Stories: Utilize the stories feature on social media
Take advantage of a huge opportunity to engage with your audience, offered by stories on social media. These brief posts allow you to connect with your followers more personally and authentically, as they usually disappear after 24 hours (depending on the medium). Plus, with all the creative tools available, you can make your stories stand out and really grab your followers' attention. Don't let this feature go to waste – start using stories to your advantage and watch your engagement soar!
Social media post example:
People have come to love short-form videos. Although they are short, they are correctly done - they can evoke various reactions in users. Spotify is one of the brands that can take full advantage of the power of this type of content. It creates short stories about artists and a popular annual music summary (Spotify Wrapped) for its users.
8. Hashtags: Create a branded hashtag for user-generated content
To build brand awareness and create a community of loyal followers, you need to create a branded hashtag for user-generated content. This simple yet powerful strategy allows your audience to share their experiences and content using your brand's unique hashtag. Not only does this help to increase brand visibility, but it also encourages user engagement and allows you to easily track and showcase user-generated content on your social media channels. So go ahead and get creative with your branded hashtag.
Social media post example:
Creating your own hashtag is the perfect way to build a great community around your brand. Canva - has made the hashtag #canvadesignchallenge, under which its users can take part in various challenges and share their achievements online, advertising the brand itself.
9. Collaborations: Partner with other brands or influencers
If you want to take your social media game to the next level, it's time to start collaborating with other brands or influencers. Not only will this help you reach a wider audience, but it also allows you to tap into the following and credibility of the other party. Feel free to reach out and pitch a collaboration idea - you never know what doors it might open for your brand. And once you've partnered up, be sure to engage with the other party's followers to maximize the benefits of the collaboration.
Social media post example:
Establishing a partnership will not only help you increase your reach but also give you access to a new audience. It is essential, however, that such partnerships are formed prudently so that one side and the other have some common ground. An example of such a collaboration is the KitKat brand and PS5. Both are associated with leisure and pleasure.
Engage your users with hard-to-miss-out posts!
Interactive posts are the key to engaging your audience on social media. There are many creative ways to get your followers talking and interacting with your brand, from polls and quizzes to user-generated content and live videos. By asking open-ended questions, responding to comments, running contests and giveaways, utilizing the stories feature, creating branded hashtags, and collaborating with other brands or influencers, you can take your social media strategy to the next level and boost your engagement. Try out these strategies and see the magic happen!
Interactive posts - FAQ
What are interactive posts?
Interactive posts are a surefire way to boost engagement on social media. From polls and quizzes to live videos and collaborations, there are plenty of creative ways to get your followers talking and interacting with your brand.
How do I make my posts more interactive?
- Use polls to ask your followers for their opinions on a topic or product.
- Create quizzes that engage your audience and allow them to test their knowledge.
- Ask open-ended questions to encourage discussion and interaction.
- Run contests or giveaways that require followers to participate or share your content to enter.
- Encourage your followers to share their content and repost or feature their submissions.
- Utilize live videos to connect with your audience in real-time and engage with them during the video.
- Use the stories feature on various social media platforms to interact with your followers more casually and personally.
- Create a branded hashtag for user-generated content and encourage your followers to use it.
- Participate in relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience and engage with them.
- Collaborate with other brands or influencers and engage with their followers through shared content.
What are examples of interactive content?
- Polls and quizzes
- Contests and giveaways
- Live videos
- Stories
- User-generated content
Karol is a serial entrepreneur, e-commerce speaker, and founder of 3 startups. He advised hundreds of companies and was responsible for projects worth over EUR 50 million for financial institutions in Europe.
He earned two master's degrees - Computer Science and Marketing Management - from Poland and Portugal. He has over ten years of experience in Silicon Valley, Poland, Portugal, USA, and UK, helping startups, financial institutions, and SMEs improve their functioning through digitization.
