Ever Feel Like You’re Talking to a Wall?
You post something you think is great… and nothing happens. No comments, no shares, maybe a couple of pity likes from your best friend and your mom. Meanwhile, someone else posts a blurry photo of their coffee, and it gets hundreds of likes. What gives?
The truth is, engagement isn’t about luck—it’s about understanding what makes people stop scrolling and actually careabout your content. Let’s break down exactly what works and how you can start creating content that gets real engagement (without selling your soul to the algorithm).
1. Stop Posting Like a Brand, Start Posting Like a Human
People don’t engage with businesses—they engage with people. The more you sound like a faceless corporation, the less engagement you’ll get.
✅ Do this:
- Write like you’re talking to a friend, not like you’re drafting a press release.
- Use humor, personality, and even a little sarcasm if that fits your brand.
- Show behind-the-scenes moments—people love the real stuff.
🚫 Avoid this:
- Super polished, overly professional posts with zero personality.
- Generic “We are pleased to announce…” updates (yawn).
Example: Instead of posting, “Our company just launched a new product!” try “We spent six months making this, drank 382 cups of coffee, and almost lost our minds—but it’s finally here!” See the difference?
2. Make Your Audience the Star
People love talking about themselves. If your content invites them to share their opinions, experiences, or funny stories, you’ll get way more engagement.
✅ Do this:
- Ask open-ended questions (“What’s the worst business advice you’ve ever received?”)
- Run polls (“Which social media trend needs to disappear?”)
- Share user-generated content (“Look at how [customer name] is using our product—genius!”)
🚫 Avoid this:
- Talking only about your brand without inviting interaction.
- Posting long-winded captions without giving people a reason to comment.
3. Use the “Hook, Value, Call-to-Action” Formula
If your posts aren’t grabbing attention in the first two seconds, they’re getting scrolled past. Every post should follow this formula:
- Hook: Grab attention in the first line (“You’re probably making this social media mistake right now.”)
- Value: Give something useful or interesting (“Here’s how to fix it in 10 seconds.”)
- Call to Action: Tell people what to do next (“Save this for later!” or “Drop a 🔥 in the comments if this helped!”)
✅ Do this:
- Write short, punchy captions.
- Use eye-catching visuals or videos.
- Add a clear reason for people to engage.
🚫 Avoid this:
- Long, boring intros before getting to the point.
- Ending posts without giving people something to do next.
4. Tell Stories—Even in Short Posts
Facts are cool, but stories are what really get people to engage. Even a quick anecdote makes your content more relatable.
✅ Do this:
- Share personal wins and fails (“I totally bombed my first business pitch. Here’s what I learned.”)
- Use customer stories (“This is how [customer name] doubled their sales using our strategy!”)
- Make lessons feel like stories instead of just lists.
🚫 Avoid this:
- Only posting facts and stats without context.
- Making every post sound like a textbook.
5. Post More “Saveable” and “Shareable” Content
Some content gets engagement because it’s fun. But some gets engagement because people need to save or share it.
✅ Do this:
- Create lists and how-tos people want to refer back to.
- Make quote posts or infographics that people will want to share.
- Give bite-sized tips that provide instant value.
🚫 Avoid this:
- Posting only promotional content.
- Making posts that don’t give people a reason to share.
6. Find the Right Balance Between Trends and Originality
Jumping on trends can get you noticed, but only posting trendy stuff makes you blend in with everyone else.
✅ Do this:
- Use trends strategically—when they fit your brand.
- Put your unique spin on popular formats.
- Mix trendy content with evergreen content.
🚫 Avoid this:
- Forcing trends that don’t match your brand’s personality.
- Only doing what everyone else is doing.
Final Thoughts: Engagement Isn’t Magic, It’s a Strategy
Getting people to engage with your content isn’t just about luck—it’s about understanding why people interact with posts in the first place. If you:
✔️ Post like a human, not a brand
✔️ Make your audience the focus
✔️ Write attention-grabbing captions
✔️ Tell stories instead of just listing facts
✔️ Create shareable content
…you’ll start seeing way more likes, comments, and shares. 🚀
Now, your turn! What’s the last post you made that got a ton of engagement? Or, if nothing’s working—drop your handle and I’ll check it out! 👇
