Yawn! Ya Boring!

Courtesy of Giphy on Wix.

Being talked ‘at’ is one surefire way to lose my interest.

Would you agree that the best conversations are those where you feel like you are contributing?

Where questions are being asked back and forth with a sense of curiosity and understanding?

Where your voice is heard, and you feel like you are known and belong?

One where you’re engaged!

Now that you and your audience are #engaged with each other, let's take a look at how to keep the spark alive!

---

Let’s dig in!

While being talked at is not fun, creating a conversation that fits the bill above isn’t always easy.

Especially when your target audience has as many different spots as a dalmatian.

Now, I want to take you on a journey.

The social media 'Circle of Life' journey from 'lurker' to 'elder'.

"Community Building on the Web" Amy Jo Kim (2000)

You’re building your online community (go you!)

You’re following my blog and implementing what you’ve learned (amazing!)

You’re getting member requests each day (whoop, whoop!)

You’re posting content based on what your audience wants (legend!)

You’ve seen the Social Media Circle of Life and realised you have a group of Lurkers! (Gasp!)

Courtesy of Giphy on Wix.

Now what?

Community engagement, baby!

Community engagement = milestoning, badging and labels.

Think of milestoning, badging and labels as reputation signals that give community members a social incentive to participate.

Milestoning

Milestoning is about recognising customer experience with your brand. Maybe it’s your 5th year anniversary, and you have customers that have been with you since day 1. Celebrate them in a public post.

Badging/labels

Badging and Labels are about translating milestones into visible symbols. Acknowledging intangible milestones and making them tangible.

Perhaps your online community is just coming together, you can create a founding member badge to represent your OG members and use it as an incentive to join before a certain date.

Similarly, creating roles that signal someone’s current status, such as NEWBIE or ADMIN, is also a good idea. Roles create clarity within the online community, facilitate solidarity and foster stronger group attachment.

Building online community engagement is about JACKPOTTING customer expectations.

Not just meeting expectations but exceeding them too. Consumers expect so much these days, from instant answers and bookings to 1-hour delivery.

(phew)

You run a small pet business, and you can't be everywhere at once to meet.all.these.expectations!

Courtesy of Giphy on Wix.

By creating, nurturing and building your online community, you will have created a community of ‘freelance’ marketers that are just as barking mad about your brand as you are.

The Social Media Circle of Life will keep spinning (don’t panic).

Elders will come and go, your regulars and leaders will change, and you will always have those who remain lurkers. Stay clear, compelling and consistent, and you’ll always keep the spark alive.

If you enjoyed this as much as a wet dog enjoys shaking next to you (or as much as a trip to the vet) let me know in the comments.