Do you ever get frustrated when there is no response when you post a link in a social media group? Here is one type of post you can try in the article itself or in the social media group. Ask Compare and Contrast questions.
Of course it is easy to start with a simple statement or question such as, “What do you think about this?” or “What are your thoughts?”
But you can really get a conversation started by giving the reader a choice between two or more subjects. The compare and contrast method works because it engages the reader to take control of the discussion and gives them a choice.
I posted an article about a magic trick comparing the illusions of scientists with the Penn and Teller magic trick called “Shadow Rose.” The compare and contrast question was in the article itself.
https://youtu.be/etuVHEHF3FM
Most people liked Penn and Teller’s trick and believed that it was valid and just as interesting as the scientists’ illusions. But one guy was not fond of it. This disagreement started a back and forth discussion and got people engaged in the article.
The post got 80 shares in four hours. Suddenly, by the next day the post had 142 shares just from me posting it in a couple of places. Also, by comparing and contrasting, I could post the article in both science and magic groups.
I realized after posting the article that people love to be experts. One post talking about Shrub Labyrinths especially illustrates this idea. I asked one simple question: “What is the difference between a labyrinth and a maze?”
I looked down the page and saw that everyone wanted to comment on the differences. Some said there were similarities between the two, but most definitely wanted to explain the many differences. Many of them thought they knew more than I did.
So by including other people, I made them feel like they were explaining my idea to me. I knew the basic differences between a labyrinth and a maze, but wanted to know more detailed answers. If other people want to feel like experts, I believe that is fine.
The objective is to get people to read and comment on your article or blog post, not to inflate your ego.Click To TweetYou can also try comparing three unlikely things. I compared three stars: Alice Cooper, David Bowie, and Tony Clifton. The reason I posted this article was that each one developed alter egos that were specific to their own distinct directions.
I tried to explain that all three were creative influences. I posted different questions, such as “Are all three of these entertainers on the same level?” After reading the post, some did not believe they belonged in the same category.
They posted to let me know that Bowie was on a different level or that Bowie copied Cooper. However, this dispute was a good result. It kept the conversation going. To this date, the post has reached over 500 shares. If you are feeling brave, you might want to try to push buttons by posting a compare and contrast that will get agreements and disagreements alike.
This Compare contrast method works for any subject matter you are discussing. If you are a marketing person and you join a marketing group, then you could talk about inbound vs. outbound marketing.
Join a social media group and get people talking about your article or blog post.Click To TweetSome companies believe they should spend more time on inbound than outbound. Ask if the people in the group believe inbound is more important, or reverse it. Maybe you believe outbound is the way to go.
Asking questions will increase the likelihood that your posts will get more attention. You need to engage readers where their own voices can be heard. After all, isn’t the point of every article you write to get the most exposure, views, and comments every time you post a link?