Is This Why You're Not Getting More Followers?
Hey,
Are you posting content daily, but not getting much traction?
Your content not getting many views and even less likes?
Starting to feel like your content is going nowhere?
That you're wasting your time?
Your feet stuck in the mud and your heart stuck in throat…
I felt the same way, and even worse, I already had the solution, but I had ignored it.
Like an idiot.
So what was the solution?
Engagement.
Or as I always used to mockingly refer to it, "eNgAgEmEnT."
My sister (who has more than 200,000 followers across her profiles and groups on Facebook) would always go on and on about engagement.
And I'd dismiss it and say valuable content that provides actionable advice is all you need.
Well, time has proven me wrong.
My way fell flat and I barely got 20 followers per month on Facebook following it.
Then (luckily), I had the brilliant insight of just maybe listening to my little sister who was kicking the shit out of me with her content.
And after I started following her way, my followers increased by nearly 2,000 in two months…
Just shows you, when someone has the result you want, shut the hell up and follow their advice…
Humble pie is cold and dry…
I don't recommend it.
My embarrassment now aside, what does engagement actually look like then.
How do you do it?
Comment on the posts of others
Comment on other people's posts who you'd like to engage on yours.
Active accounts with good engagement on their own posts.
Following the persuasion principle of reciprocity, if you routinely comment on other people's posts, most of them will start commenting on yours, boosting your engagement.
Use the CAT formula for leaving comments:
C: Compliment. Leave a compliment related to their post.
A: Ask a relevant question related to the post, or add your own experience that affirms the message their content is conveying.
T: Thank them for making the post and sharing their insights.
"This is a great post, John. Thanks for sharing your story! I remember when I did my first sales call and was nervous as hell. How many did you have to do before you started to feel comfortable?"
Don't just post, "Exactly." "Agreed." "Thanks."
A puppy dies every time you do that. Stop killing puppies...
(Quick side note related to asking questions. Especially when doing outreach! Ask questions people would FEEL like answering. Don't ask, "What is your biggest struggle in your business right now?" No one feels like answering that. Especially to some stranger on the internet.)
You only need a small network of regulars engaging with your content to start boosting it within the algorithm and start getting your posts seen by a wider audience.
Reply to every comment on your own posts.
I see so many people not doing this…
You can follow the CAT formula for these as well.
Thank them for commenting.
Complement or Acknowledge what they said in their comment.
Ask something relevant to what they shared in their comment to continue the conversation when possible.
The more conversation you can foster on your posts, the more that post will get boosted and shown to others.
Follow the Rule of 2.
Further leverage reciprocity by following the Rule of 2.
For every comment or like someone leaves on your content, go and like or comment on two of theirs.
Give more than you receive.
Many people who engage on your content are savvy to this and will recognize your effort, as they know how valuable engagement is for boosting their own content.
So you will create a mutually beneficial, upward spiral of engagement for both of you.
Do this with 10 others and you'll be growing in no time.
Once I added these simple steps to my content schedule, my engagement on my own posts increased dramatically and I started gaining followers tenfold.
So if you're not growing — try it.
If you are growing, you're probably already doing it.
If not, then try it any way and grow faster!
And let me know if it helps.
Or if I need to warm up that pie again…
Stay focused,
Brandon Rhee
