Is there a more sparkling, party-filled, cookie-eating, holiday-song-playing month than December? Wrapped up in all that fun is gift giving.
Do you want to be the person who gives earrings to a woman without pierced ears, a snowblower to your friend in Hawaii or an evergreen-scented candle to someone who sneezes at the first sight of a Christmas tree lot?
Or, do you want to take the time to think about potential presents, make sure you know the person (or ask questions to get to know them more) and give the perfect gift they’ve been waiting for?
Giving your audience content is a lot like giving people gifts: For best results, give them what their heart desires. Or, give them something useful that they had not realized they had to have until the moment they opened your gift.
Give Them What They Came For
Are people coming to your blog for voice expertise in documentary film or your tactical advice as a go-to fitness blogger? Make sure your content relates to this topic by writing as if you’re speaking directly to someone who has just asked a question about it.
Don’t Be Selfish
Let your web content be the gift that keeps on giving by linking to additional content that your audience might be interested in, even if it’s on an external site. Be generous with your linking for the sake of your audience. A healthy dose of retweeting other people’s articles and posting links related to your industry will establish your content as the most giving, least-stingy content that satisfies even the greediest content seeker.
Stick To Your Message, But Have Fun
Was there a tweet that caused you to laugh out loud and that others in your industry could relate to? Retweet it with a quick comment. Was there a parody video of your industry that circulated your inner-office email? Tweet it and link to it.
They may not be entirely on brand, but they connect to your industry and interests, and thus, your followers’ interests.
Don’t Give Coal to Your Followers
Don’t whine, don’t complain and don’t ignore. Keep abreast of any @ mentions on Twitter and respond to the tweeter. Check in on your new followers and follow them back if they’re legit. Get involved in ongoing Twitter conversations. Respond to comments on your blog.
Don’t doze off in the recliner in the corner. Be an active part of the scene and take interest in what people are talking about in other parts of the room.
Most importantly, take time to consider your recipients, and your content gift-giving can be as rewarding as the real thing.
Now, where are my gifts?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Cute.
I can definitely relate to this as someone who appreciates reading good content. It’s almost like a gift when a new magazine comes and you’ve got a few feature articles waiting for you that you know will be good. And given the holiday season, it’ll be a lot easier to dive into those. Great post.
Responding on Twitter is crucial. One of the things that makes Twitter so addictive is that you can now have one on one conversations with your favorite writers.
Of course, I’m thankful that Twitter wasn’t around when I wrote my scathing review of the last Will Smith CD in college. The way Will Smith fans got “jiggy with it” in the comments section of that article makes me nervous thinking of what they’d do if they had “access” to me in an individual manner.
I have a gift for you, Melanie!
It’s totally off topic, but hey, it’s the holidays. Everything gets jiggy.
Below is my joyful re-gifting of a link someone sent me. Pure Americana weirdness. This guy does seem to know a thing or two about “engaging” his audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm7yAWpX1Mc
I think that video was totally on topic.