Last month, we debuted our seventh edition of Blogger Building Blocks, How to Effectively Connect and Engage with Your Audience. If you weren’t able to get in touch with your tribe on a deeper level, we’ve still got your back. Read on for one of the most effective ways to engage your audience!
Challenges have long been used as a marketing strategy by many companies, as well as, of course, bloggers. We here at Blogger Babes love a good challenge and we run them quite often—in fact, our latest challenge ends tomorrow! They are a great way to incentivize interaction for your followers, and you can also learn more about what makes them tick in the process. In giving more to your followers with a challenge, you end up receiving a lot more in return.
There are several reasons as to why you would want to run a challenge for your followers. Doing so will help you gauge:
- What really excites your typical member
- What they still struggle with
- What major obstacles they find hard to overcome
- What they still need
- What they desperately want next
Make sure that your challenge benefits and advances your ideal member in a transformative way. Therefore, your challenge should:
- Help your challenge member achieve a specific goal or fulfill a dream.
- Empower your challenge member with the confidence and/or skills to finally take the next step.
- Provide them with a knowledgeable community offering support and encouragement.
- Provide them with validation—from other members, as well as from you.
- Allow you to share and celebrate their success
How to Run a Challenge
You can run a challenge through just about every social media platform out there. Whatever the platform you use, make sure your challenge is:
- in contest form,
- neither too easy nor too hard,
- has milestones and check-in points,
- and has prizes that your audience would want.
To get started, you can create a free mini-version of your challenge to inspire people, and give them a taste of what you’re offering, as well as create momentum. Conclude this mini-challenge with a paid version of a larger version of the same goal to monetize your efforts, or get your readers excited for similar challenges in the future.
Remember, everything is a trail and error. So, test out a new strategy (such as hosting a challenge) and always be open to adapt as you see appropriate for your audience.
We have even more amazing tips on how to successfully establish a long-lasting relationship with your readers. For that and even more ways to learn how to become a successful Blogger Babe, subscribe to our monthly Blogger Building Blocks!
Do you have any experience with challenges? What challenges have you organized and/or participated? Please share the successes and failures you’ve witnessed with us in the comments below.