What Does Online Engagement Look Like In 2020?

Are blogs still relevant in 2020? 

The short answer is yes. According to Impact, 7 in 10 Internet users regularly check blog posts and online engagement. From a marketing perspective, blogs can significantly improve your SEO results as they allow you to create unique content pieces to target the latest keyword trends. 

However, blogs aren’t the only channel to engage with your audience. Nowadays, the attention span online is shorter than the one of a goldfish. In other words, while loyal readers are likely to engage with your blog posts, new ones will need to be convinced in under 8 seconds. Indeed, 8 seconds is the current attention span online for a new audience group. The shrinking attention span requires a change in tactics. When reaching out to a new audience, you need a format that is exciting, entertaining, and touching from the first second.

Video blogs: Let them watch the film of your life

Video blogs record high engagement rates compared to their written cousins. According to Cisco, video content is expected to make up over 82% of all online consumer traffic by 2022. Therefore, it makes sense to reach out to new “readers” via a video channel. Additionally, over 9 in 10 users who consume video content on their smartphones are likely to share it with others. The statistics are much lower for written articles. A video is engaging from the first image as it creates a complex sensory experience. In a few seconds, you can convey a stronger message than you would in a few paragraphs of text.

Users are likely to watch a video to the end rather than read a blog article. From a marketing perspective, your video content receives high traffic, making you more suitable to join the Youtube advertising network. You can display advertising in the middle of your video, which means you can monetize your content effortlessly.

Interactive storytelling: A journey down memory lane

Interactive storytelling brings the “reader” at the heart of the story. Unlike reading a blog post that tells a story, interactive storytelling turns the reader into a semi-active narrative ally who contributes to the end story. You can create interactive experiences through a variety of mediums, including microsites and ebooks. If you are familiar with classic video games – if not, you may want to consider installing PS2 Roms for Windows on your laptop – with an exciting plot, you can use a similar approach to share your content. An exciting plot such as the PS2 GTA: San Andreas moved the player through challenges to reveal the story. As players choose options, they can find out more about the plot. Interactive content creates an immediate sense of reward as users feel in charge of the progress.

Podcasts: Let me tell you a story

Storytelling is part of human nature. Our ancestors grew up telling and listening to stories. Therefore, podcasts allow marketers to tap into the human psyche and share valuable content. A podcast can replace a personal or professional blog article and maximize engagement. They’re so easy to consume that podcasts are now part of everyday activities, from commute to house chores.

Online engagement varies depending on your preferred format. As popular as blogs are, they are not the best engagement strategy for an audience with a shrinking attention span. On the contrary, making your content appealing from the first second is more effective for video, interactive, and podcast storytelling.