Hajra Naz
Every week, there are 9 billion content impressions on LinkedIn, but how many people are meaningfully engaged with the posts? Not many. Business owners make the mistake of sharing self-promotional content, making it difficult for their audience to engage. Don’t be one of those business owners. Having above average engagement on LinkedIn requires asking the right questions and understanding the social dynamics of the platform.
Including a question at the conclusion of your post is the simplest technique to increase engagement because it invites readers to respond and interact with the post in the comments area. Because they are keen to interact with your material and join the conversation, this strategy aids in the identification of the ideal clients.
You can foster better relationships with them. Discussions strengthen relationships that your existing followers have with your content, as people who were previously passive begin engaging actively.
How to Create LinkedIn Questions That Spark Genuine Responses
Focus on Them, Not You
Almost everybody appreciates a good monologue which puts them in the limelight. Instead of making acclaiming statements like ‘What do you think of my new service?’ use a more moderated approach focused on them. Invite your audiences to share their problems and achievements with you.
Engage them in matters relating to their profession. “If you could advise your younger self regarding [your topic], what would it be?” “What’s the biggest challenge you overcame in your first year of business?” are good starting points. This makes the audience respond with warmer emotions towards you while feeling respected at the same time.
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Keep Your Questions Highly Specific
Vague questions often go unanswered. A broad question like “How’s your week going?” is too generic to inspire meaningful discussion. Instead, narrow your focus to something more precise.
A better approach is using, “What’s one marketing tactic that surprised you with its effectiveness this year?” instead of, “What marketing strategies do you use?” In collaboration with the audience, just as in other forms of the dialogue, you achieve more when you are specific about what you want from them.
Using specific questions gives the impression that you are familiar with their world. This way, instead of putting down bait to collect engagements, you encourage deeper interactions that can harness a sense of community, which can serve as your edge over competitors.
Provide Context to Make Responding Easy
Questions with no background can feel abrupt, making people hesitant to respond. Instead, provide context to create a sense of safety and relevance.
For instance, start with a short personal story or an observation before posing your question: “I just switched from hourly to value-based pricing and saw my client satisfaction increase. What’s one pricing change that positively impacted your business?”
This setup helps people understand why you’re asking and provides an example of the type of response you’re looking for. When responding feels effortless, more people are likely to join the conversation.
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Structure Questions for Easy Answers
Some questions take too long to think through, thus, making them difficult to answer quickly. Since LinkedIn users spend lots of time mindlessly scrolling in between tasks, they should not be put through too much hassle to actively participate.
Try using fill-in-the-blank formats, “The business tool I could not live without would have to be______.” Or you can include more than one answer and make them pick, “Which one of the following does your hiring process value the most: A) experience, B) cultural fit, C) potential to grow?”
This alternative format removes the barriers that most people who would otherwise opt to participate put up for themselves. As soon as the first answer is given, other people will want to join the conversation, which leads to increased activity around the post.
Give People a Chance to Showcase Their Expertise
Sharing knowledge and achievements is something people love to do, particularly if it helps build their credibility. Most users want to comment on LinkedIn posts in ways that put them in a good light because comments on posts show up in their networks’ feeds.
Make sure to ask questions in a manner that will get you thoughtful respondents who will require you to have built one of those experiences. For instance, “What is one unconventional strategy which helped you exceed your goals two years ago?” Or to phrase it differently, “Answer one question, what is one leadership trait that has earned you respect from your subordinate?”
People appreciate being given room to show off their talents, and this is what makes giving them a chance to showcase their capabilities even more engaging.
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Time Your Questions for Maximum Visibility
Even the best question won’t get traction if no one sees it. Pay attention to when your audience is most active on LinkedIn and schedule your posts accordingly.
Spend at least half an hour online after publishing to reply to any initial comments. Responding quickly demonstrates that you’re participating in the discussion rather than only posting and leaving.
Engagement breeds more engagement. When LinkedIn’s algorithm detects activity on your post, it amplifies its reach to more people. Timing, therefore, plays a critical role in maximizing engagement.
Jumpstart the Conversation
Before publishing your post widely, share it with a few trusted connections and ask for their thoughts. Those initial comments help create momentum, making it easier for others to join the discussion.
Post comments that add value to contextualize questions to other people’s content. This rewards you later. In turn, if people wish to exploit the benefits you’re receiving, they will certainly spend time on your content. In the beginning, you will have to work extra hard, but over time it will pay off as your reputation grows.
Read More: How to Build a Standout Professional Profile on linkedIn
Ask Better LinkedIn Questions, Build Stronger Connections
Wonderfully crafted, combined with thought-provoking copy on LinkedIn, is a surefire way of boosting engagement. Ensure that they get to the audience you are targeting. Aim for questions that require a specific and contextual answer, with a request to make sure that it does not require much effort. Maximize the impact of your posts by;
- Engaging other users
- Posting at strategic times
- Enabling them to respond with as little friction as possible.
Try it out. End your next LinkedIn post with a question and watch the responses roll in. Be as observant as possible, and you will notice the pointer your audience is throwing using engagement. Your target customer base is there and all they want is to be puzzled with the right questions.
