Website engagement starts immediately after a visitor lands on your website.
Online or website engagement is the process by which you hold the attention of your visitor to allow them to read your well written articles and (hopefully) make an appointment at your office.
This post corresponds to our latest podcast episode of “Russ and Randy” – a podcast on Healthcare and Medical Internet Marketing. We hope you like “Website Engagement – The Next Step to Converting a Reader.”
You can find us on iTunes.
The purpose of your website is to rank well and get listed in the “Top 10” of a SERP (Search Engine Results Page). A visitor has just arrived at your site after performing a search and finds your high ranking site and clicks. Website engagement is the process by which you hold their attention to read your health related article and also to stay on your site to learn more about you.
Here’s how to do it.
Online Visitors Do Not Read
There are many ways to make your articles more engaging and inviting to read. You must combine a written style to convey your message quickly and create a layout which makes your article visually appealing.
Once a visitor arrives, they decide in less than 3 seconds if your article is worth reading. Online readers have a predictable sequence to make this decision, and remember, they are trying to figure out if your article will answer their question.
- Read the title of your article
- Glance vertically (looking down the page) looking for pics, numbered lists, bullet points
- Read subheadings
- Read the introductory sentence
Engaging Articles Enrage English Teachers
Because of the way readers evaluate an article, use this knowledge constructively to quickly communicate the substance of your article. Though this may violate every thing you were taught in English class, following these tips will make your article more readable.
- Use keywords in the title, subtitle, bulleted lists and number lists should contain the keyword, subject, or main topic of your article. Use the keywords in these areas to quickly tell your reader they found the right article.
- The first sentence should directly state what the reader will learn if they keep reading. In traditional writing, this sentence is usually found at the end of the writing, but because online readers read differently, we want to conform to their behavior.
- Short “paragraphs” are easier and more inviting to read. “Paragraphs” should be no longer than 3 or 4 lines (notice what we do here) and based on length and not topic (another English violation). Small paragraphs are more visually appealing to read.
- Pics, images and infographics increase the likelihood of your article being consumed. Use at least one with every article.
- Point of View of the first person is the most engaging
More Ways to Increase Website Engagement
In the latter half of the episode, Russ gives some great tips on how to invite your visitors to actively engage with your site. He has some great ideas about using;
- Calls to Action – ask for an email, e.g.
- Phone Number – provide in your text, consider a “click to call” button (smart phones)
- Questions at the end of an article can invite your reader to leave a comment, a super way to engage your visitor
- Social proof serves as a great measure of the value of your website
- Quizzes and games can also actively involve your visitors
Did you find this article easy to read?
All the best!
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Russ…and Randy
Healthcare and Medical Internet Marketing
Healthcare’s Rx for Web and Social
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