Instagram Engagement Tips

Regardless of how great your ideas are in your virtual sales pitch, webinar, or team meeting… People are most likely checking their email, browsing social media, or working on other things while you present. How can you prevent that and actually get your audience to pay attention? Here are 4 of the most powerful techniques we use for our own virtual training courses: 1. Win the first five seconds According to research from the University of Toronto, people need only five seconds to gauge your charisma and leadership as a speaker. In virtual environments, this first impression is even more critical. To establish instant rapport: - Keep your posture open and inviting (avoid fidgeting, crossed arms, and closed-off postures) - Use open gestures that welcome the audience into your space - Gesture with your palms showing at a 45-degree angle - Speak with clear articulation and energy from the very first word The quickest way to lose your audience? Starting with tentative body language that signals you’re unsure or unprepared. 2. Design your presentation for virtual viewing When designing slides, assume varied viewing conditions. Design for the smallest likely device and the slowest likely Internet speed. Make your slides accessible by: - Using larger fonts (24-32pt) - Applying higher contrast colors - Limiting each slide to ONE clear idea - Adding more space between lines when using smaller text - Stripping excess content (you can provide additional information in a separate document) 3. Vary your delivery Our research shows the optimal length for linear presentations is just 16-30 minutes, while interactive ones can maintain engagement for 30-45 minutes. People’s attention will go through peaks and valleys during that time, so try these techniques to keep their attention: - Vary your speaking pace (faster to convey urgency, slower to express gravity) - Use intentional pauses to let key points land - Adjust your vocal tone (lower pitch for authority, higher for approachability) - Shift between slides, stories, and data at regular intervals Each change helps reset your audience’s attention and signals importance. 4. Build in structured interaction Don’t make your audience wait until the end of your presentation to interact. According to our research, presentations that incorporate audience engagement through polls, chat responses, or breakout discussions maintain attention longer. For the highest engagement: - Use a variety of interaction types throughout your presentation - Incorporate breakout rooms for small-group discussions - Switch modalities regularly to keep it interesting Remember: In virtual environments, you need to recreate the natural engagement that happens in person. Your virtual presentation success isn’t measured by perfection…it’s measured by action. Master these techniques and your audience won’t just pay attention, they’ll respond. #VirtualPresentations #CorporateTraining #WorkplaceLearning

Moving a Battleship: What It Takes to Lift LinkedIn Engagement at Scale For a community as large as ours, increasing engagement on LinkedIn is like trying to move a battleship. When I say engagement, I mean the ratio of engagements to impressions. That quiet percentage is, in my view, the single most important metric to track. It shows whether your content truly resonates, not just how far it travels. Over the past year, that engagement percentage for my posts has gone up by nearly a third, about 32 percent. I want to share what I believe made the difference, in case it helps you too. None of this is secret. It is simply what has worked for me. 1. I ignore most LinkedIn tips. No hashtags, no phrases inviting people to agree or disagree. I just focus on content quality. 2. The one rule I do follow is that every post gets a single sentence headline that earns attention. 3. I rarely post videos or articles anymore. Unless video is edited in a very specific Tiktok short-form way, it does not seem to perform well now. Also, people just don't read truly long-form content anymore relative to the effort to create it. 4. I post when I have something to say. Early mornings, weekends, evenings. It does not matter. Good content travels anytime. If I don't feel it, I don't force myself 5. I post a lot. The more you share, the more chances you give yourself. One post can underperform, another can take off. I know within a few hours if a post will go. If it won't, I just post again. 6. I write in my real voice. No performance, no pretending, just honesty. 7. If I am deeply interested in a topic, I let myself stay there. A streak of posts on one theme can show focus, not repetition. 8. I include more data and analysis. Real insights carry more weight than filler. 9. I do not force a picture or thumbnail. If it fits, great. If not, I skip it. 10. I build structure. Most of my week’s posts are drafted on weekends so I can focus on quality instead of rushing. 11. I stay a little active every day by commenting, responding, and connecting. Even small touches help your content stay visible. 12. I post content that is net additive. Even though I keep our resources updated at all times, 20 more posts on job listings is not interesting or useful content anymore. I have allowed our community to go upstream in focusing on more interesting and fun things than just posting resource links all day. I know the community can just find that on our site and has trust to know it is updated regularly. 13. I keep my profile constantly updated and clean. When people visit and see that you take it seriously, professional, and current, it leaves a real impression and increases how likely they are to engage with your work. At nearly one hundred forty thousand followers, I have learned that growing impressions is difficult, but growing engagement is even harder. Yet it is absolutely possible. I hope these tips help you too!

"Make yourself findable"...this is advice that I give to candidates, SES's, generals, executives, and even teenagers. Companies are dying to find you, but they just don't know that you exist. They hire Precision Talent Solutions to find you. Like it or not, LinkedIn is the place where professionals go to look for jobs, look for candidates, and to share/consume content. If you are in career transition, it is more important than ever to be thoughtfully active on LInkedIn. Valuable tips: LinkedIn Algorithm Updates (2025) - Relevance Over Virality: The algorithm now favors niche, expert content over viral posts. Generic or off-topic posts hurt visibility. - Connections First: Posts from your own network are prioritized. A targeted, engaged network boosts reach. - Expertise Signals: LinkedIn evaluates who is posting (based on profile) as much as what is posted. - Ranking Factors: Content is ranked by Relevance, Expertise, and Engagement (especially meaningful comments). - Comments Matter Most: Posts with thoughtful, back-and-forth conversation (especially in the first hour) get a major visibility boost. - Spam Filters: Poor grammar, link-stuffing, excessive hashtags, and overposting are penalized. - Engagement Quality > Quantity: Comments from relevant peers beat lots of random likes. - Extended Reach: High-value posts can reach beyond your 1st-degree network if they gain strong engagement. 2. Content Format Trends - Carousels Still Strong: Multi-image or PDF “carousel” posts perform well, but only if value-packed. - Video & Live Streams: Native videos (not links) and especially LinkedIn Live posts drive the highest engagement. - Image Posts: Still effective—posts with a single strong visual get more attention and comments. - Newsletters: Now a top tool for reach—subscribers are notified every time you publish. Best for long-form, high-value content. - Polls & Interactive Posts: Still underused but powerful for engagement and visibility. - Hashtags/Tagging: Use 2–5 relevant hashtags. Over-tagging or irrelevant tags = spammy. - External Links: Posts with links are penalized. Better to add links later via post edit or use native formats. 3. Engagement Best Practices - Provide Niche Value: Focus on helpful, profession-specific insights, not generic content. - Hook Early: Start posts with a bold statement or question to capture attention. Encourage Dialogue: Ask questions, respond to comments, and spark discussion to improve reach. - Use Rich Media: Mix in carousels, videos, and images to keep your content fresh and engaging. - Go Live or Use Newsletters: These formats offer built-in boost via notifications and dwell time. - Avoid Spam Tactics: Don’t tag excessively, overuse hashtags, or post too frequently. - Grow an Engaged Network: Engage with others to strengthen your own visibility in the algorithm. - Be Consistent & Authentic: Regular, high-quality posting builds credibility and audience trust over time.

Want to boost your charity's LinkedIn presence? Here's how to maximise engagement and create meaningful connections on the platform 👇 Post consistently Maintaining a regular posting schedule is crucial for LinkedIn success. Aim for 3-4 posts per week, focusing on peak engagement times (typically Tuesday to Thursday, 9am-2pm). Use LinkedIn Analytics to understand when your specific audience is most active and adjust accordingly. Share impact stories LinkedIn audiences respond particularly well to real stories of impact. Showcase human rights wins, volunteer achievements, and organisational milestones. Include compelling statistics and data to demonstrate the tangible difference your charity makes. Remember to always obtain proper permissions and maintain dignity in storytelling (more on this soon). Interact with other charities Expand your network by engaging with other organizations in your field. It will allow your charity more visibility and access to new and aligned audiences. Leverage advocacy Encourage your colleagues to share and engage with your content. Their networks can significantly amplify your reach. Communicate with internal staff on how to share posts effectively and provide key messaging points. This organic approach often generates more authentic engagement than paid promotion! Mix up your content formats LinkedIn rewards diverse content types. Alternate between text posts, images, videos, and documents. Native LinkedIn videos typically perform better than external links. Use carousel posts for impact reports and infographics - they're great for explaining complex issues in digestible formats. Engage authentically with your community Don't just broadcast - participate in conversations. Respond to comments promptly, ask questions in your posts, and actively engage with other organizations in your sector. Join relevant LinkedIn groups and contribute meaningfully to discussions. This helps build a genuine community around your cause. Optimize your company page Ensure your page is complete with an engaging about section, regular updates, and clear calls-to-action. Use keywords that your supporters might search for. Keep your banner image and profile picture aligned with your brand guidelines. Track and adapt Use LinkedIn's built-in analytics to monitor what works if you don't have access to a social monitoring tool. Pay attention to post engagement rates, follower growth, and click-through rates. Test different approaches and refine your strategy based on data, not assumptions. Charity social media managers - what other LinkedIn strategies have worked well for you?

Want your LinkedIn posts to stand out and spark real engagement? Most people scroll. Few stop. Even fewer engage. Here’s your cheat sheet to flip the script. 1. Know your audience: Your post isn’t for everyone. Who’s it really for? Speak to their challenges, goals, and interests. 2. Nail your core message: If someone remembers just ONE thing from your post, what should it be? Keep it clear. Keep it focused. 3. Hook ‘em fast: The first line matters more than you think. Use bold statements, surprising facts, or ask questions that make people stop scrolling. 4. Share personal stories: Your experiences make your posts relatable. Authentic stories build trust and keep people coming back. 5. Keep them reading: Use cliffhangers, open-ended questions, and break up text with bullet points or short sentences. 6. Get emotional: Emotion drives engagement. Share how you felt—whether it’s a win, failure, or lesson learned. 7. Deliver the takeaway: Every story needs a point. What’s the insight, lesson, or action you want your audience to walk away with? 8. End with a bang (call to action): Want comments? Ask a question. Want shares? Give them a reason. Engagement doesn’t happen by accident. Pro tip: People don’t read, they scan. Short sentences. Simple words. White space. Which of these tips will you try in your next post? Drop your favorite in the comments #linkedIntips #contentcreation #copywriting #personalbranding #professionalgrowth #employerbranding

I spent 100+ hours studying LinkedIn posts so you don’t have to. Here are 11 ingredients that will turn your posts into engagement magnets: 1. 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 The number one thing you need from your message is clarity. Secondarily, you need authenticity. Combine both for a powerful connection. 2. 𝐀𝐝𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐣𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 On the other hand, you want to avoid using too many emojis where your message gets lost. The classic example is overusing smiley faces or the rocket emoji. (😁🚀) Use them only to highlight any key points. 3. 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 LinkedIn is fast-paced, so a strong headline is very important. Start by making it intriguing, and then make it relevant until you capture attention. Don’t be vague, but also don’t make it too lengthy. 4. 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 Stories resonate, so begin your post with one. This creates relatability, and readers will linger to see what happens next. 5. 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 Long text can be daunting. Use shorter lines to make your post easy on the eyes and enjoyable to read. Stick to less than 10 words and use paragraphing. See this post for reference. Not like this much longer sentence talking about a super complicated topic that you won't even finish reading because you got bored and turned off 6. 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Bring new eyes to your post by mentioning notable connections. This amplifies reach and can spark a lively conversation. 7. 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Want engagement? Tell readers what to do! Ask them to like, comment, or share to boost interaction. 8. 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Questions encourage dialogue, which LinkedIn loves. They also invite readers to share their viewpoints. 9. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 Don’t hold back! Share a tip or tool you’ve created. I share AI tools I use often. They have helped me save 100s of hours. This builds authority and trust in your network. 10. 𝐂𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬 Hashtags aren't pushed out as much as they were before. If you really need to, keep it to a max of 3. 11. 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭 Keep readers on LinkedIn by not linking out. Mention external links in the comments instead to maintain post visibility. I've you've read this far: Let me know: What’s your favorite way to engage on LinkedIn? (Likes/comments/repost?)

It sounds cringe, but here’s a masterclass on how to make LinkedIn work for you: 1. Structure is everything LinkedIn rewards high engagement early, so your post structure needs to grab attention immediately: • The hook: Your first 1-2 lines are CRITICAL. People only see the top 2 lines before the “see more” button. Make them irresistible. Examples: • “I quit my 9-5 without a backup plan. Here’s what happened.” • “We rejected VC money. Here’s what happened to my company after that.” • The Body: Keep it skimmable. Use short sentences and paragraphs (2-3 lines max). • • The CTA (Call-to-Action): This is optional, but you can end your posts with a question or prompt. Examples: • “What’s your biggest challenge with (X)?” • “Have you tried (Y) before?” 2. What to write about? The algorithm prioritizes valuable and relatable content. Stick to these themes: • Lessons learned: Share personal experiences and what you learned. • • Actionable advice: Teach your audience something they can implement immediately. • • Contrarian takes: Challenge conventional wisdom. Example: “Why working harder isn’t the solution to growing your business.” • • Storytelling: Stories create emotion. People remember stories, not facts. 3. Engagement hacks that *actually* work • Early engagement: The first 60 minutes determine how far your post will go. Share it with your network, ask for feedback, or post when your audience is most active. • Comment strategy: Comments carry more weight than likes. Ask questions or say something provocative to spark conversations. 4. Timing and consistency Best times to post: • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday mornings (7-10 AM in your audience’s time zone). Usually good times to post: Weekdays. 9 AM - 12 PM. 3-6 PM. • Consistency: Post 3-5x per week. The algorithm favors creators who show up regularly. 5. What to avoid: • Spammy CTAs: Don’t beg for engagement (e.g., “Please like and share!”). The algorithm penalizes posts like this. • Walls of text: People skim on LinkedIn. Make it easy to read. • Too much self-promotion: Aim for 80% value, 20% promotion. 6. Play the long game LinkedIn growth is compounding. One viral post can double your reach, but consistent posting is what builds trust over time. Treat LinkedIn like a relationship, not a transaction. Give value first, and the algorithm will reward you.

I'm speaking about something rather unconventional for a procurement conference. LinkedIn. Yep. I'm running a 90-min workshop to teach procurement practitioners, marketers & sales reps how to leverage LI in a way that actually works. How to produce content that people actually want to consume and engage with. How to find the right people to connect with & then do so in a meaningful way. Why am I qualified to teach people how to use LI? When I was selling marketing procurement software, I closed over $24.3M in net new business using LI. This platform has had a profound impact on my professional & personal life. I've landed two jobs as a result of the brand I've built on this platform. I met several of my industry besties here - even a roommate. How do I optimize my posts to get so much engagement (comments)? I follow what the data says in Richard van der Blom's algorithm report. It's a analysis of 1.5M+ posts from 34K individual profiles & over 26K company pages spanning over 50 countries & 25 languages showing what’s most impactful on LI in 2024. Some of my takeaways from Richard's report: 1. Aim for a 8am - 11am posting time in your time zone. 2. Maintain a regular posting rhythm: committing to a 3 or 4 weekly posting pattern is preferable over a daily burst followed by silence. 3. LI counts a 'repost with thoughts' as fresh content. 4. The first 60 mins: early engagement sets the momentum for the post's visibility in the next 6 hrs. 5. Personalized images, rather than generic stock photos, can increase engagement by 45%. 6. Vertical photos are the most effective, especially since 64% of users are on mobile devices, yielding a 15% higher click-through rate than square images and 25% more than horizontal images. 7. Ideal Text Length for Text & Image Posts: 900 - 1,200 characters. 8. Polls: most effective polls offer 3 answer choices & run for a week. Best to post on a Monday or Wednesday. 9. Strategic Tagging: mentioning others in comments can be beneficial if they contribute to the discussion. There's no downside to unresponsive tags in the comments, but lack of engagement from those tagged directly in your post might reduce growth potential by 25%. 10. Calls to Action: possible increase in reach by 10% for posts with calls to action. 11. If tagged individuals comment on your post, it positively influences your post’s visibility. Such comments are 1.5 times more impactful than those from untagged users, making tagging a potentially powerful tool for growth. 12. The presence of hashtags in posts does not significantly boost reach. 13. Document Posts: aim for 12 slides, include 25-50 words per slide & ensure the post's guidance is fewer than 500 characters. 14. Ending your post with a question can lead to an increase in engagement of 20% to 40%. 15. Optimal video time: 1 - 2 mins. Videos over 3 mins see a 15% decline in engagement. I've got a couple free SIG conferences passes. Ping if me you'd like one of them.

Subscriber engagement isn't a vanity metric –– it's an influential factor that can make or break your email deliverability. Want to boost your open rates, improve inbox placement, and supercharge your email ROI? Here are 5 proven strategies to increase subscriber engagement and improve your email deliverability: 1. Optimize For Subscriber Quality, Not Quantity Having a large list email list means nothing if they are all low quality subscribers. Subscribers who come from questionable sources, or who don’t have a real interest in your content, are far more likely to disengage or mark your emails as spam. This hurts your reputation with ISPs and decreases your inbox placement. You’ll see better open rates, more engagement, and improved deliverability when you focus on QUALITY over QUANTITY in list-building. 2. Segment Your Audience Subscribers aren't numbers in a spreadsheet, they're real people. Group your audience based on factors like demographics, purchase history, and engagement level. Then, create targeted campaigns that are tailored to the specific needs and interests of each segment. This allows you to deliver hyper-relevant content that resonates –– and resonance is great for your engagement KPIs. 3. Personalize Your Messages Generic "email blasts" are a thing of the past. Use subscriber data to tailor your content, offers, and sending frequency to each individual's preferences and behaviors. The more relevant and personalized your emails are, the more likely subscribers are to open them, read them, and take action. 4. Nail Your Timing The timing of your email sends can dramatically influence engagement metrics. Sending a discount code immediately after someone leaves your site with a full cart can be the perfectly timed offer that seals the deal. Sending a discount immediately after someone just PURCHASED a product from you is a great way to ruin an otherwise positive experience. Use data to optimize send times based on email category and subscriber behaviors. 5. Continuously Test And Optimize Contrary to what some marketers would have you believe, email isn't a "set it and forget it" strategy. You need to constantly be testing different elements like subject lines, content, offers, and calls-to-action. More importantly, you need to ANALYZE those tests and use them to continually refine your approach. These five tactics are the most effective way to kickstart a virtuous cycle: More emails hitting inboxes → More engagement on those emails → Stronger sender reputation → Improved deliverability Implement these strategies, and you'll show ISPs that your emails are not only wanted, but valued.

Email too much, and you annoy your customers. Email too little, and they forget about you. Find the right balance 👇 → Where Most Dispensaries Get It Wrong X Emailing Only When There’s a Sale: If the only time customers hear from you is during a discount, they’ll start expecting lower prices and stop buying at full price. X Blasting Every Customer With Every Email: Not every customer wants the same content at the same frequency. Sending too often to inactive customers can damage your email deliverability. X Not Testing Frequency at All: Many dispensaries guess at their send schedule instead of testing what actually works for different segments. → How to Optimize Your Email Frequency 1. Segment Customers by Engagement > High-engagement customers (open rate above 30%) can receive 2-3 emails per week without issue. > Moderate-engagement customers (10-30% open rate) should get 1-2 emails per week. > Low-engagement customers (less than 10% open rate) need win-back emails, not constant promotions. 2. Match Frequency to Buying Cycles > Daily shoppers might appreciate frequent updates on new arrivals. > Casual shoppers might prefer a weekly digest of deals and recommendations. > Lost customers need less frequent but high-impact emails with compelling reasons to return. 3. Monitor Unsubscribe & Spam Complaint Rates If unsubscribes spike after a specific email, that’s a sign you’re sending too often or to the wrong segment. If open rates drop below 15%, scale back or improve subject lines. 4. Test & Adjust Regularly Try sending one extra email per week and measure if engagement improves or drops. Compare sales data—are more emails leading to more revenue, or just more unsubscribes? → Try This & See the Difference Look at your email send frequency over the past month. Are you emailing different customer segments strategically, or just guessing? Test a small adjustment in frequency and track the impact on sales and engagement. If you want a data-driven email strategy, Tact Firm specializes in optimizing dispensary emails for maximum retention. Let’s get your frequency dialed in.