Engagement is a marketing strategy onto itself. By directly engaging consumers, you invite them to participate in a dialogue that develops meaningful relationships around a common interest. And as we have already uncovered, trusting relationships are at the core of all successful business development. There is a big focus on content marketing right now, but if you think about it, content marketing is nothing without engagement. So, what are some of the engagement tools you can use to gain visibility for your content? Here are a few to consider:

• Blogs: Writing relevant content for your audience and publishing it through blogs is a great way to communicate a brand. Blog posts should be concise and focus on a specific topic. Consumers often enjoy blogs because they are easy to consume and share.
• Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, You Tube and Twitter (among others) are ideal platforms to engage your audience in a conversation. It is quick, visual and easy to consume. Additionally, it gives consumers a way to share your content and expand the conversation to others.
• Email Marketing: Use email marketing tools to communicate with those who opt in to receive your messages. Tap into the audience who is already listening. Keep your messages short and sweet, and don’t over communicate with them.
• Website Content: Fresh content is the lifeline of any website. Websites are great repositories for your content, which act as a feeder for external communication platforms.

Engaging your audience with content is crucial to standing out in a noisy marketplace.  Provide your audience with helpful information and you  have the foundation to build a strong reputation as a resource.  Nurture your online and in-person relationships by building trust over a long period of time and you will see the strength that supplies everyone.