If you’re a blogger, you know the challenge of keeping readers engaged. Writing great content is essential, but even the most interesting posts can only do so much. People crave interaction these days, and why not? We’re in a world full of buttons to click, things to swipe and questions to answer. So, what if you could bring some of that action right into your blog? With polls, quizzes and interactive tools, you can! Here’s how to build an interactive blog that keeps readers coming back for more.
Why interactivity matters
Imagine reading a blog post that feels like a conversation instead of a lecture. That’s the beauty of interactive content. It invites readers to participate, making them feel more invested in your post. And when people feel involved, they stick around longer. This also helps boost your SEO (hello, longer session times!) and can increase social shares, comments and overall engagement. Plus, it makes your blog feel more modern, relevant and in tune with how people consume content online today.
Start simple with polls
Polls are an easy entry point into the world of interactive blogging. They’re simple to set up, quick for readers to engage with and provide a sense of community. Plus, they let you gather opinions and insights that can shape your future content.
How to create a poll
You can use free tools like Google Forms or dedicated plugins if you’re on WordPress. Here’s a quick rundown on setting one up:
- Choose a tool: WordPress has built-in poll plugins like WPForms or Polldaddy. Google Forms works well for other platforms.
- Pick your topic: This could be anything from “Which blog topic would you like to see next?” to “How do you feel about the latest tech trends?”
- Add it to your post: Once you’ve created the poll, embed it directly in your blog post. Readers will appreciate the chance to weigh in, and you get some bonus insights for future content.
Make it fun with quizzes
People love quizzes. They’re engaging, often shareable and can make even the most complex topic feel a bit lighter. Whether it’s a personality quiz, a knowledge test or something entirely different, quizzes can keep readers engaged while subtly reinforcing your blog’s message.
Here are some quiz ideas to try:
- Personality quizzes: “What Type of Traveler Are You?” or “Which Tech Gadget Are You?”
- Trivia or knowledge quizzes: “Test Your Knowledge on Climate Change” or “How Well Do You Know the 90s?”
- Product recommendation quizzes: “Find Your Perfect Coffee Brew” or “Which Exercise Style Fits You?”
Building your quiz
Several tools are available for free, like Quizlet, Typeform and even Buzzfeed-style quizzes if you want to go all out. Here’s how to get started:
- Pick a topic: Choose a subject that resonates with your readers and is relevant to your blog’s theme.
- Decide on the format: Multiple choice? True or false? Keep it simple and fun.
- Create questions and results: Think of questions that readers will enjoy answering and then have a range of matching results. Make the results fun, engaging and shareable.
- Embed and promote: Embed your quiz directly into your post once it’s ready. Be sure to encourage readers to share their results on social media.
Incorporate interactive infographics and charts
Infographics are visually appealing, but interactive infographics are next level. They allow readers to click, hover and engage directly with the data you’re presenting. They’re perfect if you cover data-heavy topics or need to break down complex information.
Here are some tools that you can use for interactive infographics:
- Canva: It’s not fully interactive but allows you to create stunning visuals to link or embed into more interactive platforms.
- Infogram and Visme: Both offer options to create clickable infographics and data visualizations; perfect for presenting survey results, timelines or maps.
Use these tools to bring stats, trends and other data to life. For example, you could create a “Choose Your Own Adventure” chart where readers navigate their way through different options depending on their interests.
Encourage engagement with comments and feedback
This one might sound old-school, but comment sections are a classic for a reason. They let readers share their thoughts, ask questions and start conversations. But you can take things a step further to keep your comment section from getting stale:
Here’s how to make it interactive:
- Pose questions in your blog post: At the end of your post, ask readers something specific. For example, “What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?” or “Have you tried any of these tools? Tell us your experience!”
- Use a tool like Disqus: WordPress and other blog platforms have Disqus or other comment plugins that make it easy to reply, upvote and even embed media in comments.
- Host live comment events: Let readers know you’ll respond to comments live for the first hour after you post. It’s a great way to foster immediate engagement and build community.
Host giveaways and contests
Who doesn’t love a chance to win something? Giveaways and contests are a great way to boost engagement. They create excitement and give readers a reason to return to your blog.
Here are some ideas for giveaways and contests:
- Comment-to-enter: Readers leave a comment on your blog post to be entered. You could ask them to answer a specific question or share a personal story.
- Quiz entry: Create a quiz where readers submit their email to get their results and be entered to win.
- Poll or survey participation: Run a survey and enter everyone participating in a drawing.
Use tools like Rafflecopter or Gleam to set up giveaways easily, track entries and ensure everything runs smoothly. Remember to promote it across your social media platforms to attract more participants.
Integrate social media
Finally, bringing social media elements directly into your blog post can keep things interesting. It’s an easy way to turn one post into a multi-platform experience so readers can take the conversation elsewhere.
Here’s how to do it:
- Embed tweets or posts: If there’s a relevant Twitter conversation or Instagram post, embed it directly into your blog.
- Include social share buttons: Make it easy for readers to share your blog or their quiz results with just a click.
- Start a hashtag: Encourage readers to use a unique hashtag on Twitter or Instagram when sharing their thoughts on your post. This lets you track engagement and see what readers are saying.
Final thoughts
Building an interactive blog is all about inviting your readers to become part of the story. With polls, quizzes, interactive visuals and opportunities to engage through comments or contests, you deliver content and create an experience. The great thing is that none of these additions should be complicated or expensive. Most interactive tools are free or budget friendly, and they’re all about giving readers a reason to stick around and come back for more. Make your blog a place where readers don’t just read but click, explore and engage.
Zuzana is a co-founder of Brilliant Bloggers and Food Drink Life. She is also the visionary behind five inspiring websites, including Low Carb No Carb. Her work has been featured in prominent outlets such as The Washington Times, The Mon Valley Independent, GV Wire, NY Times News Today, Wish TV and others. Zuzana’s expertise also took center stage on WGN Radio Chicago’s Bob Sirott Morning Show, where she captivated listeners with her valuable insights. As a content creator, recipe developer, blogger and photographer, Zuzana shares her diverse skills through breathtaking travel adventures, healthy recipes and eco-friendly living tips. Her work inspires readers to live their best, healthiest and most sustainable lives.