Asking your audience or fans some questions is a great way to engage them in conversation. But don’t ask questions just to get a sale or promote a service. Ask questions because you are genuinely interested. Here is an easy exercise how you can learn more about your audience:
Pretend you are a dog owner. You’re scanning through your social media account and land on a post by a dog groomer.
Which question would you rather answer?
Do you like giving your dog a bath?
or
Asking all dog owners…how do you make Fido more comfy when giving him a bath?
The first question asks for a “yes or no” answer. It’s easy to get an answer, but the second question gets people talking. If you are a dog owner, you’ll know that we’ll do anything possible to make Fido as happy as can be and you’ll share your own story or troubles with giving Fido a bath.
By asking something that has an emotional attachment, you are more likely to get a response and learn so much more then if you would have just gotten a “yes or no” answer. I created this graphic to create some relevance to the question. Using pink for the heart is soft on the eyes and the puppy is so darn cute!
What’s one question you’d like to ask your audience? Ask it here!
Until next time, Stay Inspired!
Gisèle
I’ve never thought of this before. Hmm… what question would I like to ask my audience? I’m going to have to ponder this one.
Carol, I visit your page to pick out one thing to focus on that related to me. Essential Oils. I’m going to share a story and will strip it down to the basics.
I was recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. 3 sleep studies were done. I’m on a CPAP machine now. I have severe nasal congestion when I lay down. was using a nasal decongestant every night, didn’t care it was addictive and bad for me. I just wanted to sleep. Doctor gave me heck and just prescribe a nasal spray – big waste of $50 a month for 3 months. Complained to the Doctor it didn’t work, he said keep doing it and do a nasal rinse before bed. Did some research and what works for me is a tiny bit of Eucalyptus Essential Oils on an extra filter pad just placed outside the incoming vent for my CPAP machine. No different than the traditional use for it, except it’s more focused on where it’s going. In the air, it bothers my eyes, but not the way I’m doing it. Did more research and found a a company in the US that sells little pads and certain scents just for CPAP users.
So you could use the concept of essential oils helping people with allergies or nasal congestion. Or to relax, stress reduction. Be very specific.
I don’t know if this helps, but thought I’d share it with you anyways 🙂
Awhile ago I did a workshop called The Art of Creative Conversations, (after all I am a Conversational SparkPlug), and my biggest takeaway was around the idea of asking questions that lead to conversation and engage the other person. From there you continue to ask questions based on their answers, not on your agenda. Not only do you learn more about the other person, but you also find they open up and trust you more fully too! Thanks for reminding me of this wonderful way of interacting in the world, Gisele!
I love it… Conversational SparkPlug!
What a great point! One question I would ask is: How can I help you?
I found the with my clients on a first meet, they had a blank look on their face when asking that. Like that dreaded blank page when writing a post 🙂 We changed to ask them what goals they had for their business and then offer how we could help with that.
One question that I like to ask is what they envision when they think of the lifestyle that would be perfect for them. Then I can help them achieve that with the business that will allow it.
People always love to picture the perfect lifestyle and opens up lots of conversations.
Great idea Gisele. I would ask my audience “If you could do anything in your life, what would you do?
That’s a great question. You’ll tend to find out what that person wants out of life on a personal level. Might give you and idea what type of person he/she is.
Love it, Gisele. I realized not too long ago when I asked questions on my Facebook profile it generates some really fun and engaging conversation. Definitely looking at ways to tweak the types of questions I use for each audience and platform. Great advice.
Thanks Tanya and you’re right, the type of audience on each platforms makes a difference.
Learning more about your audience is one of the most important endeavors that the speaker must take into consideration. This is departing from your motive of getting a sale or promoting a service. Bringing this issue is a homecoming of sorts which calls for a warm of welcome.
Thanks Lorii!
What a great illustration! We often hear the advice of “ask your audience questions”, but seldom get the guidance of what type of questions to ask to get engagement. Thank you!
Thank you Cathy! I figure, once you ask the right questions, you’ll also find the “type” of ideal customer that is a good fit for you.
I don’t have a problem responding to questions that may be yes or no… lol I can talk with the best of them… and everyone has an opinion. lol Even a “Don’t you hate it when you are washing your dog and they shake their soapy wet hair all over you?” That’s a yes or no, but it makes people think about a story… lol
I love the way you framed the question 🙂
Great concept to teach in regards to engaging your audience. This applies for podcasters too – in the interview format. Draw out the story. Use those open ended questions.
Yes, great idea for podcasters and interviewers as well. Too many times we see an interview when it’s the interviewer doing all the talking.
Such a simple but powerful way to create conversation. It’s all about framing the question from the beginning.
When meeting a client for the first time, I try to use open ended questions and I can tell which clients are a little uncomfortable with that, which becomes something to work out without them even knowing it.
I need to remember this. It’s a perfect illustration of the success of using open ended questions that are fun to answer.
Keeping them fun creates the interest to keep the conversation going.
Great tip for getting into conversation. I always like to have 2 or 3 questions in my
hip pocket for a meeting/networking event to get things started.
Introvert here… don’t have to worry about face to face.. Joe (hubby and business partner) does all the talking 🙂
Great insight. We must learn to get away from closed end questions. I sometimes catch myself and have to re-word.
guilty as well 🙂 read, revise, read, revise, speak out loud, revise. Rinse and Repeat 🙂
Such great advise. Being a personal trainer, all I did was ask open ended questions. There are so many but they were all to clients I already had, or to people who came to see me about signing up. Then I would ask things like: what’s the most important thing for you to get our of working with a trainer? or Why is it you want to reach this goal now?
Being a personal trainer, that’s really the only way to learn about what you can do for your client. If they don’t tell you what they want, how can you provide service. Do your clients find it difficult to open up personally to some of the questions?
As an English teacher, I learned early the value of open-ended questions. While I have to work at being the “conversational sparkplug” like Beverley Golden, lol, I do like asking questions to keep the person talking so I can find more common ground with her (or him). I never do this on FB, though, so maybe I should think about that. Hmmmm. Thanks, Gisele 🙂
Do you have more of your conversations on your blog? that’s always the first start point and the best place to converse with people (just my opinion). Social media is just an add on. If you hold more of your conversations on your blog, you could then just share the post on FB/Twitter possibly with a snippet of a comment.
and.. I’ve also been called a “tree huggin’ hippy a few times” 🙂
Thank you for opening my mind to think differently when asking questions. I need to ask open ended questions to engage conversation and emotion. Great blog!
you are most welcome and thank you!
As a former career counselor I used open ended questions most of the time. I think on Fb, I tend to ask yes/no type given everyones busy schedule. Might rethink this.
Not sure what questions I’d ask my fans? I post such a variety of interests with occasional product. Would like to know some things about their jewelry interests but that might seem too salesy.
Your Prism piece has complementary colours (blue and yellow) which is a beautiful contrast, you could ask what are their two favourite stones are. Do you prefer beads or stones in your necklace? What is your favourite metal combinations? Do you prefer gold, silver, copper? Hope this helps?
Open ended questions let you listen and learn about the person you are conversing with. We all know we should spend more time listening and now we know how to go about prompting our conversation partner to talk about themselves. Now we are on the way to finding out what is unique about the other person and what words they use to talk about what they like. Now we know how to market to our ideal client.
This awesome, was just wondering how to go about this . Just getting a feel on what is important to my followers first and will follow your advise! Thank you.
Asking questions is not only a great way to get to know your audience but also a great way to get many to engage with you and eachother.
I agree that the open-ended question is a better choice. But sometimes, you’ll get more engagement with a yes-or-no question or one that has a similar very short answer.
A great post! And I of course would ask which is your favourite wine, and what you like about it…;-) Have a great day!