7 Killer Tips to Make Your Content More Fun and Engaging
Bored to Tears? Here’s the Cure
Remember when published content often felt rigid and dry back in the 1990s and early 2000s? This was mainly an attempt to keep things strictly professional, as the internet wasn’t quite as social as it is today.
Then, slowly but surely, content publishers realized they weren’t writing articles for humorless robots. Thank baby Jesus.
This has gradually led to a more casual approach, particularly among personal blogs and even many high-profile brands.
Fun Content = High Retention Rate
It’s no wonder publishers have started to make their articles pop in creative ways; publishing content is not just about spreading knowledge, but also keeping readers highly engaged in the process.
This brings me to today’s topic: How to make your content much more fun and relatable.
This article is ideal for:
- New bloggers who wish to learn how to start a blog in style, making their first articles stand out from the get-go.
- Established publishers who wish to spice things up and add a little twist to their content strategy.
Let’s get started!
1. Use a Rating System
A rating system allows you and/or readers to “score” published content as a way of providing feedback and increasing interaction.
This largely depends on what type of content your blog publishes, such as product reviews or a comparison post.
For example, many writers enjoy exploring freelance platforms such as Fiverr, TextBroker, among others. If you’re in the habit of reviewing such places, an attractive rating system will likely complement and even strengthen your article.
Likewise, let’s say you have an extensive Q&A page on your blog dedicated to answering tough freelance questions. A rating system would allow users to ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ your answers and help you tweak them depending on overall feedback.
It’s little things like these that subtly make your content more engaging and fun, even if results are not immediately noticeable.
Rating plugins for your WordPress blog include:
2. Gamify Your Blog
Gamification refers to the implementation of game-like features and other interactive goodies.
For instance, readers may gain badges and points simply for interacting on your website in different ways. Interactions may include registering to your blog, logging in, posting an article, sharing it online, commenting, and much more.
Gamification can get very complex depending on your creative juices. Let’s say, for example, that you create multiple “levels” for blog commenters:
Level 1: Commenting Newborn
Level 2: Toddler
Level 3: Chatty-Kathy
Level 4: Word Master
People would reach each level after achieving a set amount of comments (set by you). Once someone reaches a high level, you could then reward them with an Amazon gift card or anything of your choice to acknowledge their contributions.
This naturally makes your content more fun, and satisfied visitors could share your blog with friends as a result.

Many websites, such as Reddit.com, use a “Karma” system where users gain points merely for posting and commenting.
This seemingly painless action has many of them hooked for no apparent reason….. But guess what? It works, and users keep aiming for a higher score.
List of gamification plugins for WordPress include:
The above section actually deserves its own article someday, and could serve as one of many effective blogging tips to find success.
3. Leverage the Power of GIFs
Have you ever wanted to make your blog more fun without relying exclusively on written content?
Even if you don’t use them often, consider the power of good old-fashioned GIFs.
Let’s say you run an entertainment blog based on anything pop culture.
Let’s also say you often post humorous and upbeat content for your audience.
Of course the occasional GIF would be tremendously ideal in this case, if you know where to fit it.
Much like Emojis/Emoticons, GIFs used to be all the rage in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Now they have made a gigantic comeback thanks to easier online communication. We have phone texting, Facebook, and advanced discussion forums, which has led people to try and get their message across in witty and fun ways…
As a blogger, you should embrace animated GIFs by including them in your articles and even on newsletters – especially if they’re humorous.
These natural attention-grabbers can remind your audience that you’re a fun, down-to-earth human being… just like them.
Are you publishing a highly positive article? Then don’t be afraid to use something like this:
And while we’re at it…
4. Be Naturally Humorous
Have you noticed how the average commercial tends to rely on humor?
Well, there’s a reason for it: Humor is one of the oldest, most powerful marketing techniques in existence.
And it’s safe to say that everyone loves a good laugh, so it’s always a match made in heaven.
Tips:
I’d like to emphasize “naturally” humorous here, as there’s nothing more obvious than someone trying too hard. Show your funny bone as long as the situation calls for it (you’ll instinctively know when).
You don’t always have to come up with your own humor. Quoting the occasional line from a known comedian works wonders.
Speaking of which…
5. Bring Your Post to Life with Quotes
Do you normally find news stories more fascinating when reading a first-hand account of something that happened? Absorbing a quote straight from the person in question adds an extra level of authenticity and intrigue to your content.
Here’s are some ideas you could use for your posts:
Start *every article* with a heartfelt quote:
Imagine you had a fitness blog, and every single article starts with a kickass, health-related or otherwise motivational quote.
This could eventually become your “signature” — in other words, this is what you are known for. Many regular readers would be delighted to click on your article and be met with today’s witty quote.
Make references to famous people… and their quotes:
We tend to idolize/admire/respect known figures, even in subtle ways. For example, who doesn’t have at least *some* kind of respect for the late Maya Angelou or Nelson Mandela? Even if said respect is casual or minor, it’s still very much there.
Using known quotes from well-liked figures will often make your piece more relatable and emotional, thus making your content more fun to read.
Recommended steps:
- Look for dozens of quotes using a search engine near you
- Save them all as an email draft or a text file (for easy access)
- Grab a quote from this pool every time you need it; make it a habit
It’s much easier to stick to this habit when the job is only done once (in this case, finding them all in one sitting). Don’t forget to give credit and keep Fair Use in mind.
6. Embed a Survey
Surveys can make a traditional article more interactive and help readers feel involved. It’s almost like a small, fun quiz where there’s no wrong answer.
These are particularly welcome when you’re looking to spark a conversation or when gathering data, depending on your niche subject.
An entertainment blog could simply ask, “What cancelled TV show should make a comeback?”
A freelance writing blog may ask, “What’s your biggest tip for finding an awesome client?”
Ideal survey plugins and services include:
How often should you embed a survey in your posts?
That depends on your niche/audience. An pop culture site may post a weekly survey asking about the latest Game of Thrones or The Voice episode, for example.
7. Implement Easter Eggs
Easter eggs are hidden things designed to be found with the help of a close eye and an open mind.
So, how can you insert the occasional easter egg into your content?
Example #1:
You could have contests and giveaways by having readers go on a virtual scavenger hunt throughout your content. Anyone who finds a certain word or phrase (specified by you) gets to win the prize.
Do me a favor: Scroll up to the above section that talks about using GIFs and take a very good look at the first five lines.
Can you spot the hidden crossword?
You should see a very familiar word emerge (and you just won the prize!)
Example #2:
Let’s say you have a $29/month membership site. You could provide subtle clues to a specific question, which can be hidden within image names and other creative places. Those who find it get a major discount to your website.
Using easter eggs is perhaps my favorite of the bunch. And while this tactic probably wouldn’t be used frequently, it can make your content stand out and engage readers a little more in the long-run.
Your Turn
Creating fun-to-read content is both essential and highly effective, as it prompts more people to share it among friends and even come back for a second read. This leads to higher engagement, email marketing leads, and overall success from all angles.
Can you add other creative tips on making published content stick out like a sore thumb?
Patrick
07/20/2017 @ 18:32 PM
How would one work on the being naturally humorous if they are quite the opposite? Asking for a friend (just kidding). Great article!! I will be sure to try these out when I have a chance. Post engagement is imperative to running a successful blog/page/site.
tuanle
07/21/2017 @ 03:59 AM
Hi Michael,
Very true!
Every aspect of a market offering, including the nature of the product itself, is driven by the needs and wants of potential consumers.
Elvis Michael
07/24/2017 @ 10:40 AM
Yes, and it all begins with user retention through engaging practices 😉
Thanks tuanle,
Elvis
Ryan Biddulph
07/21/2017 @ 12:34 PM
I have been known on rare occasion to experiment with #4 Elvis. But only here and there. Just dabbling a bit 🙂 Really, adding humor to my blog and travel stories has helped boost engagement like you wouldn’t believe. Sometimes I even distract folks with my humor, which is not intended but I get a kick out of it. A member of a travel blog tribe sharing group forgot to tweet one of my posts the other day. I could care less but the admin reminded her. She apologized, but said headline grabbed her attention and she had to read the post, and got so caught up in it that she forget to RT it. Title:
Bali Boobies At The Bensin Station
Rocking post dude.
Elvis Michael
07/24/2017 @ 10:37 AM
Lol yes, trust me Ryan, I have gotten distracted by your humor once in a while. And that’s a great thing. Even if it’s not downright humorous, the occasional tongue-in-cheek stuff just makes everything stand out …depending on the occasion.
There was a post on Clickfire.com recently that read, “How to write a blog post your worst enemy will share.” Chances are I wouldn’t have clicked/shared it if the headline was more traditional. So that was another fine example of effective humorous marketing.
Lucia
07/29/2017 @ 20:13 PM
Thanks for these tips. Yes, I’ve been seeing more humor and surveys and a ton of gifs. I guess we all need to “up our game” to stay relevant. Great examples here, too.
Elvis Michael
07/30/2017 @ 19:38 PM
As long as I don’t have to use emojis too often. Even the word itself annoys me.
Lol, thanks Lucia
Rishabh Mishra
08/01/2017 @ 03:49 AM
Fun and exciting content always attracts readers
Abdul Ahad
08/16/2017 @ 01:24 AM
Thanks for your killer tips. This is so helpful and I would follow your ideas in my future blog posts. Once again, thanks for sharing.
Elvis Michael
08/25/2017 @ 10:13 AM
Very happy to hear that, Abdul 🙂
Enjoy your day,
Elvis
Susan Velez
09/11/2017 @ 06:39 AM
Hi Michael,
Love these tips and I am working on improving my blog content. It’s a little hard to add humor to my blog when I write a lot of tutorials. I am working on it because I know that I love reading blogs that add humor and storytelling to their articles.
Also, loved the Easter Egg analogy. I hadn’t thought of that, but pretty cool idea.
Unfortunately, it takes time to get improve our content. I’ve started writing more on a daily basis, because I know that it takes practice.
Great tips and thanks for sharing them with us, I know that they’ll help me work on my content.
Have a great day 🙂
Susan
Elvis Michael
09/11/2017 @ 15:44 PM
Ah, thanks for dropping in, Susan!
You mean tutorials on SusanVelez.com? I can totally see some light humor and stories injected into those articles, no question!
Example: “42 Ways of Coming Up With Blogging Ideas To Last You All Year”
I can easily imagine a sentence explaining how “you no longer have to frantically get up in the middle of the night and trip over your cat just to write down a blogging idea on your computer” 🙂
You get the idea, ha…
Anyway i’m loving your content, and the screenshots really help — which I could really use more of when it comes to my own pieces.
Later!
Elvis
Manoj
11/19/2017 @ 00:46 AM
Hi Elvis,
Gamification is an interesting suggestion that will improve our traffic and comments. Rating system is another option to increase the post engagements and quality of posts. I appreciate your idea and we should consider both tools which will create positive impacts on our blogging.
The post is well written. Keep it up. Have a nice week ahead,
Take care,
Elvis Michael
11/19/2017 @ 10:24 AM
By all means consider it! Anything that makes a website more fun is a win-win, especially if your blog needs a more “casual” atmosphere 🙂
Good day,
Elvis
Ross Rhine
12/02/2017 @ 16:43 PM
Those are some interesting tips, but I’m not sure about surveys. I always find surveys annoying and just ignore them, but I could be wrong as I’ve never actually used this technique.
Mehndi
12/29/2017 @ 07:32 AM
Hey,
Nice blog! enjoyed reading this whole time and now It is no more a secret 🙂
I completely agree with you that our content must be created according to our audience and also it is important to have a blog with a story which will keep our audience stick to our blog.
Qasim
07/01/2018 @ 12:50 PM
Hi Elvis,
I agree with you, younger people are preferring learning through multimedia through sites like Pinterest and YouTube. Only old people like us are heading to blog posts to learn new things. A good way to keep blogging alive is to integrate new ways and change our writing style to keep readers interested in reading our blog post.
Your tips offer a great solution and things like quotes and GIFS are things that I can start implementing right away.
Thank you so much for sharing.