Increasing Online Engagement through Appreciating Feedback

A simple “thank you” can go a long way in letting someone know their ideas are appreciated.

Excited by the possibilities, you may have embraced an online platform with open arms to engage residents in your community. But what if your sites aren’t drawing the quantities of visitors you had anticipated? A commonly overlooked aspect of building an online community is appreciating the one you already have. Appreciation is a powerful tool not only in building community, but in enhancing the sense of community. If you strive to facilitate a positive atmosphere online and keep members coming back; then you should show your appreciation to those who contribute.

If your web site frequently solicits feedback from the public, then seize the opportunity to start a dialog when you do receive feedback. Not only have you initiated a conversation and helped build a relationship, but you’ll keep contributors coming back to respond to what’s been posted. How exactly can you appreciate contributors and their feedback? Here are a few tips:

Listen to feedback. You don’t necessarily have to implement what they recommend, but keep an open mind and listen to what they’re saying. Down the road if you adopt a participant’s suggestion or use results from an online poll to help improve your project, the courteous thing to do is follow up with those that contributed their time publicly and highlight the outcomes on the website.

Respond to feedback. A simple “thank you for your suggestion” can go a long way in letting someone know their ideas are appreciated. If possible, a tailored response is best. Something that doesn’t seem like a generic form response adds that personal touch that says “friendly community” instead of “ large bureaucratic agency”.

Acknowledge contributors. If you notice someone is frequently active on your social media sites or other websites, acknowledge that you appreciate their continued efforts through a quick email or, better, within a comment thread. Likewise, giving a new contributor kudos on an insightful suggestion can instill confidence and perhaps turn them into a repeat participant.

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