If there is one drawback to using DFY content, it’s this: it’s bland and very generic. And if you use it straight out of the box, then chances are you’ll get very little engagement from DFY content that you buy.

The reason for this is simple. If the original author put all their personality into the writing, it would be very hard for you to use it as your own. So, it’s created to get the information across, but not to have a voice of its own. That’s what you’re supposed to give it before you publish.

And, in a bit of a reality check, that’s also the reason DFY content sits on a lot of people’s hard drives. They don’t know how to give it their voice, or what changes to make.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do, however.

Here are 3 different ways you can get more engagement from DFY content:

1. Use more images in your content

Images are a great way a unique spin to your DFY content. They give it much more visual appeal and make it much easier to read by breaking up the blocks of text that make up most blog posts.

And because there are so many stock photo sites to choose from (or, if you’re a decent photographer you can always use your own), chances are that you’re not going to choose the same photos as other people who own the content will.

So, not only are you making it easier for your audience to consume the content, you’re also giving them a unique look at your take on it based on the images you choose.

2. Add videos to your content

The popularity of YouTube and other video sharing sites is a testament to how much people like watching videos. Me, personally, I’m still a reader, but I have been known to watch a video or two when the subject is intriguing enough.

When it comes to using DFY content, adding videos to your blog posts and/or your social channels is another great way to get more engagement as well as to get your own points across.

Many DFY content packages include articles as well as slides that summarize the main points of them. These are easily editable so that you can create a short video to give your own summary in your own words. It’s much easier to create a few slides with a few dozen words between them, than it is to rewrite a whole article, especially if you’re not a fan of writing!

3. Add infographics and charts

I have a confession to make…

I am a sucker for a well-made infographic.

Because while I am a voracious reader, there are times when I just want the info in a way that I can digest it in 10 seconds or less. And a well-made infographic does that.

Plus, when you add them to your DFY content, you’re going to brand it with your colours and give it your own creative flair in the design, right? So not only is it going to engage your audience, but it’s also going to make them remember you at the same time.

Infographics work really well with listicles, because you can easily summarize the points on the list into a graphic format. And they work especially well for things like journaling prompts and affirmations where you can put a month’s worth of content onto one graphic for your audience.

And charts are pretty much a “must have” when your content includes a lot of data that you want to the audience to take notice of. Summarizing the data into a chart or table form makes it much easier for them to engage with your content.

Final Thoughts

Using content that is more graphical in nature such as images, video content, and infographics is a great way to get more engagement from your DFY content. They all keep your audience engaged and more interested in what you have to offer better than a straight wall of text articles will do.

You can even use DFY content to create them. Some people like the team at Tools for Motivation include photos, slides that can be turned into videos, and infographics in most of their content packages.

And don’t forget, you can easily repurpose the images, slides, and infographics that you create on your social channels as well, in order to create engagement there and drive people back to your site.  

Resources:

For stock photos I like Unsplash and Ivory Mix

Video creation tools that work well are Pictory and Camtasia

Tools for Motivation* have a variety of products on self-help topics. Their content always includes at least one of the content types mentioned here to make creating engaging content easier for you.