Do you know the right questions to ask your audience?

You want to create social media buzz about your brand or event. What’s the best way to kick-start conversations? Which button can you press for automatic interaction?

See what I did? I asked a question. People want to tell you what they think, and they want you to call them out for it. They won’t interact if you only use Twitter to tell them how awesome the ice sculpture was at last year’s holiday party.

Finding the right question is not always easy. Here are some tips for crafting questions that are more likely to get engagement:

1. Make it relevant

This seems straightforward and simple, but it can be tricky. Find issues and topics that your audience is talking about, and let them guide your questions. Hosting an annual gathering? Ask questions about last year’s event and this year’s expectations. Hosting a local event? Ask about specific happenings occurring in your community.

By making questions meaningful to your audience, you’re more likely to get a response. Read your question twice before you hit send and make sure that someone in your network will be compelled to answer. If not, rework it.

2. Make it current