If you want someone to participate, give them all the tools and resources you can to enable them to get started. Don’t make them solve riddles. People who value their time don’t want to play your game unless you make clear the value that’s offered and the rules to get started. Another way to frame participation is with that not-so-dirty word that starts with an ‘s’; selling. Getting people to participate, aka buy in, is nothing else but selling. I was inspired to talk about this after someone message me on Instagram asking me to participate in a challenge. Besides being in another language, I couldn’t make clear what he was asking of me so I asked him to expand and provide some details for me. He responded with something not quite comprehend-able so I asked to explain further and then he told me I would know when I know. Nope! Sorry dude, you lost me. I choose not to waste time trying to decipher your Davinci code so I can THEN participate in something that seems likely to only benefit you. This is how some of your customers feels if you aren’t laying it out for them. Give them the resources. Make it as easy as possible for them to engage and become a part of the process. Make it worth their while. Provide the value. Then make the ask. Be Batman and reach for your tool belt and then give selflessly. Don’t be the Riddler.
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