Get closer to new followers fast with a question box as an icebreaker

A follow alone doesn't start a relationship

Gaining new followers feels good. But someone pressing the follow button doesn't create a relationship between you and them yet. They're just looking at your posts on their timeline, and you don't even know they're there. This state of "not knowing each other" is the default right after a follow.

A question box can work as an icebreaker that breaks this state. A new follower sends a question, and you answer it. After just one exchange, that person should change from "someone who just scrolls past your posts" into "someone who sent you a question." Even if this change looks small, it's a first step toward a relationship.

Make it easy for new followers to send questions

Right after following someone, people hold back, thinking "I just followed. Is it okay to send a question already?" You need a few tricks to remove this hesitation.

Adding a line like "New followers are very welcome" to your profile may ease their hesitation. If you write "If we haven't met yet, I'd love it if you sent a question as a way of introducing yourself," it becomes specific and easier to act on.

Another approach is to keep past Q&A in your pinned post or your story highlights. For new followers, wondering "What's the vibe of this person's question box?" is a natural worry. If they can see from past Q&A that "this is the tone they answer in," they can send a question without worry.

Times when you gain lots of new followers (right after a post goes viral, or right after you're featured in the media) are a chance to announce your question box again. One option is to call out to new followers with a post like "To everyone who followed me recently: you can ask me anything in my question box."

Tips for answering a "nice to meet you" question

Some new followers start with a light first question, like "What X do you recommend?" or "Tell me about X." Your answer to this first question is one of the things that shape that person's first impression of you.

The thing to keep in mind is making them feel welcome. If you add a line like "Thanks for the question!", they should feel welcomed. If you add "Are you someone who followed me recently? Thank you!", you can let them know you've noticed them.

If you end your answer with "If there's anything else you're curious about, ask anytime," it becomes easier for them to send the next question. Instead of stopping at the first one, keeping the exchange going with a second and third question is the foundation of building a relationship.

Make a point of answering questions from new followers more carefully than questions from existing followers. If their first experience is good, they may become a fan who supports you for a long time. You want to avoid a bad first experience that ends with them quietly unfollowing you.

A question box shows you "why they followed you"

Questions from new followers have one more kind of value. They indirectly tell you "why this person followed you."

If an account that posts about cooking gets the question "Please share your recipe," you know that person followed because they're interested in cooking. If a question says "I followed because your posts about work are interesting," you can guess that their interest is in career-related content.

This information is a valuable hint for your content strategy. Once you understand what new followers were interested in when they followed you, you can deliberately post content that meets those expectations.

A question box is a way to start relationships with new followers, and at the same time it's a window into what your followers want. When a new question arrives, don't just answer it. Try asking yourself, "Why did this person follow me?" The answer will probably show the strengths of your account.