From Scrolling to Interaction: How Timepath’s Interactive Tools Boost Engagement in News Articles
Frido van Driem
Founder
In today’s fast-paced digital world, capturing a reader’s attention is harder than ever. People skim headlines, scroll quickly, and often leave before reaching the end of a story. The challenge for publishers is not just to get clicks, but to keep readers engaged and turn passive consumption into active participation.
That’s exactly where Timepath comes in. With our suite of interactive tools, your article becomes more than just a story, it becomes an experience.
Why Interaction Matters in Modern Journalism
News is no longer a one-way street. Readers want to be part of the conversation, explore topics in depth, and have their voices heard. By integrating interactive elements directly into your article, you:
• Increase time on page as readers explore more content
• Encourage repeat visits through dynamic updates
• Build trust and loyalty by involving your audience in the storytelling process
How Timepath Turns Readers Into Participants
1. Timelines: Bring Context to Life
Complex topics often need more than just a few paragraphs. With Timepath’s interactive timelines, you can present the history and background of any story in an easy-to-navigate format. Readers can scroll or swipe through events, zoom in on details, and truly understand how the story developed over time.
Perfect for:
• Political events
• Sports seasons
• Breaking news histories
• Feature stories
2. Quizzes: Test Knowledge and Spark Curiosity
A quick knowledge check is an excellent way to keep readers engaged. With Timepath Quizzes, you can challenge your audience on facts, data, or historical moments related to your story — and encourage them to share their results.
Perfect for:
• Recaps of major events
• Educational news
• Entertainment coverage
3. Polls: Turn News into a Dialogue
Want to know what your readers think? Add a poll right into your article and let them have their say. Instant results make them feel part of the conversation, and you gain valuable insights into audience sentiment.
Perfect for:
• Opinion pieces
• Community issues
• Election coverage
4. Collections: Keep Readers Exploring
When readers finish your article, don’t let them leave. A Timepath Collection groups related stories together so they can easily dive deeper into the topic.
Perfect for:
• In-depth investigations
• Multi-part series
• Thematic coverage
5. Liveblogs: Keep Stories Fresh with Real-Time Updates
Some stories are always evolving. With Timepath Liveblogs, you can provide minute-by-minute updates — keeping readers coming back for the latest developments without refreshing the page.
Perfect for:
• Breaking news
• Sports matches
• Events and conferences
The Result: More Than Just Scrolling
By combining these tools, your news articles evolve from a static block of text into a living, breathing experience. Readers don’t just scroll — they click, vote, test themselves, and explore. That engagement doesn’t just feel good, it translates into better metrics, higher retention, and a stronger relationship with your audience.
Pro Tip: The real magic happens when you combine these elements. Imagine a breaking news article with a liveblog at the top, a timeline to give context, a poll to gather opinions, and a related collection for further reading. The story becomes a hub — not just for information, but for interaction.