Prompts for social media posts, and newsletter/blog content

   Help is here!   

Try to think about ways to tie these in with a service, call-to-action, relevance to your offerings—in a friendly, soft-sell way.

Remember the goal is almost always to drive people to your website (to maximize sales/traffic/SEO, etc)—but the first goal is connection. This is always about conversation, not about yelling.

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How-to: Pick a number between 1 and 180, then explore!

1. A book recommendation (share what you’re reading)

2. A blog post you found helpful

3. A charity or cause you support

4. A funny childhood story

5. A goal you’re working towards

6. A photo of your work space

7. A product or service or strategy that changed your business

8. A quote you love and why

9. A turning point in your life/business

10. A typical day for you

11. An interesting/funny comment you received

12. Answer some FAQ’s

    1. Ask for more Q’s for future posts

13. Ask "What's the most helpful thing you've learned lately?"

14. Ask a ‘truth or myth’ question

15. Ask a question related to your industry

16. Ask a True or False question

17. Ask people to caption your photo

18. Ask people to help you make a business decision

19. Ask people what a favourite TV show or movie is and why

20. Ask for book/TV/podcast/etc recommendations

21. Ask for predictions on business—niche specifics

22. Ask for random advice

23. Ask for recommendations related to your business

24. Ask genuine questions to get to know your connections

25. Ask how people found you or where you first connected

26. Ask your connections what they're planning for their next family holiday or vacation

27. Ask a question related to your niche about something they may struggle with (that you may have a solution to)

    1. Answer these on the spot, or in subsequent posts

28. Ask for opinions on a hot topic or news topic

29. Ask about a favourite holiday or travel destination

30. Ask for a favourite motivational or thought-provoking quote or video

31. Ask how they relax and unwind, hobbies etc and share what you’re doing relatedly today

32. Which would you take on a picnic? (with photos of 4 random items)

33. Best bumper sticker you’ve seen lately (or one you’d like to see)

34. Business tools worth the money

35. Childhood dreams (what did you want to be when you grew up)

    1. Ask this

    2. Give your own answer to this

36. Cover Story Dreams (if you were on the cover of a magazine which one would it be and why?)

    1. Ask this

    2. Give your own answer to this

37. Create a 'how to' video or bullet points post which helps your followers improve on something

38. Create a "myth busting" post to address something about you/your field people believe or assume to be true

39. Create a top 10 list (on any topic)

40. Cross post something you've shared from one network on another network (example: share your IG post on FB, or your FB post on Twitter, etc); ideally modify the content slightly to suit each platform

41. An A/B comparison post (could be foods, TV, tools, etc)

42. Unboxing videos (these are a bit overdone, so it could be done comedically, like unboxing cereal)

43. Feature a success story or case study

44. Find a funny comic to share, related to your niche

45. Give a sneak peak on a project or campaign you’re developing

46. Share a free resource and let your followers know how they can use it

47. Helpful websites you use

48. Host a surprise giveaway

49. Host an #AMA (Ask Me Anything)

50. How to get energized and focused

51. How you start your day

52. If you could only visit one website today…

53. If you ran the world…

    1. Ask this

    2. Give your answer to this

54. If keyboards could talk, what would yours say? [’fewer chocolate crumbs, please and thanks’]

55. Intuition and business stories or tips

56. Learning to relax… Take a mini-vacation to…

57. Lessons you’ve learned in business

58. Look at a popular social media group or forum, find a popular question, and share the question + your answer

59. Most commented post/video

60. Music you listen to while you work (share a playlist)

61. My favourite free tools/resources

    1. What are yours?

62. My favorite quotes and why

    1. What are yours?

63. My love affair with… (coffee/murder mysteries/dark chocolate/podcasts)

64. Offer a discount or promo for any special and important events

65. One person I’m glad I’ve met is…

    1. How about you?

66. Photo of you with clients or working together

67. Pick a customer comment or testimonial, thank them and tag them

68. "Do you remember?"

69. A funny riddle or joke your audience will love

70. A how-to or tutorial

    1. could be in your field, or in your personal life

    2. Ask what folks would like to learn from you

71. A meme

72. Events you’re hosting or going to

73. Industry leader quote

    1. Discuss

    2. Your thoughts?

74. Motivation

75. Photos that are totally irrelevant to your business but connect on a personal level

76. Relatable “tag a friend” content

77. Some interesting stats or data about your industry (Did you know?)

78. Something seasonal

79. Profile your clients/friends and share their best tips

80. Recent articles/news links

81. Review a product or service related to your niche

82. Review a product or service you've used that your followers might be interested in

83. Search https://knowyourmeme.com/ for your keywords and share a funny meme

84. Share a "Gif of the day" and ask people to react with their own feelings in a Gif

85. A "theme song of the day"

86. A favourite podcast you listen to and specific episode # recommendation

87. A fun factoid

88. A goal you're aiming for; and ask your community what their goals are

89. A life-hack or tip

90. A list of helpful articles and videos

91. Share a news article or "hot topic" and relate it to something in your industry/something your audience would be interested in

92. A personal story which will help deliver a message others will learn or benefit from

93. A pic or video of you from your past, and share a story about it

94. A pic or video of you having fun or spending time enjoying your hobby

95. A song that depicts your life

96. A video of you speaking (on stage, podcast, interview…)

97. An interesting failure and lesson

98. An interview with you that has been published/broadcast

99. Any press or PR features you have

100. Company news and/or announcements

101. One of your favourite phone apps, what it does, and why you love it

102. Something you've learned recently that was helpful

103. What is working right now for you

104. Your #1 tip on a specific topic

105. Your opinion on some content from an authority or influencer in your niche—and tag them

106. Your own or curated infographics

107. Shoutout or mention other brands/people in your field

108. The biggest goal I’ve achieved so far
     1. You?

109. The coolest things I’ve discovered online
     1. You?

110. One thing I do every day
     1. You?

111. One thing I wish I’d known before…
     1. You?

112. Throw a virtual birthday party (business, product, service, website, etc)

113. Share a video or photo from your past with its story

114. Time management/balance tips
     1. You?

115. What I do when I fail
     1. You?

116. I wish they’d invent…
     1. You?

117. What I’d do differently if I were (insert big name/brand here)
     1. You?

118. Other jobs I’ve held
     1. You?

119. Currently working on…
     1. You?

120. What's on my desk right now, and why…
     1. You?

121. Who/what inspires me
     1. You?

122. A recap of what you learned from an event

123. Yearly accomplishment/yearly recap
     1. You?

124. Best tips and resources
     1. You?

125. What questions do potential clients (users, purchasers, etc) ask before they become clients?

126. What questions should potential clients (users, purchasers, etc) be asking?

127. What do clients (users, purchasers, etc) need to know is true about you?

128. What do clients (users, purchasers, etc) need to know is true about your product/service?

129. What do clients (users, purchasers, etc) need to know is true about themselves?

130. What info would help clients (users, purchasers, etc) better use your product/service?

131. What's the step right before clients (users, purchasers, etc) need you?

132. What mistaken beliefs or misconceptions are there?

133. Look at hashtags used by folks in your field, and use them as inspo—and include the hashtag

134. Research popular hashtags, and use them as inspo—and include the hashtag

135. What is your favourite word?

136. What is your least favourite word?

137. What inspires you creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

138. What is your favourite curse word?

139. What sound or noise do you love?

140. What sound or noise do you hate?

141. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

142. What profession would you not like to do?

143. If you were reincarnated as some other plant or animal, what would it be?

144. Where would you like to live?

145. What is your idea of earthly happiness?

146. To what faults do you feel most indulgent?

147. Who are your favourite fictional characters?

148. Who are your favourite characters in history?

149. Who are your favourite people in real life?

150. Who is your favourite painter?

151. Who is your favourite musician?

152. What quality do you most admire in a person?

153. What is your favourite virtue?

154. What is your favourite occupation?

155. Who would you have liked to be?

156. What is your most marked characteristic?

157. What quality do you most like in a person?

158. What do you value most in your friends?

159. What is your principal defect?

160. What is your favourite occupation?

161. What is your dream of happiness?

162. What to your mind would be the greatest misfortune?

163. What would you like to be?

164. What is your favourite colour?

165. What is your favourite flower?

166. What is your favourite bird?

167. Who are your favourite prose writers?

168. Who are your favourite poets?

169. Who are your heroes in real life?

170. What are your favourite names?

171. What do you most dislike?

172. What natural gift would you most like to possess?

173. What is your present state of mind?

174. What is your motto?

175. What sets you apart in your field?

176. What’s a little-known fact of your field? (Insider info)

177. Track social media trends in your field and play with them (HootSuite’s free tracker: https://www.hootsuite.com/trend-analysis-tool)

178. Have a look at what others in your field are posting, and see if any of it inspires you

179. Look into collabs with relevant brands/products/creators—how can you work together and share audiences? (Any of the above, for example)

180. Create a list of five questions and ask them of people in your field; create posts by using them in different ways
     1. Here’s how five experts answered the same question
     2. Here’s how so-and-so answered My Five Q’s
     3. This answer surprised me
     4. Create an ongoing series

 

Sources: Lauren O’Malley, Cat Orsini, Marcel Proust, James Lipton, Bernard Pivot