What Do I Say On Social Media? 23 Conversation Starters for Authors

By Edie Melson @EdieMelson

I'm constantly being asked for ideas of what post on social media. 

It's important to use those updates as a tool to start a conversation with your friends and followers. 

So I've compiled a list of 23 social media conversation starters for Authors. These should help you never be at a loss for words!

23 Social Media Conversation Starters

1. Now that hashtags have caught on for a lot of different social media platforms, ask your followers/friends to share their favorite hashtags.

2. Take advantage of the seasons and ask, "What are you reading this summer (fall, spring, winter, etc)."


Look no farther than the calendar for update inspiration.

3. Along the lines of following the calendar, get more specific. For example today is Lazy Day, World Lion Day, National Duran Duran Day, Skyscraper Appreciation Day, and National S’mores Day. It’s also National Smile week—just think the social media updates you can create around those! I post the days for the month to come on the last Thursday of each month. Here's a link to August Calendar Days. You can also post questions about what week this is, and what month.



4. Share a new author you've discovered, and invite your followers/friends to do the same. The author doesn't have to be brand new—just new to you.



5. Post a cliche you hate to hear and ask others to post ones that irritate them.



6. One of my most popular social media updates was when I asked for favorite writing quotes. You can do an infinite variation on this by asking for quotes about love, family, mothers . . . you get the idea.

Share your favorite music to write by.

7. Share your favorite music to play while you're writing. 

Or even better, share a Spotify playlist. 

8. Ask for recommendations for new movies.



9. We all grew up rolling our eyes (maybe only mentally) when mom came out with one of her sayings. Post one of your least favorites, and ask your followers to chime in with one of theirs.




10. In this day of smart phones and tablets, ask for app recommendations. People are always happy to share new things that help make life simpler.

11. Ask for help with your current writing project—such as naming a character or helping refine a non-fiction topic.

Share an image that inspires you.

12. Images are hugely popular, share one that inspires you.

13. Do a new take on What I Did Last Summer, and post what you did this summer, or fall, or last weekend.

14. If you like to cook (or even if you don’t) share a recipe that you love or one you want to try.

15. Make a list and share your favorite people to follow on that specific social media network. For example, a list of favorite Instagram or Twitter accounts.

16. Share something from your bucket list, and ask for your followers to share something on theirs.

17. Post a funny video and ask others to comment or post one they love.

18. Put together a nonsensical list—like your favorite Dr. Seuss words or funniest oxymorons—and ask your followers to add to the list.

19. Post the link to a devotion that inspired you today and ask others to do the same.

20. On TBT (Throwback Thursday) post a picture from your childhood.

Take a vocabulary test and share the results.

21. Take a vocabulary test, share the results and the link and ask others to share their results. Here’s a link to get you started on Test Your Vocal. (And for the record, I scored 36,000 words.)

22. Ask your followers for ideas of what to share on social media.

23. Post your favorite line from a movie, and ask people to guess which movie it’s associated with.

As you can see, the list could go on and on and on. The key to always having something to say on social media is to keep a list of ideas of what to talk about. Otherwise, if you’re like me, when you’re ready to share something your mind goes blank.

So now it’s your turn. What would you add to my list? Don’t be shy, share your thoughts in the comments section below.

And don’t forget to join the conversation!

Blessings,

Edie

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If you've missed the previous posts in this series, here they are:

Part I—Know Where You are and Where You’re Going

Part II—When Should a Writer Start Building a Social Media Network

Part III—Targeting Millennials: Snapchat’s 3 Most Dominant Brands & Their Tactics  

Part IV—Dealing with Facebook Spam

Part V—How to Use Hashtags in Social Media
Part VI—Is Twitter Worth the Bother?
Part VII—Get Started with Hootsuite
Part VIII—Tips for Composing Effective Social Media Updates