Social Media Prompts to Strengthen Your Brand

I’m not a social media strategist. I won’t pretend to know all the latest tricks to conquer “the algorithm.” But what I do know is how to build a brand. It’s all about thoughtful content: putting intention and strategy behind every post.

We are often asked for tips on social media posting. My philosophy is to post with intention. Every time you post, think about the value behind the words and image.

What you share should build your brand and serve your audience.

Let’s break it down into some ways you can do that:

Content Buckets

We’ve stepped away from Instagram this year, but I want to share a process that was helpful for us when we were posting regular content: content buckets.

“Buckets” are broad categories that align with your brand and your services. They are the big-picture messages you want to share with your audience as you build a brand.

As an example, here were some of my buckets from last year:

– Brand Design Services
– Website Design Services
– Illustration Capabilities
– Positioning as Expert
– Intentional Living

I knew that I wanted to convey my offerings… and I also wanted to connect with my audience and their values. As I rotated through these buckets in my posts, I went into more depth about each of these broad topics, ensuring an even mix of content. Buckets are a great way to find the balance between variety and cohesion.

You might have anywhere from 3–10 buckets. Buckets are flexible over time, so don’t put too much pressure on them! You can always revisit these ideas.

So go ahead and grab your sticky notes: what are the overarching “messaging buckets” of your business?

Batch Posting

Now that you have your Buckets, it’s time to put them to work—batch work. I love batch working in all areas of my business, but it is especially critical for social media posting.

You know that feeling of staring a blinking cursor, waiting for caption inspiration to strike? That is not serving you (or your audience) well.

It is so much easier to write captions when you sit down and do it all at once. Once the ideas start flowing, you can get a solid month of content written out within a day.

So set aside a full day for content creation, and start brainstorming posts for each of your “buckets.” Rotating through your buckets will keep your messaging cohesive and strategic.

Then use a scheduler to push out posts automatically. I personally love Tailwind for both Instagram and Pinterest! Many people don’t know that Tailwind actually offers Instagram scheduling—but I loved having everything in one place. Other options include Planoly, Later, and Buffer.

*Tip: don’t be afraid to copy and paste. I re-used sections and phrases of posts all the time! I even re-posted complete captions several months later. Over time, there are new people in your audience who could benefit from that message.

(P.S.—need help with batch working? Invest in Amanda Warfield right now! She’ll meet you where you are and help you understand how to streamline your time in your business. She’s worth her weight in gold!)

Prompts

Now the part you’ve been waiting for 😉 I have some prompts to help you conquer that writer’s block and start communicating with your audience intentionally. In addition to your Content Buckets, you can use any of these prompts to build your brand on social media.

When you respond to the prompt, think about it as a FEELING, a MOMENT, or a STORY.

People connect with emotions, memories, and narratives.

Instead of just sharing the year your business was founded, tell me what you were feeling in the moment you decided to start your business. Tell me how your clients feel when they work with you—or share a real transformation story.

Most importantly… just START. These guidelines and prompts are here to help you learn how to post intentionally, but the most important thing you can do is just start writing. Don’t overthink it. Don’t worry about it if a post isn’t as intentional as you want it to be, or if it doesn’t perform particularly well. Social content is fleeting. Practice writing intentionally, and good content will emerge if you just give it some time.

On to the prompts!

About You

People like to connect with a real human soul on the other side of a social media account. Sharing about yourself, your team, and your business establishes trust and opens the door for a conversation.

But here’s what I want you to remember: it’s not really about you. It’s about the ideal client. How are you uniquely equipped to serve them? What is it about your business that makes your services a perfect fit for them?

– Who are you?
– What do you do?
– What makes you uniquely qualified to serve your client?
– What makes you an expert in your craft?
– How did you learn to do what you do?
– How long have you been doing this?
– How did you build experience?
– What did you do before this? How did it shape your perspective?
– Where do you look for creative inspiration?
– What is a specific memory of discovering unexpected inspiration?
– What do you love most about your job?
– What is challenging about your work? How do you push through it?
– How do you feel when you start a new project?
– How do you feel when a project is complete?
– When do you feel most inspired?
– What does a typical day look like? (Describe a specific moment)
– What is your Enneagram type? How does that affect your approach?
– What is your Meyers-Briggs type? How does that affect your approach?
– What is your best personality trait?
– Which personality traits are a challenge for you?
– What is a scent that always brings back a particular memory for you?
– What is a memory for childhood that you still think about today?
– Who has been a mentor in your life? What did you learn from them?
– How would your partner or friend describe you?
– What is a challenge that you’ve worked to overcome?
– What / who are you grateful for?

About Your Business

– Why did you start your business?
– How did you feel when you started your business?
– What was your original vision for your business? How has that changed?
– What is your vision for the future of your business?
– What is the meaning behind the name of your business?
– What is something about your business that makes you feel proud?
– What sets you apart from similar businesses?
– Do you have a team? If so, share about the roles and dynamics.
– What was one of your favorite projects to date?
– Share your logo and the concept behind it.

Behind the Scenes

– What does your workspace look like?
– What makes your workspace feel inspiring?
– What are the tools you use to do your work?
– What kind of research goes into your work?
– What is the messiest part of the process?
– What is the part of the process people rarely see?
– What is the part of the process people misunderstand?
– What is your work playlist? Why does it inspire you?

About Your Services

– What exactly do you offer? Be clear, concise, and specific.
– What is included in your services?
– How can it help your clients?
– What is the process of working together like?
– What is your favorite part of the client experience?
– How do you go above and beyond to serve your clients?
– How do clients feel before working with you?
– How do clients feel while working with you?
– How do clients feel after working with you?
– How do you use your product / final deliverables?
– What kind of transformation do your clients experience?
– When are you available to work together?
– What is the first step toward working together?
– How can you be contacted?
– Why should I book you?

About Your Clients / Customers

– What kind of client do you love working with?
– What are some of your shared values?
– What is a common fear / doubt your clients share? (Offer a solution)
– What do they worry about before working with you? (Offer a solution)
– What do they often misunderstand about your industry? (Offer a solution)
– What do they often misunderstand about your services? (Offer a solution)
– What is one memory of a client who was great to work with?
– How have your past clients experienced success after working with you?
– What does a successful outcome look like for your clients?
– Share a past client’s success story / transformation journey.
– Share a review / testimonial from a past client.

Sharing Value

– What free resources can you offer to your audience?
– What is one quick tip you can share with your audience?
– What is one piece of advice you’ve learned?
– What do you wish someone had told you when you started?
– What do you wish clients knew before they started working with you?
– What are some resources you can recommend?
– What is one thing your followers could do today to make a positive change?

Product Specific

*Some of these prompts in particular feel very informational, but remember to transform them into a specific emotion, story, or a moment in time.

– How do you use the product?
– Where do you use the product?
– When do you use the product?
– How do you display the product?
– How is the product packaged?
– How is this product made?
– What are the ingredients?
– What are your ethics behind production?
– What product lines / flavors / scents / colors are available?
– How do customers feel when they receive this product?
– How do customers feel when they use this product?
– How do people feel when they receive this product as a gift?
– How do people feel when they give this product as a gift?
– What are some occasions to use or gift this product?
– What inspires your new product ideas?
– How did you feel when you designed this product?
– What challenges did you face while designing this product?
– Invite your audience to help name a product.

Informational

– Project availability update.
– Stock quantity update.
– Announce a new product.
– Announce a sale / discount / promotion.
– Announce a launch date / countdown.
– Announce a giveaway.
– Do you have an email list? Tell how to join.

Caption-Starters

– I remember when I felt like…
– I remember when I was nervous to…
– I remember when I thought that…
– I always feel [insert emotion] when…
– You might think [insert myth], but the truth is…
– Have you ever felt like… ?
– Have you ever experienced… ?
– What do you think about… ?
– Can I get your feedback on something?
– Can I ask for your help? I’d love to know…

Cheers to intentional posts that serve your brand and your audience well!