14 Talk-Worthy Social Media Topics to Jumpstart Social Media Engagement

Okay, solopreneurs and small business owners - we know you're busy. Like, busy-busy.

You've got inventory to manage, networking events to rock, and work to be done - 24/7/365.

‍With everything you've got going on, it's super easy for things to slip through the cracks. Even pretty important things - like which social media topics to talk about.

‍Social media is an easy and powerful way to connect with your customers, increase traffic to your website, reach new audiences and fans, generate leads, manage customer service, and - perhaps most importantly - up your thought leadership game.

But social media can feel like a distraction from "real work." The truth is that social media has never been more important to businesses - especially small businesses.

According to a survey from Spendesk, 93% of successful businesses are committed to content marketing and social media.

‍Small business owners most rely on social media to grow their business - more than email marketing, display ads, and direct mail, and PR combined.

The reason why social media is so popular for small business owners is simple: Social media levels the playing field. It gives everyone a chance to get noticed on a global scale and to compete with the "big guys" for thought leadership. After all, going viral has little to do with your earnings and a lot to do with your message.

‍Plus, 71% of consumers say that a company's social media posts influence their buying decisions. In other words: spending time on social media is totally worth it.

So! What's the state of your social media?

One of the biggest reasons people give for not being more engaged on social media is that they feel like they can't find interesting social media discussion topics.

• ‍"What do I share?"
• ‍"Who cares what I'm eating?"
• ‍"Who wants to hear my opinions?"
• "Who honestly can't believe it's not butter?"

These are all good questions! And you definitely don't want to churn out lackluster content - nor pushy, sales-y stuff that just sounds spammy. You want your social media topic ideas to be interesting, helpful, real, and (importantly) shareable.

What to say on social media? If you're struggling to find the best topics to talk about, try these 14 share-worthy social media topics to get started.

1. Things you treasure

‍It doesn’t matter how big or small your business is, people love "insider" warm-fuzzies. Posting about what makes you smile introduces you (as a real live human being) to your brand or business.

So, what makes you smile? What keeps you going after a long day? Whether it's spiritual and personal growth stuff, yummy foods that you make (or eat!), or funny things your kids say - chances are things that lift your spirits will lift the spirits of your fans, too!

‍2. Things that inspire you

Even a brand or a company can be inspirational - but, as with Topic #1 - it starts with you.

Where do you go to affirm your inner greatness? What sparks your creativity and pushes you (or your business) to innovate? Do you look to art? Music? A favorite author? Leaders in your space? Post about where you go to get motivated to make things happen!

‍3. Favorite tools you use to make your life easier

You know what everyone appreciates? Literally anything that makes ANY TASK THAT EVERYONE DOES BUT NOBODY REALLY LIKES TO DO easier.

(Edgar was founded by an entrepreneur as a better way to save time on social media - making life easier is literally why we exist.)

So what are you using that make your every day extra nice? Astronaut pen? An ergonomic chair?

What are the online tools and software that keep your business humming, save hours of your day, and keep your brand up-to-date? Let your fans know how the things that make your life easier bring value into your life or business. Sharing life hacks is a great way to get a social media discussion going too!

‍4. Bragging rights

This sort of ties back to Topic #2 - providing inspiration to your fans. But it's you doing the inspiring yourself!

This can feel really uncomfortable at first, but the internet is a big place, and being modest is not a sustainable marketing strategy. So share your accomplishments! It shows your customers that youkinda rock and it shows your fans how to rock.

Did you help a client face her fear of asking for a raise? Tell people! Is your schedule booked for the next two months? Brag about it!

‍5. Other peoples’ stuff

That old saying about not reinventing the wheel? It's basically social media's unofficial motto. If someone you follow posts an amazing article or provides unique value to you - through insights, analysis, or just plain amazing products - share that goodness with your fans!

What newsletters do you always read? What blogs do you subscribe to? What events or products are your peers producing? What website offers great content for your community or industry? These are hot topics to talk about!

‍6. Funny things

Everyone needs a good laugh pretty much every single day. Laughter is kind of amazing, because it's one of those universal things that takes you out of your head and plants you firmly in the present. It lends perspective, it breaks up the day, and when it's "contagious," laughter really is the best medicine.

Funny stuff - that's not at the expense of others, of course - is almost always a worthwhile share on social media. Search on YouTube for a funny video, or find a photo or GIF that cracks you up. Here's a great example:

7. Ask questions

Get curious about your community and your industry! It doesn’t have to be about your work - focus on getting to know who you are connected with on your social media profiles. Ask some fun social media questions!

What are their thoughts about current affairs? What are they doing this weekend? How do they manage family and work life? What books are on their nightstands or e-readers?

As an added bonus, asking questions can inspire many interesting topics to talk about in future posts! Questions for social media engagement are a great way to get inspiration from your community.

‍8. Witty musings

You know those strange and lovely things that happen to us in life? Like that time that guy took up three seats on the train for his phone, briefcase, and shoes so unashamedly that you weren't even mad. Or that time a butterfly landed perfectly on your window the moment you were thinking about something special. Or that morning the barista drew Cookie Monster's face in your latte.

Close enough

Moments like these show your human side, and give others a chance to connect with you through a common trait: being human.

9. Places or products you love

Where did you get your hair cut? What is your favorite "I’m not cooking tonight" restaurant? Did your insurance agent go above and beyond? Did your cell phone company correct an error they made? (Wait... does this actually happen?)

Sharing your interactions with other businesses is a simple and lovely way to build community and create fans from whole new audiences.

10. Promote your stuff!

You don't always have to search too far for cool things to talk about because you are doing very cool things in your business! Earning a profit from your business is important, so don't be afraid to share your goods too!

Revive those old blog posts from last year, and share 'em again and again for new people to discover. Take quotes from your book. Tell people about your next event, or that you’re open for one more coaching client, or you're speaking on a podcast as an expert in your field.

Share about the services you offer - but in balance with the other nine items on this list. The point is to nurture a connection with like-hearted people who will love following you and your business - all because of you!

‍11. Local or industry-related events

What's going on that your audience will be interested in? If you are a local business or brick and mortar business, sharing relevant upcoming events in your area such as parades, parties or fundraisers can be very valuable to your audience.

Likewise, if you are a B2B business, then industry-related events like conferences, tradeshows, or trainings could be a topic that really engages your audience.

12. Pop culture or current events

‍Sometimes the best topics to talk about are the topics that everyone else is talking about. What's happening in the world that everyone is talking about and can you apply it to your business? Maybe it's a sporting event or an awards show but keep an eye on trending topics.

Just be careful that you only hop on board it's an event that relates to your business or your audience!

13. Shout-outs to our team

People love to see the faces behind the brand! Share short bios, fun facts, or “a day in the life” posts about your team. It humanizes your business and builds trust.

‍We occasionally feature our team members on Instagram to give people a chance to put a face to a name when they interact with our company.

‍14. Behind-the-scenes stuff

‍One of the things our "behind the scenes" posts focus on is showcasing our values (which we're darn proud of!) and how those values impact the way we do business.

Giving social media followers a peek into the day-to-day life of everyone who makes MeetEdgar possible is a fun and impactful way to put a human face on a fully distributed company like ours! It’s also one of the great things to talk about on live!

What have you found are the best topics to talk about on social media?