What to Post When You Don’t Know What to Say
You’re feeling inspired, you turn your computer on, you’re ready to write an inspiring or value packed post, and then one of two things happens.
1. Your mind goes blank. You start to overthink every word. Maybe you write (and rewrite) a few lines, but it never makes it out of draft mode. Or you finish the post, read it back, decide it’s not good enough to share, and you scrap it.
2. You hit post, but it flops. You’re happy enough with what you’ve written to click post, but after an hour, 4 hours, a day, you get low visibility and engagement. Then the voice in your head starts questioning everything. Was it too long? Too personal? Did people hate it? It makes you want to pivot and post something completely different next time, or post nothing at all.
You don’t have to be clever or profound every time you post. You just need to be clear, real, and helpful.
A lot of people overthink what they share. They hold back, waiting for something original or groundbreaking, when the most engaging content often comes from simple, honest moments. The pressure to always be inspiring can actually push you into silence.
Instead, approach content like a conversation.
If your happiest, longest-standing client was sitting across the table from you, coffee in hand, asking what you’ve been up to lately—what would you say?
That’s where the best content comes from.
Here are a few reliable starting points to pull you out of the "what do I say?" rut:
1. Answer a question you've already been asked.
Every time someone messages you with a question or confusion, that’s a clue. If one person is wondering, others are too. Screenshot it, jot it down, and build a post around your answer. You could even create a recurring Q&A feature. It saves you time and builds trust.
2. Share what you wish people understood about your work.
What do people often misunderstand or oversimplify about what you do? Use that as fuel. No matter what kind of organization you have, there are things behind the scenes that could help your audience understand your mission, services or processes better.
3. Reflect something your audience is feeling.
People want to feel seen. Not every post needs to offer a solution. Validation can be very powerful. It lets your audience know you understand them, creates connection and makes it feel safe for them to reach out to you.
Bonus idea: Share something personal with a purpose.
You don’t have to get overly vulnerable to be real. Talk about a challenge you’ve faced or something you're learning—then tie it back to your audience.
Let them know why it matters.
And if you're still stuck?
Go back to why you started.
What drives your work? What patterns are you noticing in your industry? What lights you up?
So, what happens if somebody does comment on your post? What do you say? How do you respond?
What to Say When You Don’t Know How to Respond to Comments
Your comment section is part of your brand. The energy you bring there matters just as much as your captions.
Responding to comments is one of the easiest ways to build connection—and keep the algorithm working in your favor.
But you need to keep it real. Don’t try to polish it and “sound” professional.
Here’s how to respond in a way that feels natural (and helps you stay visible):
1. Say more than “thanks!”
People don’t just want acknowledgment—they want to feel like what they said mattered. Instead of a simple “thank you,” try something like:
Share why you posted it: “Thanks so much—it’s something someone shared with me once and it always stuck with me. Thought I’d pass it on.”
Share how you felt about it: “I appreciate you saying that. It felt a little scary for me to share this at first.”
Appreciate their effort: “It really means a lot that you took the time to leave a comment. I'm grateful you're here and part of this.”
Bonus tip – Use their name when you respond. It makes it more personal—and on most platforms, it tags them so they’re notified.
2. Ask a follow-up.
Inviting them to elaborate boosts engagement and can turn your post into a real back-and-forth exchange. If someone comments “this really resonates” or “this hit home”, you could say:
Ask for details: “I’d love to know which part resonated most if you’re willing to share!”
Ask how/where they’re feeling it: “I’ve been hearing that a lot lately. Are you feeling it more personally or professionally?”
If it’s a potential fit, invite them to go deeper: “If you ever want to talk more about this, I’d love to connect with you.”
3. Share what you actually think.
If they offer their own perspective or opinion—join the conversation.
· Agree: Reflect their insight and say something like “That’s a great point. I love the way you’re thinking” or “I feel the same way.” Then, add a story, experience, or lesson learned that gives it more depth.
· Disagree: Yes—it’s okay to disagree publicly. Just keep it respectful and constructive. Try, “I see what you’re saying—I had a different experience so I see it a bit differently.” Follow up with context if appropriate.
· Learn More: “It sounds like you’ve had a lot of experience with this. How did you get your start?” or “Sounds like you’re well versed on the topic. Do you read a lot? Any book recommendations or people you follow here?”
Pro Tip: Use your comments as content.
Comments can be a gold mine for your next post. If someone shares a story or adds a great insight, you can:
Screenshot and share it (with permission)
Use it as a prompt for your next caption
Build a “comment thread” post that turns community insights into content
When your audience sees their thoughts reflected in your feed, they feel valued—and they’re more likely to keep showing up.
Golden Rule of commenting
Connection doesn’t end when you hit post. Sometimes, that’s exactly where it begins.
So, no matter what you say, keep it authentic and true to you.
PS -You don’t need to turn every reply into a mini blog. Just be present.
If you want to start building more trust and connection in your content? Let’s talk.