Facebook is generating considerable activity as people often update their Facebook statuses on a daily basis. Statuses vary in topic from a description of one's latest meal or shopping experience to quotes about world peace. Aside from updating one's own status, people are checking the status of one another to keep up on each other's activities as well as trends. With many Facebook accounts holding over 100 'Friends,' the challenge is to create an interesting status that will draw one's contacts to one's page to read the latest status.

Be Detail-Oriented

Include details when writing a new Facebook status. Updates to Facebook since its launch in 2004 have included the ability for users to add links for location of the status activity. Users can also tag other people involved in the activity mentioned in the status.

Including a location in one's status adds interest as 'Friends' may have visited said area and wish to comment on the landscape. By adding a 'Friend' to one's status, that particular friend becomes linked to the status and will receive notification about being mentioned. A mention creates interest for that special person, who is likely curious about the status and inclined to head to the status page to investigate the name-mention.

Next, watch the mentioned person 'Like' the status or comment. Take it one another step. Watch that person's 'Friends' add a comment or two of their own. Interest is created. Traffic to the initial Facebook status spreads like electronic wildfire.

Variety is the Spice of, Well, the Facebook Status

Vary Facebook statuses to keep the information fresh and interesting. Avoid being overly predictable in one's posts by, for instance, posting YouTube videos about cute animals every second day. Contacts will begin to skim over the predictable status updates in the Activity Feed, rarely interacting with the information as it no longer stands out as original content. 

Alternate what is written in the status box to avoid falling into the black hole of unread Facebook statuses. It is a lonely hole of unread words. Avoid routine posts. Alternate statuses about personal information, quotes (include the author to give added authority), and article posts. Often quotes and articles generate conversation and are relatable.

Articles With a Twist

Many Facebook statuses are posts of articles the account owner recently read, liked, or even felt a strong disapproval for the subject matter. Readers rarely pick up on those emotions, however, as many writers fail to include anything other than the article link in their statuses.

Add a personal touch to the article post by adding a context for the post. Explain why one decided to post that particular article on that particular day. For instance, if one posted an article about homelessness after attending an outreach center, type a line or two about the link between the center and finding the article online. If the article is from one's favorite blog, why not add an intro to its link that explains why one likes that particular blog. Including a personal experience makes the article more relatable and therefore more likely to be interesting to one's 'Friends.'

Subject Matter

Whether one's 'Friends' find the status interesting is relative to that particular group and their interests. For example, if most of one's Facebook contacts are team members on a baseball team, a quote about baseball likely will be of interest to them. Although interest is subjective, one may learn by interacting with others on the website and reading specific statuses which subject matters are of interest to contacts.

Question It

An interesting Facebook status is also created by posing a question. Give one's Facebook contacts a forum to discuss and begin a debate. Watch the posts develop on the Wall under the Facebook status box. 'Friends' have the opportunity to weigh in on the subject matter rather than simply choosing to 'Like' a status. Interaction among 'Friends' is encouraged and interest is thus created.

An interesting Facebook status generates views to one's Facebook profile and encourages virtual conversations. Vary the information contained within the status box and welcome the posts that follow. Happy typing!

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© 2011 Christy Birmingham