Vague booking: A vague Facebook status update that prompts friends to ask what’s going on, or possibly a cry for help.

-Via Urban Dictionary

Vague booking can be unintentional, or it can be a ploy to get people’s attention or pity. It’s important to use   carefully, especially as a business, because it can be a powerful tool to gain likes and comments, spur discussion, and build your community. However, overuse will make people tired of your posts and could cause them to unfriend you, unfollow you, or unlike you. (I think those are all words…)

How not to use it:

• When making a complaint: Making vague complaints over social media doesn’t help anyone. Be specific and direct and you’ll better your chance of getting a response. Tweets like “ABC Bakery, you frustrate me so much. #worstbakeryever” will sometimes get a response, but especially with the new “Conversation” system Twitter has put in place most businesses probably won’t want to call attention to a tweet like that. Also, saying things like “My life is so difficult!” sounds whiny without really saying anything at all. Cut to the chase!
• Every time you have an announcement to make: Your followers will grow tired of it. Get to the point of whatever you’re trying to announce. “I got a new job!” is an example of this because it then forces people to ask “Where are you working now?”. On the surface it’s a great way to spark a conversation, but eventually it becomes annoying.
• Questions: It goes without saying questions asked over social media should never be vague. “What will I do now?”, or “Why is life so hard?” are good examples.
• Song lyrics: If you’re posting lines from song lyrics without citing it as a song lyric or posting a link to the song, you are participating in the second worst kind of  vague booking imaginable.

Note: The worst kind of vague booking is when you start with any of the previous types and, when asked about the post, reply with “I don’t want to talk about it.” See below.

How to use it:

• Trivia contests: Pretty self-explanatory. If there’s a payoff in your vague posts, it’s acceptable!
• A teaser ahead of a big announcement: Things like a building opening, announcement of a new President, new product announcement, etc. Again, there must be a payoff and doing it too frequently will earn you some flak over social media.
• A teaser to encourage your subscribers to visit your website: This applies mainly to companies and organizations, though if you’re a writer or blogger you should certainly be encouraging traffic to your site via your social channels.
• Inside jokes (as long as you tag the people who understand the joke): It’s still a bit unfriendly to outside readers, but if it’s clear you’re continuing a conversation you had with others then it’s less off-putting.

What are some great examples you’ve seen of vague booking? Let us know in the comments!

-PG