The short version
- People who download an application want proof someone is still looking after it. A recent post is that proof.
- Teach one screen at a time. A post that shows a single tap beats a feature tour.
- Thank bug reporters and beta testers by name when they say yes. It's the cheapest loyalty you'll ever buy.
- 3 posts a week is enough: one release or tip, one request for feedback, one person.
The update went live at 4pm, the store listing changed and your Facebook Page still says what it said in the spring. You're looking for mobile app social media post ideas because you'd rather be fixing the next bug.
Good news: an app team has an endless supply. Every release, every review and every tester is a post. These 16 are written for a small team with a Facebook Page and about 20 minutes a week.
What mobile app social media post ideas need to do
- Show a real phone screen, cropped to the one thing that changed.
- Say what you can do now that you couldn't yesterday.
- Link to the store listing once, at the end, not three times.
- Name a real person who built, tested or reported it.
A good phone screenshot takes work. How to take good photos for your business page with a phone covers the basics. Software shops also face the same trust job, as in our SaaS post ideas.
Release day and update posts
Release notes written for stores are short and dry. On your page you get room to say it like a person.
It's live
Version [number] is out. The big change: [one plain sentence]. Update when you're next on Wi-Fi and tell us if something looks off. We read every message.
Photo: Two phones side by side, old screen and new screen.
The bug that bugged us
A few of you found a bug where [plain description]. Thanks to [first name] who sent the screenshot that helped us find it. It's fixed in today's update.
Photo: A phone showing the fixed screen.
Dark mode is here
By request, [app name] now has a dark mode. Turn it on in [setting]. We tested it at 11pm in a dark kitchen, so we know it works.
Photo: A phone on a dark table showing the new theme.
Works without a signal
If you've ever lost your place because the signal dropped, this one's for you. [App name] now works offline and syncs when you're back. Thanks for the push, [first name].
Photo: A phone with airplane mode on.
One-screen tip posts
People forget what's in your application as soon as they've downloaded it. A short tip posted on a Monday brings them back.
Did you know
Did you know you can swipe left on a [item] to [action]? Most people tap three times to do the same thing. Try it and tell us we saved you a tap.
Photo: A thumb mid-swipe on a phone.
15-second tour
New here? Here's the whole thing in 15 seconds: open [app name], tap [button], pick [option]. That's it. Questions? We're a short team and we'll answer.
Photo: A short screen recording still of the first screen.
Widget on your home screen
Add the [app name] widget to your home screen and see [what it shows] without opening anything. Press and hold your screen, then add it. Takes 10 seconds.
Photo: A home screen with the widget in place.
Settings worth changing
One setting worth a look: [setting name]. It controls [plain result]. If you're getting too many notifications, turn this off and tell us how it goes.
Photo: The settings screen with the toggle highlighted.
Beta testers and feedback requests
A small app lives on a handful of loyal testers. Posts that ask for them also show a quiet, working team.
Looking for testers
We need 20 people to test [feature] before it goes out. It takes about 10 minutes and you'll see it before everyone else. Comment "in" and we'll send the link.
Photo: A phone with a rough build on screen.
Which should we build
We can build one of these this month: [option A] or [option B]. Which would you use more? Vote in the comments. Tied votes get decided by a coin flip at the office.
Photo: A sketch of both ideas on paper.
Thank the reviewers
We read every review. The ones that tell us what's wrong are the most useful, so thank you. This week's biggest request was [request], and it's now on the plan.
Photo: A printed review stuck to a monitor, name cropped out.
Tester spotlight
Meet [first name], who has tested every build for [time] and found our weirdest bug. Thanks to [first name] and the whole group for spending Saturday nights with unfinished software.
Photo: A photo from the tester, with their OK.
The small team behind the screen
Where we work
Our office is a spare room, a good whiteboard and a dog named [name]. That's where [app name] is built. Come see for yourself at the next [local meetup].
Photo: The workspace with the whiteboard in frame.
Designer's sketch
Before it was a screen, it was this napkin sketch. [Name] drew it at [local spot] over lunch. The final screen looks pretty close.
Photo: The sketch next to the finished screen on a phone.
We're hiring
We're looking for a [iOS/Android/designer] to join our small team in [town] or remote. You'd ship real changes every month. Message us a sentence about something you've built.
Photo: A desk with a laptop and a coffee, ready for a new person.
Local hackathon
Spent the weekend at the [event name] in [town]. Built a rough prototype in 24 hours and slept very little. Thank you to the organizers for hosting.
Photo: The team around a table, laptops out, snacks visible.
If you can't think of what to say, what to post when you have nothing to say has a fix for it.
A simple week of app posts
3 posts a week
- MonOne-screen tipA single tap or setting worth knowing.
- WedRelease or feedbackWhat changed, or what you want to hear.
- FriA personA teammate, tester or the desk.
What an abandoned app page looks like
Do
- Show screens cropped tight and readable on a phone.
- Credit the person who reported the bug.
- Use the same name for the application everywhere.
- Answer questions in the comments the same day.
Don't
- Post a long feature list with no screenshot.
- Show a tester's name or screen without asking.
- Announce a date before you're sure.
- Argue with a one-star review in the comments.