by Julie Holiday

These days, social media is more than just seeing who got fat since high school..it’s also about getting “likes”.  Some people use their status update to complain about the weather, while others post about what they ate for lunch.  The rest of us? We just want to be “liked”.  In my years of being on Facebook, and now recently, Google Plus, I’ve stuck to some basics to ensure that my daily status updates get some “likes” and the occasional “haha” in the comment section.  Here are 5 ways in which to write a killer status update:

 1.  Don’t edit yourself…yet.

It’s important when doing any sort of writing to initially just get it out there.  Type away into that update box exactly what you’d like to say, even if it’s rambling.  Do not click “post” yet, but at least get it all out there.

2.  Cut the fat 

After attending a comedy seminar a few years ago, I remember Chris Porter, a finalist on Last Comic Standing, expressing this step in a any joke writing.  “Cut the Fat” basically just means that you take away ANY unnecessary words in your joke.

So let’s say you’ve written this so far in your status update:  “I seriously cannot wait until it’s summer so that it will be hot.  However, even then I will probably still complain about the weather.”

“Cutting the fat” would be eliminating all of the words that do not need to be there and getting to the point.  So, after editing, the same status update is now “I can’t wait to complain about hot weather.”

3.  End on the funny word

I’ve learned that when telling (and writing) a joke, it’s important to end your statement on the word that is the most funny and or shocking.  By doing this, you allow your audience the chance to laugh and react.

So, after you have “cut the fat” and edited your update, decide on what word is the most funny/shocking and put it at or near the end.

Here are some examples of jokes/updates from online memes that end on the funny word:

” I wish I was as thin as I was when I thought I was fat.”  

” The most romantic thing you can ever do for me is buy me food.”

“How to do math: 1. Write down question. 2. Cry.”

 4.  Make sure your grammar is correct

This may sound really really dumb, but this is important! Take that extra time to look back through to ensure your auto correct didn’t just make you look like a fool.  People will be too focused on your bad spelling to appreciate and “like” your status.

 5.  Adding visuals

Sometimes (not all the time) adding a picture to whatever you just wrote can be that lasting touch to the message you’re trying to convey.  There are also ways in which you can put your joke/update onto a picture.  A great website that allows you to do this for free is http://ipiccy.com/

Here are some examples:

Alright, hope all of this rambling helps.  If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment.   Also, you can find my status updates on my Facebook, Twitter, and Google + 🙂  Good luck and godspeed.