AI for Engagement, Prompts That Spark More Comments

If you’ve been posting on social media for a while, you’ll know that getting comments can feel like pulling teeth. Likes are easy. Saves and shares are great. But comments? Those are harder to come by.

Yet comments are one of the strongest signals to social media algorithms that your content is worth pushing further. A post with real conversations happening underneath it is more likely to appear on feeds, Explore pages, and “recommended for you” sections across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and even Pinterest.

So how do you spark more comments without begging your audience with tired questions like “What’s your favourite…?” That’s where AI comes in. With the right prompts, you can generate caption ideas, hooks, and conversation starters that naturally encourage replies.

In this blog, I’ll show you how to use AI to build comment-worthy content, examples you can steal today, and the exact prompts to get you started.

Why Comments Matter More Than Likes

Before we dive into AI, let’s talk about why comments are worth your focus.

1. Algorithm love – Platforms like Instagram and TikTok prioritise posts with meaningful interactions. Comments carry more weight than likes.

2. Social proof – A post with comments looks more popular and trustworthy, which attracts even more comments.

3. Customer insights – Comments are a goldmine of feedback. You learn what your audience likes, dislikes, or wants more of.

4. Relationship building – Comments open the door to conversations that can lead to sales or collaborations.

If your posts are getting likes but barely any replies, you’re missing an opportunity to strengthen your brand and reach.

The Problem With Asking “Engagement Questions”

Here’s the mistake most businesses make: they try to spark comments with lazy, generic questions.

• “What’s your favourite flavour?”

• “Who else loves Fridays?”

• “Drop an emoji if you agree!”

The issue? These don’t invite meaningful replies. They might get a handful of one-word answers, but they don’t create conversations.

Instead, you want engagement prompts that make your audience think, share opinions, or tell a story. That’s where AI can help you brainstorm better questions, faster.

How AI Can Help Spark More Comments

AI tools like ChatGPT are brilliant for generating engagement-focused captions and prompts. Here’s how you can use it:

1. Generate conversation starters – Give AI context about your business and ask for comment-worthy questions.

2. Test multiple variations – Ask AI to produce 10 different ways to phrase the same question.

3. Adapt to tone – Refine prompts so they sound casual, professional, or witty depending on your brand.

4. Tailor by platform – Use AI to rewrite a question for LinkedIn vs TikTok vs Instagram.

5 Types of Engagement Prompts AI Can Create

1. Opinion-Based Prompts

Invite people to share their views.

• “Do you think boosting posts is worth it, or is organic reach enough?”

• “Are you team short-form video or long-form blogs?”

Why it works: People love to share their perspective and feel heard.

2. Experience Prompts

Ask your audience to share personal stories.

• “What’s the biggest social media win you’ve had this year?”

• “What’s the one marketing mistake you’ll never make again?”

Why it works: Everyone has a story, and they want to tell it when you ask.

3. This-or-That Prompts

Offer simple choices to lower the barrier to commenting.

• “Instagram Reels or TikTok — which gets your vote?”

• “Would you rather get 1,000 followers overnight or 100 loyal buyers?”

Why it works: Easy to answer, fun to discuss, and great for sparking debates.

4. Challenge or Prediction Prompts

Invite your audience to think forward or take part.

• “Where do you think social media marketing will be in 2026?”

• “If you had to create a post today, what would it be about?”

Why it works: These spark imagination and curiosity.

5. Feedback Prompts

Use your audience as a sounding board.

• “Which of these carousel designs stands out most to you?”

• “Would you prefer weekly or monthly tips in your inbox?”

Why it works: People love giving opinions when they feel it will influence what you do.

How to Weave Prompts Into Captions

One mistake people make is dropping a question at the end of a caption without context. Instead, build up to your engagement prompt so it feels natural.

Example:
Caption: “Consistency beats trends every time. I’ve seen businesses double their engagement just by sticking to a posting schedule. What about you, do you find consistency or creativity matters more in your posts?”

Here, the question flows naturally from the caption, rather than feeling bolted on.

AI can help by drafting captions where the engagement question feels like part of the story.

Multi-Platform Engagement Strategy

• Instagram/TikTok – Keep prompts short and snappy. Pair with visual cues (polls, stickers).

• Facebook – Use storytelling captions that end with an open-ended question.

• LinkedIn – Ask more professional, thought-provoking questions to spark discussion.

• Pinterest – Focus on polls or Q&A in Stories to capture insights.

AI can generate different variations of the same engagement prompt tailored for each platform.

Practical Example: A Fitness Studio

Let’s say you post a photo of a group workout. Instead of:
❌ “Who else loves working out?”

AI could help you write:
✅ “We all have that one exercise we love to hate. For us, it’s burpees. What’s yours?”

The second version feels specific, fun, and invites real replies.

Why This Works

• Prompts move beyond yes/no answers. They invite stories, debates, and opinions.

• AI saves time brainstorming. Instead of thinking up clever hooks, you can generate 20 in one go.

• Engagement signals boost reach. More comments tell the algorithm your content is worth showing to more people.

• Comments build community. A lively comments section shows people your brand is approachable and active.

🧠 Expert AI Prompt of the Day

“I run a [insert business type] and I want to spark more comments on my social media posts. Generate 20 engagement prompts that:
– Go beyond ‘what’s your favourite’ style questions
– Invite opinions, stories, or debates
– Are short and scroll-stopping
– Include variations for Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook”

💡 Refinement tip: Follow up with…

“Now turn these into full caption examples where the engagement question feels natural, not forced.”

🔧 Tool of the Day

Typefully – Originally designed for X (Twitter), this tool is brilliant for testing engagement hooks and prompts. You can A/B test variations of questions to see which sparks more replies, then use the winning versions across other platforms.

📣I Can Be Your Social Media Marketing Manager

If your posts aren’t sparking conversations, you’re missing out on one of the most powerful growth levers in social media. I help businesses create engagement-driven strategies using AI prompts that feel natural, not forced. 📩 Message me today and let’s build a content plan that fills your comments section with real conversations.