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What Should Small Businesses Post on Social Media? (A Complete Guide)

What should small businesses post on social media Jun 13 / 2021

Social media has become an essential part of a business marketing strategy. Be it a small local shop or a big multinational, companies budget massive amounts for social media marketing.

It has particularly been a big boon to small businesses and has levelled the marketing divide between large and small businesses. Earlier, small businesses could not hope to compete with bigger companies when it came to advertising. But now, with the advent of the easy-to-use and budget-friendly tools that social media platforms offer, small businesses can compete equally with bigger ones.

Social media platforms help small businesses in many ways. They help businesses connect with their customers, help increase awareness about brands and products, and boost leads and sales effectively. More than three billion people worldwide use social media every month, and the numbers keep growing. This means that a small business’s social media marketing audience keeps getting larger every day.

Tips to Effectively Use Social Media to Promote Your Small Business

Your small business’s social media marketing strategy should be multi-pronged. It should offer information, pique interest, tease, and be interactive. It should be varied enough to catch and hold viewers’ interest and keep them coming back for more. Here are some tips for using your social media effectively.

Make an Excellent First Impression

Your social media platforms should make your audience sit up, take notice, and compel them to visit. The first impression needs to be eye-catching.

Draw your viewer’s eye with your logo, banner, and profile pictures. Every so often, change the images to renew interest.

Your bio or information should include the type of business you own, the services you provide, and the products you have. It should highlight the business’s specialties and explain why your product is a must-have.

The information that is provided in the bio should be current. If there are any new products or new information on your services, or a policy change, make sure that it is updated on the bio immediately.

Make It Visually Appealing

As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

People tend to scroll through social media platforms. One of the best ways to arrest a viewer’s wandering eye is to post striking pictures that will catch their interest.

You can share pictures of projects you have done, before and after series, a series of images on projects in the making, etc. Make sure that you do not use stock images from the internet. If the viewer realizes that these are not pictures of your business, it leaves a wrong impression.

Make Your Content Interesting

Social media content differs from other content in that it has to be simple and exciting. Once the viewer is drawn in with the picture, the content should help hold the interest. Some tried and tested tips to make interesting posts include the following:

  • Share Anecdotes

Yes, you are a business, and you need to offer information on your products and services. But that does not mean that you make your page an unending stream of spam for your company. Instead, share stories of your company and its activities. You could share anecdotes of a typical workday, an amusing incident, or an interaction with a customer. You could involve your audience in the story by asking them for similar incidents or situations.

  • Create Infographics

An infographic is a marriage of pictures and words. A good infographic catches the eye while imparting information. It should be simple, and it should be clear. It should contain just enough content to be interesting but not too much to overwhelm. Some kinds of graphics that viewers enjoy are “How to Do” graphics, “DIY” graphics, and “Did You Know” graphics.

  • Provide Industry Information

Share what is new in your particular field and add your thoughts on it. Give useful links to articles and blogs on innovations and trends in your industry. Protect your customers’ interests by busting industry myths and exposing scams and frauds prevalent in your field. This will build your viewer’s trust in you and your business.

  • Offer General Information

If your content is only about your business, it can get monotonous after a while. Share local information on events happening in your neighbourhood and helpful tips. You could also post exciting videos and links to ignite curiosity and cause your viewer to click to know more.

  • Make It Interactive

Audiences enjoy feeling involved. Create posts that elicit responses, like quizzes and questions, where the viewer is prompted to answer. The to-and-fro interaction will not only keep your post coming up on top but will pique the curiosity of others as well.

  • Individualize Your Content

Many businesses have a presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, GMB, etc. They are usually linked to one another. Make sure that you individualize your posts across the platforms. Otherwise, you run the risk of duplicating across different platforms.

Also Read:  Website vs. Social Media: Is a Website Still Necessary for a Business?

Make Your Content Personal

People like to feel that they know you. This helps build their trust in you and your business. Share events that happened in your office or your factory. Introduce employees, share pictures, and offer interesting anecdotes about them.

You can even make it more personal and include pictures of family and friends in your workspace. It helps give viewers the feeling of a family-run, trustworthy company.

Celebrate important milestones that happen in your business as well as personal ones like birthdays and anniversaries. Some social media platforms offer an events tab for this. After the celebrations, remember to post the pictures.

Share pictures and stories of what happens behind the scenes in your business. People love bloopers, and the funnier, the better.

You can post your thoughts for significant days like Environment Day, Employees’ Day, etc. Wish your followers on all festivals and religious holidays with pictures, posts, and motivational words. If you come across inspiring quotes, funny memes, or an adorable video, post them occasionally. It will liven up your platform.

Start a Complementary Blog, Vlog, and Podcast

Create a blog or a vlog and add the links to your social media platform. One big reason blogs are a must for an excellent social media marketing strategy is that blogs can be peppered with keywords that can increase the traffic to your website. The idea is that your social media platform should entice viewers to read your blog or watch your vlog, which will in turn direct them to your website.

As with a picture, a video is much more alluring than an article. This is why companies are investing money in making small but effective vlogs on topics related to their niche.

A new entrant is a podcast that is all the rage these days. You can make podcasts related to your field and include interactive sessions with employees, partners, customers, and related professionals to make it more interesting.

Let Your Reviews Speak for You

Reviews are an important tool for any business. It is a fact that most people go through the reviews of a company before deciding whether to employ its services. Ask your clients to share reviews of you on their social media pages and tag you. You can repost the review on your page. Remember, video testimonials make a bigger impact.

Highlight User-Generated Content

People trust people more than brands, and that’s why user-generated content (UGC) matters. UGC is one of the most powerful tools for building credibility and expanding your reach.

Encourage your customers to share pictures or videos using your product/service and remind them to tag your business. You can motivate them to do this by creating fun challenges or offering giveaways. Posting this content on your site (with permission) not only fills your feed with authentic material but also makes your customers feel appreciated.

Collaborate with Micro-Influencers

Another great strategy to gain customer trust is to collaborate with local influencers or micro-influencers. These people have smaller but highly engaged audiences. Sometimes, a genuine shout-out from a trusted local voice can work wonders for your brand. Try barter deals, shout-out exchanges, or invite them to experience your product in return for a review.

Make Your Posts Interactive and Shoppable

Social media has now become a storefront. Customers scroll, see something they like, and expect to buy it right there. If extra clicks are needed, you might lose the customer’s interest. That’s why interactive and shoppable content is more important than ever.

With Instagram and Facebook Shops, you can tag your products directly in your posts and stories. Platforms like Pinterest now support product pins that work especially well for trending or visually appealing products.

Don’t Forget Social SEO

More and more people have started using social media platforms as search engines. Whether it’s searching for the best coffee shop in town or a tutorial on fixing a leaky tap, platforms like Instagram and Facebook are now key discovery tools.

Use relevant keywords naturally in your bios, captions, and even hashtags since it increases visibility. Make sure your images are named clearly and include alt text wherever possible. For video content, include closed captions and keyword-rich descriptions. This not only helps with search but also makes your content more accessible.

By optimizing for social SEO, you’re not just posting, you’re helping it reach the right people.

Bring It Back to Business

Your social media platform is aimed at promoting your business. Make sure that all roads lead back to your business. Use a call-to-action to help your viewers get in touch with you. Make sure that all your social media platforms are linked, and direct messages are answered immediately. If you are unable to answer, give your viewers useful information on who can. This is always a good way to build rapport.

Get Started on an Effective Social Media Strategy

The world is moving away from traditional marketing and into the world of social media marketing at a fast pace. It is important to keep up with the changing trends and to use them effectively to further your business needs. With an effective social media marketing strategy, you can increase your traffic, acquire leads, and effectively turn leads into loyal customers.

Smart Social Media FAQs for Small Business Owners

What are the best types of content to post on social media for a small business?
Post a mix of product updates, behind-the-scenes content, customer stories, industry tips, local events, and fun or inspirational posts to engage your audience.

How often should a small business post on social media?
Aim for consistency. Posting 3–5 times a week works well for most small businesses. The key is quality and engagement over quantity.

What social media platforms are best for small businesses?
Start with Facebook and Instagram. For B2B businesses, LinkedIn works well. If your brand is visual, add Pinterest. Choose platforms where your audience spends time.

Should I include local content in my social media posts?
Yes! Mentioning your location, local events, or collaborations helps your posts reach nearby customers and improves local SEO visibility.

How can I turn social media followers into customers?
Use clear calls to action, link to your website or booking page, showcase offers, and respond quickly to messages and comments to build trust.

Can user-generated content really help my business?
Absolutely. Sharing customer photos, reviews, and testimonials builds authenticity and encourages engagement from others.

What’s the role of hashtags and keywords in social media SEO?
Hashtags improve reach, while keywords in captions, alt text, and bios help your content appear in search results on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.



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