The short version
- Start with 1 network, not 5, and for most local businesses that network is Facebook.
- Set up the Page in an evening: name, photo, hours, phone number and a short About line.
- Write 5 first posts from things you already know, like who you are, what you do and what customers ask.
- Aim for a steady rhythm you can keep, such as 2 or 3 posts a week, instead of a burst you can't.
- Ignore hashtag tricks, trends and follower counts until the basics are running.
You know you should be on social media for your small business. You haven't started because you don't know where to start, and every article tells you to be on 7 networks by Friday.
Don't. This guide gives you a first month in plain steps: 1 network, 1 evening of setup, 5 easy posts and a rhythm you can keep between jobs.
Pick 1 network and stay there
One network done steadily beats 3 done badly. Each extra network is another place to feed every week, and that's how pages go quiet.
For most local businesses, start with a Facebook Page. Customers look you up there to check your hours, your photos and whether you're still around. If you want the full reasoning, read how many social media platforms a small business needs.
- Your customers already look for businesses like yours there.
- You can keep it up on a slow Tuesday, not only in a good month.
- It shows your hours, phone number and location in one place.
- You can post a photo from your phone in under 5 minutes.
Set up your Page in one evening
You don't need a perfect Page. You need a Page that tells a stranger who you are and how to reach you. The full walkthrough is in how to set up a Facebook business Page.
Create the Page
Use your real business name, the same one on your truck, sign or invoices. Pick the category that fits best.
Add a profile photo and cover photo
Your logo works for the profile photo. For the cover, use a real photo of your work or your front door. Sizes are covered in Facebook cover photo and profile picture sizes.
Fill in the basics
Add your phone number, hours, service area or address and a website if you have one. Write a one or two sentence About line.
Run the tune-up
Check everything against the Facebook business Page checklist. It takes about 10 minutes.
Write your first 5 posts
Don't start with a clever post. Start with a plain one that says who you are. These 5 come from things you already know, and you can write them in an afternoon.
1. Hello, here's who we are
Hi, I'm [your name]. I run [business] here in [town]. We've been doing [what you do] for [number] years. This page is where you'll see our work and our hours. Say hi if we've worked together!
Photo: You in your work clothes, or you and the crew by the truck or front counter
2. What we do
Here's what we do at [business]: [service 1], [service 2] and [service 3]. Not sure if we handle your job? Send us a message and we'll tell you straight.
Photo: A photo of one of those jobs, finished
3. A recent job or product
Finished this one on [street or neighborhood] this week. [One sentence about what was wrong or what the customer wanted.] Happy to do the same for you.
Photo: The finished work, taken in good light
4. A question customers always ask
We get asked this a lot: [question]. Short answer: [answer]. If yours is a special case, call us at [phone].
Photo: The thing you're answering about, or you explaining it on the job
5. Hours and how to reach us
Open [days and hours]. Call or text [phone], or send us a message here. We're at [address or service area].
Photo: Your front door, sign or van
After these, you'll run out of easy ones. What to post on your business Facebook Page has a long list for week 2 and beyond, and what to post when you have nothing to say covers the dry spells.
A weekly rhythm you can keep
Consistency matters more than volume. A page that posts 2 or 3 times a week for a year looks alive. A page that posts 10 times in March and goes quiet looks closed.
A starter week (about 30 minutes in total)
- MondayPhoto of this week's workSnap it on the job, write 1 or 2 sentences later.
- WednesdayA tip or a customer questionAnswer something people ask you all the time.
- FridayA friendly local postA special, a team shot or a note about the weekend.
- AnytimeReply to comments and messagesGive it 5 minutes once a day.
If 3 posts a week is too many right now, do 2. Not sure about the number? Read how often a business should post on Facebook and a weekly Facebook posting schedule.
What to ignore for now
Most of the noise about social media isn't for you yet. A short list of things to skip until the basics run on their own:
Spend your time on
- Real photos of your real work
- Hours, phone number and service area that are correct
- Answering messages and comments within a day
- A rhythm of 2 or 3 posts a week
Ignore for now
- Hashtag tricks (see [do hashtags work on Facebook](/articles/do-hashtags-work-on-facebook))
- Paying to boost posts before your Page looks active (see [is boosting a post worth it](/articles/is-boosting-a-facebook-post-worth-it))
- Joining 4 more networks
- Chasing follower counts
Your next steps, in order
Work down this list one item at a time. Each one is a short guide with something you can use the same day.
- Set up your Page if you haven't.
- Tune it up with the Facebook business Page checklist.
- Write your About line with Facebook business Page description examples.
- Take better photos with how to take photos for your business Facebook Page.
- Learn how to reply to Facebook comments as a business.
- Set up how to answer Facebook messages as a business.
- Plan ahead with a content calendar for a small business.
- Ask happy customers with how to ask customers for reviews.
