What should my first post on a business Facebook Page be?

Introduce yourself. Post a real photo of you or your crew, say what you do, name your town and give one way to reach you. Then pin it so it stays at the top.

How many times a week should I post?

2 to 3 times a week is enough for most local businesses. A steady page with a post from this week looks open. A burst of posts followed by 2 quiet months doesn't.

Should every post try to sell something?

No. Aim for about 1 sales post out of every 3. Tips, team posts and thank-yous earn the attention that makes people read your offer when it comes.

Do I need professional photos?

No. A clear phone photo of real work in good light does better for a local business than a stock image. Wipe the lens, face the window and get close.

What if I don't have anything new to say?

Repeat a kind of post, not the post itself. There's always another team member, another finished job, another question a customer asked this week.

What to post on your business Facebook Page

The short version

Almost every good local business post is one of 8 kinds: a special, a look behind the scenes, a tip, a seasonal reminder, something from around town, something you sell, a team member or a thank-you.
Rotate the kinds instead of hunting for new ideas. 3 posts a week from 3 different kinds is enough.
Posts with a real photo and a real name beat polished graphics for a local business.
Sell in about 1 post out of 3. The other 2 earn the attention that makes the sales post work.

"What should I post on my business Facebook Page?" is the question we hear more than any other. It usually comes from someone who's great at their trade and has been staring at an empty box for 10 minutes.

Here's the good news. You don't have an ideas problem. You have a sorting problem. Once you know the 8 kinds of posts a local business can make, you stop inventing and start rotating.

The 8 kinds of posts every local business can make

Customers check your page before they call. They're asking 3 quiet questions: are you open, are you any good, and are you people I'd want in my house or behind my counter? Each kind of post below answers at least one of them. If you're still deciding where to begin, see where to start with social media for a small business.

Kind of post	What it shows	Quick example
A special	There's a reason to come in this week	"Tune-ups are $20 off through Friday."
Behind the scenes	Real people do real work here	The 4am bake, the shop before opening
A tip	You know your trade	"Check your tire pressure when the first cold morning hits."
A seasonal reminder	You're paying attention to the calendar	"Leaf cleanup spots are filling up."
Around town	You're part of the place	Friday's home game, the county fair, road work on Main
Something you sell	What people can buy from you	A new menu item, a service you added
A team member	Who shows up at the door	"Meet Dave. 11 years on our vans."
A thank-you	Other people trust you	A kind review, a customer milestone

Posts that show who you are

These 4 kinds don't ask for anything. They're why someone picks you over the other name in the search results. Swap in your own details and post them as they are.

Team member: the introduction
Meet [name]. [He/She]'s been with us for [number] years and knows more about [specialty] than anyone in [town]. If you see [name] on your job, you're in good hands.
Photo: The person at work, looking at the camera, not posed.
Team member: the milestone
[Number] years ago this week, [name] started with us. We've lost count of the [jobs/loaves/haircuts] since. Thanks for sticking around, [name].
Photo: A then-and-now pair if you have one.
Behind the scenes: before you open
This is what [business] looks like at [time] before the doors open. [One detail: what's in the oven, on the lift, on the schedule.] See you at [opening time].
Photo: The quiet shop, lights on.
Behind the scenes: how it's made
Ever wonder how we [do the thing you do]? It takes [number] steps and about [time]. Here's step [number], which is the one nobody sees.
Photo: Hands doing the work, close up.
Thank-you: the review
"[One sentence from a real review.]" Thank you, [first name]. This is why we do it. If we've done right by you, a few words on our page helps more than you'd think.
Photo: A screenshot of the review, with their OK.
Thank-you: the regular
[First name] has been coming in every [day] for [number] years and orders the same thing every time. We start making it when we see the car pull in. Thanks for being one of our people.
Photo: The order on the counter, or the regular if they're up for it.
Around town: the event
Good luck to the [team name] tonight. We'll be closing at [time] so the crew can make kickoff. Go [mascot].
Photo: Your storefront with the team colors up.
Around town: the neighbor
If you haven't been to [nearby business] yet, go. [One honest reason.] Tell them [your business] sent you.
Photo: Their storefront or what you bought there.

Why a short team post works
A first name and "11 years" tell you this is a steady company, without saying so.
It speaks to the worry every homeowner has about who's coming to the door.
The last line gives neighbors something easy to do when they see the van.
Nothing is for sale, which is why people read to the end.

Dave, a Callahan technician, stepping out of a navy service van with a clipboard on a suburban street — Why a short team post works
A first name and "11 years" tell you this is a steady company, without saying so.
It speaks to the worry every homeowner has about who's coming to the door.
The last line gives neighbors something easy to do when they see the van.
Nothing is for sale, which is why people read to the end.

Posts that sell without sounding like an ad

The trick with a sales post is a reason and a deadline. "We do brakes" is a fact. "Brake checks are free this week because the first frost is Thursday" is a post.

A special: the dated offer
This week only: [offer] through [day]. [One sentence on why now.] Call [phone] or message us to grab a spot.
Photo: The thing on offer, not a coupon graphic.
A special: the open slot
We had a cancellation for [day] at [time]. First to message us gets it. [Service] usually books [number] days out.
Photo: The empty chair, bay or line on the schedule.
Something you sell: the new thing
New this week: [product or service]. [What it is in one sentence.] [Who it's for.] Come try it or ask us about it.
Photo: The product in good window light.
Something you sell: the one people forget
A customer told us last week, "I didn't know you did that." So, for the record: we also do [service]. Now you know.
Photo: That service being done.
Seasonal: the heads-up
[Season] is here, which means [thing customers should do]. We have [number] openings left before [date or event]. Message us to get on the list.
Photo: Something that shows the season where you work.
Seasonal: the hours change
Holiday hours: we're closed [dates] and back [date]. Need something before then? [Last day to order or book]. Thanks for a great year, [town].
Photo: Your door or sign.
A tip: the question you get every day
We get asked this at least once a day: "[question]?" Short answer: [answer in one sentence]. Longer answer in the comments if you want it.
Photo: The thing the question is about.
A tip: the 2-minute fix
Before you call us about [common problem], try this: [simple step]. If that doesn't do it, then it's our turn.
Photo: The step, shown.

Want these written for your trade? We've sorted 20 or more ready-to-edit posts for each of these.

Home services: HVAC companies, plumbers, electricians, roofers, lawn care, cleaning businesses and auto repair shops.
Food and drink: bakeries, restaurants and coffee shops.
Personal care and retail: barber shops, hair salons, dog groomers and boutiques.

A simple mix for the week

Pick 3 different kinds each week. Next week, pick 3 others. In about 3 weeks you've used all 8 and nobody has seen the same kind of post twice in a row.

A starter week

MonSeasonal reminder or tipUseful on its own, no pitch.
WedTeam member or behind the scenesA face and a first name.
FriA special or something you sellOne reason, one deadline, one way to reach you.

Your first 5 posts if your page is empty

A brand-new or long-quiet page needs a few posts on it before you invite anyone. Otherwise the first thing a visitor sees is nothing. Put these 5 up over a week or two.

Say who you are and where you work
One photo of you or the crew, your town, what you do and how to reach you. Pin it to the top of your page.
Show the work
A finished job, a full pastry case, a clean bay. One good photo and one sentence. Our guide to taking photos for your business page covers how to get a decent one with a phone.
Answer the question you get most
Hours, service area, whether you take walk-ins. If people ask it at the counter, they're wondering it online.
Introduce one person
Yourself counts. People like knowing who's going to answer the phone.
Thank someone
A first customer, a regular, the town. Gratitude reads well on any page.

What not to post on a business page

Post this

Real photos from your phone, even imperfect ones.
Your town's name, your hours and a way to reach you.
One clear ask per post.
A reply to every comment and question.

Skip this

Politics, hot takes and arguments. Half your customers disagree with you.
Stock photos and generic quote graphics.
A customer's face, home or address without a yes.
The same coupon 5 days in a row.

Where the ideas come from when you're stuck

Your camera roll. You've already taken 10 photos this month that would make a post.
Your phone log. Whatever 3 customers asked about this week is a tip post.
Your calendar. Seasons, school events, holidays and your own busy and slow weeks.
Your crew. Birthdays, work anniversaries, a new hire, a new truck.
Your receipts. The thing that sold best last week deserves a photo.

Still stuck? Our list of what to post when you have nothing to say has 20 prompts you can answer in a sentence. If the writing is the hard part, here's how to make AI posts sound human so a draft still sounds like you.

The short version

Almost every good local business post is one of 8 kinds: a special, a look behind the scenes, a tip, a seasonal reminder, something from around town, something you sell, a team member or a thank-you.

Rotate the kinds instead of hunting for new ideas. 3 posts a week from 3 different kinds is enough.

Posts with a real photo and a real name beat polished graphics for a local business.

Sell in about 1 post out of 3. The other 2 earn the attention that makes the sales post work.

A special

There's a reason to come in this week

"Tune-ups are $20 off through Friday."

Behind the scenes

Real people do real work here

The 4am bake, the shop before opening

A tip

You know your trade

"Check your tire pressure when the first cold morning hits."

A seasonal reminder

You're paying attention to the calendar

"Leaf cleanup spots are filling up."

Around town

You're part of the place

Friday's home game, the county fair, road work on Main

Something you sell

What people can buy from you

A new menu item, a service you added

A team member

Who shows up at the door

"Meet Dave. 11 years on our vans."

A thank-you

Other people trust you

A kind review, a customer milestone

What to post on your business Facebook Page: 8 kinds of posts that work

Callahan Heating & Air

The short version

The 8 kinds of posts every local business can make

Posts that show who you are

Callahan Heating & Air

Posts that sell without sounding like an ad

A simple mix for the week

Your first 5 posts if your page is empty

What not to post on a business page

Where the ideas come from when you're stuck

Questions owners ask about this

More articles like this one.

How often should a business post on Facebook?

What to post when you have nothing to say

A weekly Facebook posting schedule for small business

What to post on your business Facebook Page: 8 kinds of posts that work

Callahan Heating & Air

The short version

The 8 kinds of posts every local business can make

Posts that show who you are

Callahan Heating & Air

Posts that sell without sounding like an ad

A simple mix for the week

Your first 5 posts if your page is empty

What not to post on a business page

Where the ideas come from when you're stuck

Questions owners ask about this

More articles like this one.

How often should a business post on Facebook?

What to post when you have nothing to say

A weekly Facebook posting schedule for small business