The honest answer: consistency beats volume
Posting every day for two weeks and then disappearing for a month does more harm than posting three times a week, every week. Platforms and followers both reward accounts that show up reliably. Start with a pace you can sustain, then increase it once it's routine.
Practical starting points by platform
These are sensible starting ranges for a small business, not rules. Adjust based on what your own results show.
Three to five posts a week works for most local businesses. Mix updates, offers, behind-the-scenes and customer stories.
Three to five feed posts or Reels a week, plus Stories more often if you can. Reels tend to reach people who don't follow you yet. Stories keep you in front of people who do.
Two to three posts a week is plenty for B2B businesses and professional services. Personal profiles of founders often reach more people than company pages.
TikTok
Short video platforms reward frequency and experimentation. If it suits your audience, aim for several short videos a week.
Google Business Profile
Weekly posts keep your profile looking active. See our Google Business Profile guide.
Pick fewer platforms and do them well
You don't need to be everywhere. Two platforms done consistently beat five done badly. Choose where your customers actually spend time: Facebook and Instagram for most local consumer businesses, LinkedIn for B2B and professional services.
What to post
A good mix keeps people interested without feeling sold to:
- Helpful tips and answers to common customer questions
- Work you've done: before and after, projects, results
- Reviews and customer stories
- Behind the scenes: your team, your process
- Offers and announcements, used sparingly
For more, grab our list of social media post ideas for small businesses.
How to keep up without losing hours every week
- Batch your content. Plan and create a month's posts in one or two sessions.
- Use a content calendar. Decide themes for each day so you're never staring at a blank screen.
- Schedule in advance. Use a scheduling tool so posts go out automatically. Read how social media auto-posting works.
- Repurpose. Turn one blog post into several social posts, a carousel and an email.
How to know if it's working
Look past follower counts. Track reach, engagement, profile visits, website clicks and, most importantly, enquiries that mention social media. Review monthly and do more of what gets responses.
Want it handled? We plan, create and schedule your posts with our auto-posting and social media management services. Book a free call.
Frequently asked questions
Is posting every day on social media too much?
Not if the content is good and you can sustain it. For most small businesses, three to five quality posts a week on each main platform is a better starting point than daily posts that drop off.
What's the best time to post on social media?
It depends on your audience. Use your platform's insights to see when your followers are most active, and test a few time slots.
Which social media platform is best for a small business?
Usually the one your customers use most. Facebook and Instagram suit most local consumer businesses; LinkedIn suits B2B and professional services.