Ten social media tips every small business should know.

Social media can drive real growth when you know how to use it. If you’re just getting started or want to get more out of your posts, these ten tips will help you connect with your audience and grow your brand in a way that feels doable.

At Postage, we help small businesses take the guesswork out of content — but even if you’re DIY-ing, these tips will give you a clear starting point.

1. Know your audience

Before you post anything, think about who you want to reach. Are they in their 20s or 40s? Do they care about the local community, quality products, or saving time? Write down what you know about your ideal customer and use that to guide what you post about and how you can help them with any problems or opportunities they face — ones they know AND don’t know about.

Learn more about social media strategy and audience planning.

2. Choose the right platforms

You don’t need to be on every social media site. Focus on where your customers are more likely already spending time:

  • Instagram: Great for showing off products, behind-the-scenes moments and visual storytelling.

  • Facebook: Perfect for local businesses, community-building and longer-form updates.

  • TikTok: Best for casual, fun or trend-based content (especially if your audience skews younger).

  • LinkedIn: Ideal if your customers are other businesses or professionals.

3. Keep it consistent

If your feed goes quiet, people forget about you.

Pick a posting schedule that works for you — even once or twice a week is great if you can stick with it. A simple content calendar can help you stay organized.

4. Mix up your media

Different types of content keep things fresh and help you reach more people. Try mixing in:

  • Quick videos (like Reels or Stories)

  • Swipe-through images with tips

  • Photos of happy customers or team moments

  • Helpful stats or common questions

5. Optimize your profile

Your bio should quickly tell people what you do, who you help and how to get in touch.

Make sure your logo and branding look clean and your contact info is updated — especially for people viewing on their mobile devices.

6. Spark conversations

Instead of just posting at people, invite them in.

Ask simple questions, use polls in Stories or simply reply to the comments on your posts. People want to connect with people — not just businesses.

7. Share user-generated content (UGC)

Happy customers are your best marketing tool.

Ask them to tag you in their posts or use a branded hashtag — and share their photos or testimonials (with permission, of course). It helps to build trust and community.

Check out how brands do this well.

8. Go live

Live videos are a great way to show up as you.

Try a casual Q&A, a product demo or just talk about what’s happening in your business. No need for perfect lighting or fancy editing.

9. Track what works

Most platforms show you simple stats — like how many people saw your post or clicked a link. You don’t need to become a data nerd, but take note of which posts get the most likes, comments or saves. That’s a sign to do more of that kind of content.

10. Use AI to save time

You don’t have to do it all manually. AI tools can help you brainstorm post ideas, write captions faster or schedule posts ahead of time.

Ready to post smarter?

You don’t need to master all ten tips right away. Start with one or two — and build from there.

And if you’d rather have someone do it with you — or for a partner to take it off your plate entirely, Postage is here to help! We work with small businesses to help them show up with smart, done-for-you social media content that actually sounds like you.

👉 Book a free strategy call today and let’s get your content working.

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Social media strategy for small business