Small Business Social Media Post Idea Guide: 13 Ideas to Inspire You

In the heart of a charming small town, there existed a hidden gem known as “Sweet Delights.” Owned by Sarah, this bakery had long been a local favorite, but Sarah was eager to share her passion with a broader audience.

With the digital age in full swing, Sarah knew that establishing a robust online presence was key to her business’s success.

She embarked on a journey into the world of blogging and social media, turning Sweet Delights into a beloved community institution.

But what could Sarah have possibly blogged about for Sweet Delights?

Time and time again, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of storytelling, community engagement, and authenticity in the digital age.

In this post, we’ll explore 13 creative social media post ideas for local businesses. Each idea is paired with real-world examples from three different business types:

1. Spotlight Your Team

• The Data Says: Posts featuring employees can receive up to 20% more engagement on social media. (Source)
• Examples:
  • Introduce your lead plumber, John, who has been fixing plumbing issues in your town for over a decade. Share his journey, his favorite plumbing tricks, and some helpful DIY tips for small plumbing problems.
  • Meet Sarah, your friendly neighborhood barista who crafts the perfect lattes at your coffee shop. Explore her love for coffee, her favorite latte art designs, and a quick guide on how to make a latte at home.
  • Showcase Emily, your skilled real estate agent, who has helped countless families find their dream homes. Share her insights into the local housing market, home-buying tips, and her favorite neighborhoods in town.

2. Flashback Friday

• The Data Says: Nostalgia marketing can influence purchasing decisions, with 50% of consumers saying it impacts their choices. (Source)
• Examples:
  • For your HVAC business, share a photo of your team’s very first service van, highlighting the evolution of your tools and technology over the years.
  • If you’re a restaurant, take your audience back to the day you served your first dish. Share the story of your restaurant’s inception, your culinary journey, and how your menu has evolved.
  • As a dog grooming salon, reminisce about the opening day of your salon with pictures of your first furry clients. Share stories of remarkable dog transformations and their happy owners.

3. Quick Tips and How-Tos

• The Data Says: Video content on social media gets 12 times more shares than text and images combined. (Source)
• Examples:
  • If you’re a roofing expert, create a video showcasing how to inspect your roof for damage after a storm. Share essential tips and safety precautions.
  • As a pizzeria, film a quick tutorial on how to toss pizza dough like a pro. Invite your viewers to share their dough-tossing attempts.
  • If you’re an attorney, produce a short video explaining the basics of estate planning, offering valuable insights to your audience.

4. Customer of the Week

• The Data Says: User-generated content can increase engagement by 28%. (Source)
• Examples:
  • Showcase Brian, a loyal plumbing customer who always turns to your services for his home improvement needs. Share his experience with your team and the plumbing solutions you’ve provided.
  • Celebrate Tina, a regular at your bakery who can’t resist your freshly baked croissants. Share her love for your pastries, her favorite croissant variations, and why she’s a devoted customer.
  • Feature David, a satisfied real estate client who found his dream home with your help. Share his journey from house hunting to closing the deal, and his testimonial about your expertise.

5. Local Events and Collaborations

• The Data Says: Collaboration can increase your reach and credibility, as 49% of consumers trust recommendations from influencers and other consumers. (Source)
• Examples:
  • If you’re a dog grooming salon, promote your participation in a local pet adoption event. Highlight the furry friends looking for homes and encourage your followers to join.
  • As a real estate agent, partner with a local interior designer to host a virtual home styling workshop. Show your collaboration in action and share valuable design tips.
  • Collaborate with a nearby restaurant as a pizza place. Create a special pizza together and promote it as a limited-time offer. Showcase your joint efforts in serving a unique culinary experience.

6. Sneak Peeks and Teasers

• The Data Says: Creating anticipation through teasers can be highly effective in marketing. Expectation campaigns can yield significant results.
• Examples:
  • If you’re a roofer, provide a sneak peek of an upcoming roofing project with a time-lapse video of the installation process. Tease the finished look and benefits.
  • As a restaurant, give your followers a glimpse of a new dish that’s about to hit the menu. Share tantalizing images and intriguing details.
  • If you’re an attorney, tease an upcoming webinar on legal tips for small businesses. Share a snippet of valuable information to build anticipation.

7. Trivia and Quizzes

• The Data Says: Interactive content like quizzes can generate up to 50% conversion rates. (Source)
• Examples:
  • As an HVAC expert, engage your audience with a “Guess the Energy-Efficient Appliance” quiz. Share interesting facts about eco-friendly HVAC solutions.
  • If you’re a pizzeria, run a pizza-themed trivia night on your social media. Ask questions about pizza history, toppings, and fun facts.
  • As an attorney, create a legal quiz to test your followers’ knowledge about common legal matters, like contracts and liability.

8. Behind-the-Scenes Tours

• The Data Says: Authenticity is important for consumers, with 86% of them saying it matters when deciding which brands they like and support. (Source)
• Examples:
  • As a dog groomer, take your audience on a virtual tour of your grooming studio. Show them your equipment, spa-like facilities, and your gentle approach to pet care.
  • If you’re a real estate agent, offer a behind-the-scenes look at a property staging session. Share before-and-after photos and staging tips.
  • As an attorney, provide a glimpse into your daily routine. Show your workspace, highlight your legal library, and explain how you research cases.

9. Local Highlights

• The Data Says: 48% of U.S. consumers prefer local goods and services, and 65% said they felt a greater connection to small, local businesses. (Source)
• Examples:
  • As a plumber, showcase a local hardware store where you source your high-quality plumbing materials. Highlight the store’s expertise and its support for your business.
  • If you’re a restaurant, feature a nearby farmer who supplies your fresh ingredients. Share their commitment to sustainable farming and local produce.
  • As an attorney, spotlight a fellow local business owner, such as a boutique bakery. Share their entrepreneurial journey and your experience working together.

10. Interactive Polls and Surveys

• The Data Says: Interactive polls and surveys not only engage your audience but also provide valuable data. This helps you make informed decisions and demonstrate responsiveness to your customers’ preferences.
• Examples:
  • If you’re a roofing company, run a poll asking your followers to choose their preferred roofing material for their homes. Offer options like asphalt shingles, metal roofing, or clay tiles.
  • As a pizzeria, survey your audience to determine the next pizza special based on popular demand. Let them decide between unique topping combinations.
  • If you’re an attorney, conduct a survey about the legal topics your followers are most interested in. Use this feedback to plan future informational webinars.

11. User-Generated Content Showcase

• The Data Says: Encourage customers to share photos of themselves enjoying your products and use a unique hashtag. User-generated content can increase engagement by 28%. (Source)
• Examples:
  • Encourage satisfied plumbing clients to share photos of their newly renovated bathrooms with your expert plumbing work. Use a hashtag like #MyPlumbingSuccess.
  • Invite pizza lovers to post pictures of their delicious slices from your pizzeria with a hashtag like #MyPizzaParadise. Share the best photos on your feed.
  • Ask clients to share pictures of their new homes after successful transactions. Use a hashtag like #MyDreamHomeJourney and feature these posts regularly.

12. Educational Tips and Industry Insights

• The Data Says: Sharing educational content can establish your business as an authority in your industry. 68% of consumers feel more positive about a brand after consuming content from it. (Source)
• Examples:
  • If you’re a dog groomer, share a post about the benefits of regular pet grooming. Provide insights into different grooming techniques and their advantages.
  • As a real estate agent, offer a series of informative articles about the home buying process, from securing a mortgage to closing the deal.
  • As an attorney, create a video series explaining common legal terms and concepts. Empower your followers with legal knowledge to make informed decisions.

DO THIS NOW: To ensure a year’s worth of engaging social media content, create a simple 13 by 4-spreadsheet listing the 13 ideas mentioned here. Then, for each of the 13 ideas, brainstorm and add four unique variations on what you can post..

This will give you a treasure trove of 52 social media post ideas, enough to maintain an active and engaging online presence throughout the year. Don’t wait – start crafting your content calendar today and watch your business flourish like Sweet Delights.

With these creative ideas, backed by The Data Says statistics, and your commitment to authenticity and engagement, your local business will not only thrive but also become a beloved community institution.