A simple social media plan for a small business.

1. Pick one or two platforms.

Choose the apps where your customers already spend their time. Ask a few existing customers where they find businesses like yours. Two platforms you can run well beat five you post on once a month.

2. Set a rhythm you can keep.

Decide how often you will post and be honest about your time. Three good posts a week is a sensible start for most small businesses. Write the schedule down so posting becomes a routine rather than a last-minute task.

3. Mix the content.

Rotate between a few types of post: show your work or products, share a useful tip, introduce the people behind the business, and answer a question customers often ask. Mixing them keeps the feed interesting without needing a new idea every time.

4. Plan a month at a time.

Spend an hour at the start of each month sketching the posts for the weeks ahead. Batch the photos and captions together, then schedule them with the platform’s built-in tools or a free scheduler.

5. Measure what matters.

Followers are a weak signal on their own. Track the things that lead to business: messages or enquiries, visits to your website, calls, and saves or shares of posts that get attention. Review these once a month and do more of what works.

6. Keep the reply habit.

Answer comments and messages within a day where you can. Quick, friendly replies often convert more people than the posts themselves.