How Often Should Local Businesses Post on Social Media?
If you’ve ever thought, “I know I should be posting more… but how much more?” - you’re not alone.
For most small and medium-sized businesses, social media tends to fall into one of two categories:
Post constantly for a week, burn out, disappear
Post once every couple of months and hope for the best
Neither one works particularly well.
So let’s talk honestly about how often local businesses should be posting on social media - without pretending you’re a full-time content creator or a national brand with a marketing department.
The Short Answer (Before We Get Into the Nuance)
For most local businesses:
2–3 posts per week per platform is a solid, sustainable sweet spot.
Not too little.
Not overwhelming.
And realistic enough to actually stick with.
Now let’s break down why that works - and when it makes sense to post more (or less).
Why “Every Day” Isn’t Always the Right Goal
You’ll hear advice online that says things like:
“Post every day or the algorithm will forget you”
“If you’re not posting daily, you’re falling behind”
“More content always equals more growth”
That advice is usually coming from:
Large brands
Influencers
Businesses selling courses about social media
For local businesses, daily posting often leads to:
Rushed content
Repetitive posts
Inconsistent quality
Burnout (the big one)
And here’s the thing - consistency matters more than volume.
78% of consumers say a brand’s social media presence impacts whether they trust that business.
(Source: Sprout Social Index)
Notice it doesn’t say daily posting. It says presence.
Showing up consistently and professionally beats posting every day and disappearing for two weeks.
What the Algorithms Actually Care About
Social platforms don’t reward businesses just for posting frequently.
They care about:
Relevance to your audience
Consistency over time
Engagement - P.S. if engagement is something you’re worried about, check out: “Help! My Business’s Social Media Posts Get No Engagement”
Posting daily can overwhelm your audience and actually work against you.
Fewer posts - done well - often perform better than more posts done quickly.
What 2–3 Posts Per Week Looks Like in Real Life
Here’s what that might realistically include for a local business:
One helpful or educational post
One behind-the-scenes or personality-driven post
One promotional or product/service post
That’s it.
No dancing.
No viral trends required.
No reinventing the wheel every day.
Just steady, clear communication that reminds people:
You exist
You’re active
You’re trustworthy
If you’re reading this and wondering
“Where should I actually put my energy?”
I can create a free custom Growth Blueprint for your business - outlining:
Your website performance
Your social media presence
Your SEO + Google visibility
Your biggest missed opportunities
When Posting More Does Make Sense
There are times when posting more frequently is helpful, such as:
Seasonal businesses during peak season
Special promotions or events
Product launches
Time-sensitive announcements
In those cases, increasing to 4–5 posts per week temporarily can work well - as long as the content still has a purpose.
The key word here is temporary.
Posting more should be intentional, not the default.
When Posting Less Might Be Okay
On the flip side, if you’re:
A very small operation
In a slow season
Rebuilding consistency after a break
Even 1–2 quality posts per week is better than nothing.
What matters most is that your audience doesn’t wonder whether your business is still active.
Quality Still Wins (Every Time)
One thoughtful, clear post will outperform five rushed ones.
Local audiences want:
Clear information
Familiar faces
Updates they can trust
Businesses that feel human
You don’t need to “hack” the algorithm.
You need to communicate regularly and clearly.
So… How Often Should You Post?
Here’s the honest takeaway:
2–3 posts per week is ideal for most local businesses
It’s enough to stay visible without becoming overwhelming
It’s sustainable long-term (which matters more than anything)
You can always increase later - without pressure
Social media shouldn’t feel like another full-time job.
It should feel like a tool that quietly supports your business in the background.
If you want help making that happen - without overthinking it - you know where to find me.
I've got you covered.
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