Phone, campaign notes and printed product photographs spread across a worktable.

Start here

Choose one action your next post should encourage

Do you want someone to book an appointment, ask about a service, visit your shop or return for another purchase? Pick one priority for the next campaign. A post asking people to do everything can leave the next step unclear.

Open a recent post on your phone and follow its invitation as a customer would. Does the link reach the right page? Is the offer easy to understand? If you ask people to message you, is someone responsible for answering?

Gather a few recent posts, their dates and any available reach, link-click, message or inquiry figures. Note which posts received paid promotion and what was spent. Include examples that disappointed you as well as those that drew a response; screenshots are enough to begin a conversation, without sharing passwords.

Regular posting and paid promotion do different jobs

You may need one, both or a clearer purpose before adding either. More posts and more ad spend are not interchangeable fixes.

Organic content keeps useful information moving

Organic posts are published without paying for placement, though planning and producing them still takes time or budget. They can explain your services, answer common questions and give people reasons to stay interested. Discuss which channels deserve attention and what you can realistically supply.

  • Customer questions worth answering
  • Photos, short videos and captions needed
  • A publishing pace you can maintain
Bakery owner filming an order being packed for a social media post.
Business owner comparing campaign images beside a laptop displaying a performance chart.

Paid promotion buys distribution, not guaranteed inquiries

Paid social uses an advertising budget to put content in front of a selected audience. It also needs a clear offer, a working destination and a way to check what happens after the click. Ask for media spend to be separated from creative and campaign-management fees.

  • Audience and campaign objective
  • Spending limits and approval responsibility
  • Inquiry tracking beyond clicks and likes

Define what you want off your plate

A launch deadline needs a different brief from ongoing posting support. Identify the work you need covered, then confirm scope, pricing and availability with a provider before committing.

Content creation

Content creation

Do you need ideas and captions, or photography, video and design too? Agree on formats, quantities, asset ownership and revision limits.

Scheduling and approvals

Scheduling and approvals

Name the channels, who approves posts and when materials must be ready. Clarify whether support includes publishing and changes after approval.

Comments and messages

Comments and messages

Decide who answers customer questions and handles complaints or sensitive issues. Agree on coverage expectations rather than assuming posting support includes inbox management.

Reporting and adjustments

Reporting and adjustments

Ask how reporting will connect activity to your chosen customer action. Agree on review frequency and how findings will inform the next round of content.

Get help with the part that’s stuck

Continue to the external provider website to request help with your social media goal and timing—you do not need a finished plan.