Setting up social media for your business is not just creating a profile and posting occasionally. Done right, it builds trust, drives traffic, and brings in customers. Done wrong, it wastes hours with nothing to show for it.
This guide covers exactly how to set up Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for a local business — and what to do in the first 30 days.
Which Platforms Should You Be On?
Not every business needs every platform. Here is a simple guide:
| Business Type | Must Have | Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant/Cafe | Instagram, Facebook | — |
| Salon/Spa | Instagram, Facebook | — |
| Home services (plumber, electrician) | ||
| Retail shop | Instagram, Facebook | — |
| B2B services | LinkedIn, Facebook | |
| Professional services (CA, lawyer) | LinkedIn, Facebook | — |
| Fitness/wellness | Instagram, Facebook | — |
Start with two platforms maximum. Doing two well beats doing five poorly.
Facebook Business Page Setup
Step 1 — Create Your Page
Go to facebook.com/pages/create. Choose Business or Brand.
Step 2 — Complete Every Section
Page name: Your exact business name. No keywords.
Category: Choose the most specific category. You can add up to 3.
About section: Write 2–3 sentences describing what you do, who you serve, and your location. Include your primary keyword naturally.
Contact information:
- Phone number
- Email address
- Website URL
- Physical address (or service area)
- Business hours
Profile photo: Your logo. Square format, minimum 180x180px.
Cover photo: Your storefront, team, or best product/service image. 820x312px recommended.
Step 3 — Add a Call-to-Action Button
Click Add a Button below your cover photo. Choose the action most relevant to your business:
- Call Now — for service businesses
- Book Now — for appointments
- Send Message — for inquiry-based businesses
- Shop Now — for retail
Step 4 — Publish Your First 3 Posts Before Going Live
Before inviting anyone to your page, have at least 3 posts published so it does not look empty.
Post ideas for launch:
- Introduction post — who you are, what you do, why you started
- Your best work — a photo of your product, service, or team
- An offer or invitation — “Visit us this week and mention Facebook for 10% off”
Instagram Business Account Setup
Step 1 — Create or Convert Your Account
If you have a personal account, go to Settings → Account → Switch to Professional Account → Business.
If starting fresh, create a new account with your business email.
Step 2 — Optimize Your Profile
Username: @yourbusinessname — keep it simple and consistent with Facebook.
Profile photo: Same logo as Facebook. Consistency builds recognition.
Name field: Your business name (this is searchable — use it wisely).
Bio (150 characters):
- Line 1: What you do
- Line 2: Who you serve / your location
- Line 3: CTA with emoji
Example:
Mobile repairs in Bangalore 📱 Screen, battery & charging fixes DM to book → link in bio
Link: Your website. If you want multiple links, use Linktree (free).
Step 3 — Connect to Facebook
Settings → Account → Linked Accounts → Facebook
This lets you cross-post and run ads across both platforms from one place.
Step 4 — Create 9 Posts Before Going Public
Instagram profiles look best with at least 9 posts (fills the first grid view). Create these before promoting your account:
- 3 posts showing your work/products
- 2 behind-the-scenes posts
- 2 customer testimonials (as graphics)
- 1 team/introduction post
- 1 offer or promotion
LinkedIn Business Page Setup (For B2B)
Step 1 — Create Your Page
Go to linkedin.com/company/setup/new. Choose Small Business.
Step 2 — Complete Your Profile
Logo: Same as other platforms.
Cover image: Professional photo of your team, office, or work. 1128x191px.
Tagline: One sentence describing your business value proposition.
About section: 2,000 characters. Describe your services, target clients, and what makes you different. Include keywords your clients would search.
Specialties: Add 20 relevant keywords/skills.
Website: Your URL.
Location: Your city and country.
Step 3 — Have Employees Connect Their Profiles
Ask your team to add your company as their employer on their personal LinkedIn profiles. This builds your company page’s credibility and reach.
Branding Consistency Across All Platforms
Your social media profiles should look like they belong to the same business.
Consistency checklist:
- Same logo on all platforms
- Same or similar cover/banner images
- Same business name (exact)
- Same phone number and website
- Same brand colors in graphics
Use Canva (free) to create consistent graphics. They have templates for every platform size.
Your First 30 Days: Content Plan
Week 1 — Foundation
- Post your introduction
- Post your best work (3 photos)
- Invite existing customers and contacts to follow/like
Week 2 — Build trust
- Share a customer testimonial
- Post a behind-the-scenes photo
- Share a useful tip related to your industry
Week 3 — Engagement
- Run a simple question poll (Facebook/Instagram Stories)
- Share a before-and-after
- Respond to every comment and message
Week 4 — Promotion
- Share a limited offer
- Ask followers to tag someone who might need your service
- Post your best-performing content again (repurposing is fine)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Incomplete profiles — A profile with no cover photo, no bio, and no contact info looks abandoned. Complete everything before going live.
Posting only promotions — The 80/20 rule: 80% value/content, 20% promotion.
Ignoring messages — A slow response to a DM is a lost customer. Check messages daily.
Inconsistent posting — Posting 10 times one week and nothing for a month confuses your audience and the algorithm.
Using personal accounts for business — You lose analytics, the contact button, and the ability to run ads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it take to see results from social media? A: With consistent posting, most local businesses see meaningful engagement within 60–90 days. Customer inquiries from social media typically start within 30 days.
Q: Should I pay for social media ads right away? A: Build your organic presence first. Once you know what content resonates, boost your best posts for $5–10/day.
Q: How often should I post? A: Facebook: 3–5 times per week. Instagram: 3–4 feed posts + 5 Stories per week. LinkedIn: 2–3 times per week.
Q: Do I need a social media manager? A: For the initial setup and first content batch, professional help saves significant time. Ongoing management depends on your budget and how much time you can dedicate.
Q: What if I get a negative comment on social media? A: Respond calmly and professionally. Offer to resolve the issue privately. Never delete legitimate complaints — it looks worse than the complaint itself.
Conclusion
Social media setup done right takes a few hours upfront but pays dividends for years. Complete your profiles fully, post consistently, and engage with every comment and message. The businesses that win on social media are not the ones with the biggest budgets — they are the ones that show up consistently.
Need your social media set up professionally with branded graphics and starter content? It is included in our Growth Package.