A month of posts in one sitting

A steady pace you can keep for six months beats a burst of daily posts. For most small businesses that means a few good posts a week on the one or two platforms your customers actually use. Consistency matters more than volume. A plan you can keep going will do more for you than a plan that falls over after three weeks.

Start with your goals and the key dates for the month, such as sales, events and busy weeks. Pick three or four themes, then fill a calendar with a mix of posts before you write any captions. Keep most posts useful or friendly, and only some promoting something. Write and schedule them in one block, then review what worked at the end of the month and change the next plan.

You should, and it is worth agreeing on this before you start. A good provider shows you the monthly plan and each draft, with the wording, pictures and timing. Nothing is scheduled until you say yes. Ask how changes are handled and how fast a fix can be made before a post goes out.

Yes. You keep access to your own accounts, so you can always post a quick update when something happens in your business. Agree with your provider which posts are planned and which you will write yourself, so the two do not clash.

Ask for the terms in writing before you agree to anything. They should cover the minimum term, how much notice you need to give to stop, and who keeps the accounts and content if you leave. Do not rely on a web page for this. Read the written terms.

Give it a few months of steady posting before you judge it, and judge it by enquiries and bookings, not just likes. Social media can influence buying: in a 2025 Sprout Social Index survey of consumers, 81% said it compels them to make spontaneous purchases. Results depend on your offer, your area and how quickly you answer messages, so review the numbers each month and adjust.