Social Media for Small Business: What Works and What's a Waste

The Honest Truth About Social Media for Service Businesses

Most social media advice is written for e-commerce brands, tech startups, and influencers. Not for the contractor running a crew of five who needs to fill next month's schedule.

Here is the truth: social media can help your business, but it is not the most important channel for most service companies. If you are spending three hours a day on Instagram but have not optimized your Google Business Profile, you have your priorities backwards.

That said, used correctly and efficiently, social media can generate leads, build trust, and keep you top of mind with past customers.

Which Platforms Actually Matter

Facebook: Still the Best for Local Service Businesses

Despite its reputation as an "older" platform, Facebook remains the most effective social network for local service businesses:

• Facebook Business Page: Your digital storefront after Google. Keep it updated with photos, hours, services, and reviews.
• Facebook Groups: Local community groups ("Homeowners of [City]") are gold. Not for spamming -- for being helpful. Answer questions, offer advice, and let your expertise sell itself.
• Facebook Marketplace: Some contractors use it to offer services. Results vary by market.
• Facebook Ads: The most cost-effective paid social platform for local targeting.

Instagram: Visual Businesses Only

Instagram works if your work is visual. Remodelers, landscapers, painters, and custom builders can showcase stunning before-and-after transformations. Plumbers and HVAC techs? Less so, unless you get creative.

What works on Instagram:

• Before-and-after project photos and Reels
• Time-lapse videos of projects
• Behind-the-scenes content showing your team at work
• Customer testimonial clips

What does not work: stock photos, generic motivational quotes, or selling in every post.

YouTube: The Long Game

YouTube is the second-largest search engine. People search for how-to videos, product reviews, and project ideas. If you create helpful video content, it can generate leads for years -- just like blog content.

You do not need professional equipment. A phone, decent lighting, and clear audio are enough.

Video ideas:

• "How much does [service] cost?"
• Common problems and how to identify them
• Project walkthroughs from start to finish
• Tool reviews and tips

LinkedIn: B2B and Commercial Only

If your customers are homeowners, skip LinkedIn. If you do commercial work, property management, or want to connect with general contractors and developers, it is worth maintaining a presence.

TikTok: Proceed With Caution

TikTok can generate massive reach for entertaining or educational trade content. Some contractors have built huge followings. But turning TikTok views into local paying customers is difficult. If you enjoy creating short-form video and your content naturally entertains, go for it. Otherwise, spend your time elsewhere.

Nextdoor: The Hidden Gem

Nextdoor is a neighborhood-based social network where homeowners ask for recommendations constantly. Claim your business page and stay active. When someone posts "anyone know a good electrician?", your neighbors can tag you. It is hyper-local and high-intent.

Creating Content Without Losing Your Mind

The 30-Minute-Per-Week Plan

You do not need to post daily. Here is a sustainable plan:

Monday (10 minutes): Post a project photo with a brief description of the work. Include the city/neighborhood for local visibility.

Wednesday (10 minutes): Share a helpful tip, seasonal reminder, or answer a common customer question.

Friday (10 minutes): Post something personal -- your team at work, a completed job celebration, a community event you attended.

That is three posts per week across your chosen platforms. Batch them on Sunday evening if that works better. Use a scheduling tool like Buffer (free tier) or Meta Business Suite (free) to schedule posts in advance.

Content That Generates Leads vs. Content That Wastes Time

Content that generates leads:

• Before-and-after project photos with details
• Customer testimonials and reviews (with permission)
• Educational content answering common questions
• Seasonal service reminders
• Promotions with a clear call-to-action

Content that wastes time:

• Generic motivational quotes
• Trending memes unrelated to your business
• Arguing in comments
• Posting just to post without any value
• Spending hours on engagement pods or follow-for-follow schemes

Responding to Comments and Messages

The algorithm rewards engagement, but more importantly, potential customers judge you by how you respond.

• Reply to every comment within 24 hours
• Respond to direct messages within an hour during business hours
• Be helpful, not salesy, in your responses
• If someone asks for a quote in a comment, move the conversation to DM or phone

Social Media Advertising Basics

Organic reach (people seeing your posts without paying) has declined across every platform. If you want your posts seen by more than your existing followers, you need to boost or advertise.

Facebook/Instagram Ads for Service Businesses

Start simple:

• Boost your best-performing posts: If a post gets good organic engagement, spend $20-$50 to reach more people in your service area.
• Run a lead generation campaign: Facebook's lead forms let people request a quote without leaving the app. This reduces friction significantly.
• Retarget website visitors: Show ads to people who visited your website but did not contact you. This is the highest-ROI social advertising you can do.

Targeting tips:

• Target by ZIP code, not just city (gets more granular)
• Target homeowners specifically (available in Facebook's targeting)
• Exclude existing customers from new-customer campaigns
• Use lookalike audiences based on your customer list

What to Avoid

1. Buying followers: Fake followers provide zero business value and can hurt your account credibility.
2. Posting the same content everywhere: Each platform has different norms. Adapt your content.
3. Ignoring negative comments: Address them professionally. Deleting valid complaints looks worse.
4. Automating engagement: Auto-comments and auto-DMs feel spammy and damage your reputation.
5. Obsessing over vanity metrics: Likes and followers do not pay the bills. Track leads and revenue.
6. Not disclosing partnerships: The FTC requires disclosure when you have a financial relationship with anyone you are promoting or who is promoting you.

Measuring Social Media ROI

Track these monthly:

• Leads generated: How many inquiries came from social media?
• Revenue attributed: What was the total value of jobs that originated from social?
• Engagement rate: Are people interacting with your content?
• Follower growth: Slow, steady growth of local followers is healthy.
• Time invested: Divide revenue by hours spent. Is it worth your time?

If social media is taking 10 hours per month and generating zero leads, redirect that time to optimizing your Google Business Profile and asking for reviews. Those activities have a more direct impact on revenue for most service businesses.

The Bottom Line

Social media is a tool, not a strategy. Use it to amplify your reputation, showcase your work, and stay connected with past customers. But do not let it consume time that would be better spent on higher-impact marketing activities.