Scroll through local businesses on social media in December and much of it looks the same: a snowflake border, a festive font, a stock photo of wrapped presents and the words Happy Holidays. None of it is wrong, but none of it is memorable either, and very little of it tells you anything about the business that posted it.
The posts that stand out tend to be the ones with real people in them. The person who answers the phone, the technician loading the van, the kitchen at the end of a long shift. Customers already know these faces, or will meet them soon, and seeing them in a feed is far more interesting than another graphic.
Why people beat graphics
For a local business, the people are a big part of what a customer is buying. They want to know who will turn up at their house, who will cut their hair or who will cook their food. A photo of the team answers that question in a way no graphic can, and it gives people a reason to choose you over a competitor who looks the same on paper.
It is also easier. A good team photo takes a couple of minutes with a phone. A polished graphic takes longer, and still looks like everyone else's.
Ideas that take minutes
You do not need a production plan. A handful of simple ideas will fill the season:
- Introduce one team member a week, with a photo and two lines about what they do and how long they have been with you.
- Show the busiest part of the day as it really is, with permission from anyone in the shot.
- Ask the team for their favourite thing about this time of year, and share the answers.
- Post a short clip of a job being finished or an order being packed.
- Share a thank-you from the whole team, taken in your own space rather than in front of a stock backdrop.
If video feels like a stretch, start with five short holiday video ideas, most of which need nothing more than a phone held steady.
Your customers are not hiring a logo. Show them who they are hiring.
Ask first, and keep it comfortable
Not everyone wants to be on the business's social media, and that should be fine. Ask before you post anyone, let people choose a photo they are happy with, and never post customers or their homes without permission. A team that feels comfortable will produce better, more natural posts than one that feels pressured.
Keep the photos looking like your business too. Natural light, your own space and your own uniforms or colours do more for recognition than any filter. If your feed goes quiet between events, what to post when nothing exciting is happening has more ideas that work all year.
Plan it so it actually happens
The common reason these posts never appear is that nobody is responsible for them. Put one person in charge of taking the photos and one regular day for posting them. A simple list of who to feature each week is enough of a plan.
Planning and posting content that sounds and looks like your business is what Vizible's social media service does for clients. If you would like a plan for your own season, start with a free growth proposal.
Frequently asked questions
- What should a small business post on social media during the holidays?
- Posts that show real people and real work tend to stand out against generic seasonal graphics. Team introductions, behind-the-scenes photos and short clips are all easy places to start.
- Do I need permission to post employees on social media?
- It is good practice to ask every team member before posting their photo, and to let them choose a picture they are happy with. Always get permission before posting customers or their property.
- How often should a small business post during the holiday season?
- A steady, realistic schedule matters more than volume. One or two posts a week on a set day is easier to keep up than a burst of posts that stops halfway through December.
- Are team photos better than designed graphics?
- For most local businesses, yes. Photos of the people customers will actually deal with build familiarity and trust, and they take less time to produce.