How to write Facebook posts that bring customers through the door

Most local business posts on Facebook get scrolled past for the same reason: they announce something, but they don't give anyone a reason to do anything. Here's a simple way to write posts that bring people in.

Compare these two:

"Exciting news! We've updated our menu!"

"New from Friday: slow-cooked Scouse, made fresh every morning. Dogs welcome by the fire."

The first is about you. The second tells a local exactly what's in it for them. Lead with the thing someone would actually come in for.

Almost every good local post can be built from four lines:

1. The hook: what's new, what's on, or the problem you solve.
2. The detail that makes it real: a price, a time, a name, a photo.
3. Who it's for: "perfect if you're…", "for anyone who…".
4. One clear next step: call, book, pop in, message us.

For example, a heating engineer:

"Boiler making a banging noise? It's usually a sign it needs a service before winter. We've got slots from Monday, and it takes about an hour. Message us or call 0151 000 0000 to book."

Before you post, think about what someone wonders when they see it. Are you open? Is there parking? Can they bring the kids? Do they need to book? A post that answers those questions beats a pretty graphic every time.

Posts under about 500 characters tend to do better on Facebook, and only the first few lines show before "See more". A real phone photo of your work, your team or your shop almost always beats stock imagery. People want to see what they'll actually get.

On Facebook, hashtags barely matter. One or two local ones are plenty, and none is fine. Spend that effort on the first line instead.

As a starting point, try weekday evenings (7 to 9pm) and weekend mornings. Then check your Page insights after a few weeks and do more of what worked. Consistency matters more than perfect timing: three good posts a week beat seven rushed ones.

• Would the first line make a local stop scrolling?
• Does it say what the customer gets?
• Is there a real detail (a time, a price, a photo)?
• Is there one clear thing to do next?
• Is everything in it true? Never invent reviews, prices or offers.

If writing posts is the job that always gets pushed to 10pm, that's exactly what Content Hub is for. It learns your business and writes posts like the examples above, in your voice. And if you'd like AI working elsewhere in your business, wirral.ai can help with that too.