What to Post on Social Media When You’re Just Starting a Business

Not sure what to post on social media now that you're starting your business? You're not alone. Today I'm gonna share 10 Reel post ideas that you can use before you even have a product to sell so you can build your audience, get engagement, and start momentum right away. Welcome back to my channel. If you're new here, I'm Sarah and I coach thousands of subscription box owners through launching, growing, and scaling profitable recurring revenue businesses. If you love step-by-step strategies, real talk, and a little encouragement along the way, you're in the right place. Be sure to subscribe and hit that bell so you never miss a new video. Now let's dive in. When you're brand new, you might think that there's just nothing to post yet, but that's not true. You can start posting valuable, engaging content that attracts and connects with your ideal customers before you have product to sell. Consistency builds trust and trust becomes customers later. So let's start with idea number 1. One of the most powerful things that you can post when you're just starting your business is you. Not your product, not your logo, not your packaging, you. People don't follow businesses, they follow people. And when you're brand new, your face is your brand. Let me show you what I mean. So this post right here, I was road tripping to go pick up my daughter from the airport. It had nothing to do with product, but it had everything to do with connection. Because when you share real life moments, the wins, the mom moments, the behind the scenes of your day, people can relate to you. Next, this one is a Mother's Day post. It's personal, it's real, it's about my life outside of my business. And here's what that does. It reminds people that there's a human behind the brand. This is an outfit of the day post. Yes, I'm wearing one of my products, but the focus isn't buy this shirt, it's lifestyle. It's showing how this fits into real life. This is hashtag T-shirt Tuesday post. It's just another example. It's consistent, it's branded, it's familiar. But when you repeat things like this weekly, your audience starts expecting it. This one is my why, and it's my favorite of all. When you share your story, the struggle, the journey, why this matters to you, That builds depth. That's what turns followers into supporters. When you're just starting, you might think, I don't have anything to post yet, but you do. You have your journey, your story, your lifestyle, your values, your personality, and that actually is more important than your product in the beginning. Once people connect with you, then they're going to care about what you're building. So now that we've covered showing up as you, let's talk about the next type of post that helps spark engagement. The next type of content is what really works well when you're just starting. Relatable quotes, memes, shareable graphics. These are posts that make someone stop scrolling and think, oh my gosh, that's me, or I need to send this to my friend. How many times do you lay in bed at night and send Reels or posts to your friend group because they relate to you? Let me show you some examples. This one right here, it's funny, it's light, it's shareable. It's not pushing a product, but it aligns perfectly with my audience. Who love shopping and gifting. This one is humor again, and humor builds connection fast. When people laugh, they engage, they tag friends, they share it to their stories. This one leans more into seasonal relevance. It's timely. It taps into something that your audience is already thinking about, and it gently nudges behavior without feeling salesy. This one is playful. It has personality. And here's the important part. These posts help your brand feel fun and relatable. And this one is more niche specific. If your audience is teachers, this Hits them immediately. It shows that you understand them. When you're just starting, posts like this are powerful because they're easy to create, they're highly shareable, getting you in front of more people. They're building brand personality— like, this is building your personality— and they keep you consistent. Not every post has to educate. Not every post has to sell. Some posts just need to connect. And here's something that most beginners miss. Relatable content builds algorithm momentum. When people save it, share it, tag someone, that tells the platform that your content matters. So now that we've talked about showing up as you and posting relatable content that builds connection, but what about actually starting conversations? Let's talk about that next. So let's talk about something that will dramatically increase your engagement when you're just starting. We're going to ask questions, but not random questions, strategic ones. Let me show you what I mean. This post right here, I'm wrapping gifts, browsing holiday movies, and I ask, what's your favorite holiday movie and who do you watch it with? The question does two things. It's timely and it invites personal sharing. People love to talk about their traditions. This one is even more powerful. I asked my audience to vote on a new box pattern. Now they're not just commenting, they're participating in the journey in the business. And when someone helps make a decision, decision, they feel invested. And look at that engagement on that post— almost 200 comments. That's not an accident. This one is casual, it's simple, but simple questions are powerful because they remove pressure. People don't have to think hard, they just answer. When you're just starting, asking questions does 3 big things: it trains your audience to respond, it boosts your reach because comments signal engagement, and it gives you market research. And that last one, that's gold. If you ask, what do teachers need most right now? What pattern did you like What's your favorite gift to receive? You're collecting data while building engagement. And there's something most beginners don't realize. If you don't ask for comments, you won't get them. Engagement doesn't happen by accident. It happens by invitation. So now let's talk about one of the most powerful types of content that you can post when you're just starting your business. And honestly, even if you're in it for years, I still post this kind of content behind the scenes content. This is where trust is built. Let me show you what this looks like. This post, It's from Dallas Market. We are literally shopping for future boxes, and instead of waiting until the product is finished, I'm bringing my audience into the process. I asked them, what kinds of things would you like to receive this year? And now they feel involved before the box even exists. This one is me planning the next 4 months of designs for my t-shirts and asking for ideas. That's not weakness, that's smart, because when your audience contributes ideas, they feel ownership. This post right here, I'm asking for help choosing a new logo. The kind of transparency builds loyalty because now they're part of the evolution of this box. And this one, I'm literally sketching a design while I'm on a Zoom call. It's not polished, it's not staged, but it shows progress. And when you're just starting, you might feel like, I can't show this yet, it's not perfect. But perfection doesn't build trust, the process does. Behind-the-scenes posts do 3 things: they make your business feel real, they build anticipation, and they give you feedback before you commit. And that last one, giving you feedback, it saves a money. If you're deciding between designs or packagings or themes, why not ask? Why not get them involved? You don't have to wait until you launch to act like you're a business. Bring people into the journey from day one. Now, this next one is where most brand new business owners hesitate, but it's one of the smartest things that you can do. Start building your email list immediately, even before you launch, even before you have inventory, and even before you feel ready. Let me show you what this looks like. This is a free phone wallpaper I offered. It's simple. It's aligned with my brand because it's a design for one of my t-shirts, and it gives people something valuable in exchange for their email. Phone wallpapers are great opt-ins for my business because I use my designs on them. This one is targeted. This one's specifically for teachers. It's niche-specific. It speaks directly to my audience. And here's the important part. It's free, but it's strategic. When you're just starting, social media is rented land. Instagram changes, if Facebook changes, if reach drops, but your email list is owned land. Your email list is yours. So even if you don't have a product yet, you can say join the waitlist, be the first to know, get early access. You don't need inventory to start collecting interest. And here's where most beginners miss. When someone gives you their email, they're raising their hand and saying, hey, I'm interested. And that's different from a like. And that's different from a follow. It's intentional. So you could create a free checklist, a style guide, a wallpaper like I do for your phone, a buying guide, early access to your first launch. It doesn't have to be complicated, it just has to be helpful. So let's talk about strategic giveaways. It works incredibly well when you just get started. These are not random giveaways, but they're strategic ones. Let me show you what I'm talking about. This giveaway right here, 1 year free of a subscription, it's exciting. That grabs attention, that creates urgency. And notice it's tied directly to my subscription. It's not a random prize, and that matters. This one is niche-specific. It speaks directly to my teachers, and it bundles products together in a way that increases perceived value. Most of these items I don't even sell. I just put together a giveaway for items that my ideal customer would like, and that's strategic positioning. So when you're just started, giveaways can help you increase followers, grow your email list, create brand awareness, and re-engage your audience. But here's the key: you have to tie it to your product or your future product. I see giveaways that don't align with anything. We're not giving away an iPad or an Amazon gift card. We've gotta have it aligned to your business. So let's talk about number 7. This type of content you should be posting when you're starting your business is educational content. And before you panic, you don't have to be an expert or a guru. You just need to know a little more than the person that's watching. Let me show you what this looks like. This post right here is perfect. Wearing a tee is easy. Styling it, that's not— I mean, that's not as easy. That's where the value I'm providing is. This isn't just showing product. It's teaching my audience how to use it better, and that builds authority. This one is lifestyle education. It solves a problem. It connects to your audience's daily life. And here's the key: it doesn't have to be directly about your product. It just needs to be relevant to your ideal customer. This one's practical, it's visual, it's actionable, and actionable content gets saved. Saved posts tell the algorithm that your content is valuable. So when you're thinking about this content, is this a savable piece of content? When you share quick tips, tutorials, or advice, you're building trust, you're increasing saves, you position yourself as knowledgeable, and you give people a reason to follow because you're not just selling, you are serving. Number 8 is one of the most underrated types of content when you're just starting. Show your real life, not the perfectly curated version, but the actual version. Let me show you what I mean. Like, small business owner life is messy. And people can relate to a messy life. This post right here, pizza in bed, Christmas pajamas on in the summer. It's a Monday night. Yes, there's a product mentioned, but what really stands out is that it feels real. It feels like a person, not a brand. This one, when you buy from a small business, an actual person does a happy dance. That's a connection that reminds your audience that their purchase matters. When you're just starting, people don't buy products, they buy people, they buy stories, they buy connection. And this type of content builds emotional loyalty. You can post packing orders at midnight, the chaos of figuring out your launch, your kids helping you fold shirts, your messy desk, the I-can't-believe-this-worked moments, wins and challenges, because polished builds admiration, but real builds trust. And there's something important. You don't need a big business to show your reality. Actually, the earlier you start sharing your journey, the stronger your community comes. Now, number 9 is one of the easiest ways to stay consistent when you're just starting. Celebrate what's already happening. There is a national day for everything. National Teacher Day, National Coffee Day, National Subscription Box Day, Valentine's Day, New Year's, Thanksgiving leftovers. You don't have to invent content from scratch. You can attach your brand to moments that already matter to your example. Let me show you what this looks like. Valentine's Day. Simple, but notice it invites engagement. How are you celebrating? That's easy participation. This one taps into fresh starts, new goals, new habits, and people love talking about goals. This one is playful, it's seasonal, it's fun, and fun content humanizes you. When you celebrate national days, seasonal moments, you stay relevant, you spark conversation, you keep your content calendar full, and you stay top of mind, and you don't have to overthink of it. Tie the moment back to your niche. So if you sell subscription boxes, maybe that's National Self-Care Day, maybe that's National Small Business Saturday, maybe it's back to school, maybe it's Teacher Appreciation Week. What aligns with your ideal customer for your subscription box? Don't celebrate every national day, that's going to get old real quick. Pick the ones that align with your ideal customers. Now, number 10, it's my favorite, but there's a balance to it. Number 10 is where real connection happens. Not oversharing, not trauma dumping, but letting people see the human behind the business. We're going to get personal without oversharing. Let me show you what I mean. This post isn't selling anything. It's me reading by the pool, sharing what I'm reading. But here's what it does. It shows personality. It shows my interest. It builds relatability. And if my audience loves books, instant connection. This one is personal. It's my wedding week and it ties into my brand because of the monograms. It's also your life. People love to celebrate those milestones with you. This one is simple. I'm not feeling well. I'm battling the thermostat and I'm asking what temp people keep their heat on. It's real. It invites conversation that's simple and easy and it makes me feel human and not like a big brand. When you get personal, appropriately personal, you build trust, you build loyalty, you build longtime followers, and you start feeling, you know, out of touch like a catalog. And that matters because people don't follow businesses, they follow people. What I don't want you to do, I don't want you to have political rants. I don't want you to have conversational or controversial debates. I don't want you to get into deep personal trauma. It's just oversharing sometimes is too much. We want to keep it light. We want to keep it make it fun. We want to share milestones, hobbies, family moments, everyday life, relatable struggles, things your ideal customer would be like, yeah, that's me, I get that. And this works especially when you're starting a business. People don't know you yet, they don't trust you yet, they don't feel connected yet. So those personal posts bridge that gap. And when you mix value and personality and relatability, you stop chasing the customers. You start building a community, and the goal when you're starting is consistency. Posting regularly builds your audience before you even launch your product, and when you do launch, people who already know, like, and trust you are more likely to buy. And if you found this video helpful, be sure to subscribe, and I'll see you in the next video.