How to Create a 1-Hour-a-Week Social Media Plan That Actually Works
If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably felt the pressure to be everywhere on social media – posting daily, jumping on trends, engaging in comments, and somehow still running your business. The good news? You don’t need to spend hours a day online to make your social media work for you.
With a simple, focused system, you can run your own social media in just one hour per week. Yes – really.
Step 1: Pick One Platform That Fits Your Business
Before you do anything, ask yourself: where are your customers hanging out online?
If you're a visual brand (like a boutique or bakery), Instagram might be your best bet. If you're B2B or a service provider, LinkedIn or Facebook may work better. You don’t need to be on five platforms. Start with one. Master it. Then expand if you want to.
Step 2: Choose 3 Content Categories
Instead of posting random content, pick three themes that align with your business and speak to your audience. For example:
Behind the Scenes – Show how your product is made, your workspace, or what a typical day looks like.
Customer Highlights or Testimonials – Share kind words from happy clients or photos of your product in use.
Tips or Educational Posts – Teach something helpful related to your industry or services.
Rotate through these each week to keep your feed fresh and focused.
Step 3: Batch Your Content Weekly (30 Minutes)
Set aside just 30 minutes a week to plan and create 3–4 posts.
Here’s how that could look:
Monday: Behind the scenes photo or a quick reel of you packing orders.
Wednesday: A client quote turned into a graphic (Canva makes this easy).
Friday: A simple tip or FAQ your customers ask all the time.
Use your phone camera for photos – no need for fancy equipment. And if writing captions slows you down, keep it casual and conversational. You're talking to real people, not writing a novel.
Step 4: Schedule Your Posts (15 Minutes)
Once you’ve created your posts, use a free tool like Buffer, Later, or Meta Business Suite to schedule everything for the week. This lets your content go out automatically, even if you’re too busy to think about social media during the workweek.
Batching and scheduling eliminates the “what should I post today?” panic – and keeps you consistent without daily effort.
Step 5: Check In Twice a Week (15 Minutes)
Set a 7-minute timer twice a week to:
Respond to any comments or DMs
Like or comment on 3–5 posts from customers or peers
Review how your last few posts performed (most platforms show basic analytics)
That’s it. Don’t fall into the scroll trap. Stay focused and intentional.
Social Media Doesn’t Have to Take Over Your Life
Small business owners wear a million hats. You don’t need to become a full-time content creator to show up online. With just one hour a week, you can:
Stay visible
Build trust with your audience
Show off your product or service
Stay top-of-mind when people are ready to buy
The secret isn’t in doing more. It’s in doing less, better – and doing it consistently.
So try this plan for the next 4 weeks. Keep it simple. Track what’s working. And remember: your presence matters more than perfection.
