What to Post When You Have No Time: A Simple Content Formula for Busy Business Owners
Let’s be honest: most small business owners don’t have a marketing team or hours a day to spend planning the perfect Instagram grid.
Between running your business, serving customers, and managing the day-to-day, social media can feel like one more thing you’ll “get to later.”
But staying active online doesn’t have to mean constantly creating new content from scratch. In fact, you can build a solid, engaging social media presence just by knowing what to post – and having a simple formula to follow when time is tight.
Here’s a go-to content framework you can use anytime you feel stuck, rushed, or overwhelmed.
The 3-Part "Easy Content Formula"
Think of your weekly posts like a well-balanced meal. You want a mix of personality, value, and promotion. The formula looks like this:
Show Something Real (Connection)
Teach Something Useful (Value)
Promote What You Offer (Sales)
Let’s break that down.
1. Show Something Real (Connection)
This is the kind of post that reminds your audience: there’s a real human behind your business. It builds trust and likeability without needing anything fancy.
Some quick ideas:
A behind-the-scenes photo of your workspace, process, or team
A story about why you started your business
A “meet the owner” post (even if you’ve done it before!)
A snapshot from your day, like your coffee order or packaging an order
Don’t overthink it. Snap a photo with your phone and write like you talk.
2. Teach Something Useful (Value)
People follow business accounts to learn something helpful, especially if it relates to a problem they’re trying to solve. Even the simplest tips go a long way.
Some fast, valuable post ideas:
A quick how-to or tip related to your product or service
A FAQ you get all the time (just answer it as a caption)
A myth or common misconception in your industry, explained
A checklist or “3 things to know before…” list
You can reuse tips from customer emails, past blog posts, or conversations you’ve already had.
3. Promote What You Offer (Sales)
Yes, you can and should sell in your content – but keep it simple and clear. Your followers want to know how to work with you or buy from you.
Easy ways to promote without being pushy:
Share a photo of a current product or service and how to buy it
Highlight a limited-time offer or seasonal service
Talk about a transformation or result a customer experienced
Post a testimonial or customer review (screenshot is fine!)
Always include a call to action – what do you want the reader to do next? (Click the link, send a DM, etc.)
Keep It Real, Keep It Simple
You don’t need viral videos or graphic design skills to stay consistent on social media. You just need a plan you can stick to – especially when you’re short on time.
So here’s your 3-post plan for the week:
Post 1: A quick behind-the-scenes photo (Connection)
Post 2: A tip or FAQ (Value)
Post 3: A product or service reminder (Promotion)
No fancy apps, no stress, no hours of brainstorming. Just a rinse-and-repeat system that keeps your audience engaged and your brand visible – even on your busiest weeks.
Save your past posts in a folder or Google Doc. Reuse and repurpose them later. Your content library will grow faster than you think.
