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Business · Marketing & sales

Social Media for Local Businesses: Connect with Your Community and Grow Your Customer Base

A practical, step-by-step course for UK small business owners and managers who want to use social media to attract local customers, build a loyal following, and increase footfall or enquiries. You'll learn which platforms work best for your area, how to create content that resonates, and how to turn

360 min8 modulesBeginner friendly
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Free to take. This course does not use any Learning Credits.

What you’ll be able to do

By the end of this course, you will be able to plan, create, and schedule a month of social media posts for your local business, using at least two platforms, and measure which posts bring in the most customers.

Course outline

A clear route from first principles to practical confidence

  1. 01

    Module 1: Why Social Media Matters for Your Local Business

    • Understanding your local customers: who they are and where they hang out online
    • The difference between Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn for local reach
    • Setting clear, realistic goals: more footfall, more calls, more website visits
    • How to audit your current social media presence (even if you've just started)
  2. 02

    Module 2: Setting Up Your Profiles for Success

    • Choosing the right business name, username, and profile picture
    • Writing a clear bio that tells customers what you do and where you are
    • Adding contact details, opening hours, and a map or directions
    • Using cover images and highlights to showcase your best work
  3. 03

    Module 3: Planning Content That Connects with Your Community

    • The 80/20 rule: helpful content vs. promotional posts
    • Ideas for local content: events, partnerships, customer stories, and seasonal offers
    • Creating a simple content calendar using a spreadsheet or planner
    • How to reuse one piece of content across different platforms
  4. 04

    Module 4: Taking and Editing Photos and Videos on Your Phone

    • Lighting, angles, and backgrounds: making your products or services look great
    • Filming simple videos: talking to camera, showing your workspace, or a quick demo
    • Free editing apps to crop, brighten, and add text or captions
    • Using your phone's built-in tools for slow motion, time-lapse, and filters
  5. 05

    Module 5: Writing Posts That Get Seen and Shared

    • Writing captions that ask questions, tell stories, or give useful tips
    • How to use hashtags to get found by local customers (not just #love)
    • Tagging other local businesses, customers, and community pages
    • The best times to post for your local audience
  6. 06

    Module 6: Engaging with Your Followers and Building a Community

    • How to reply to comments, messages, and reviews (good and bad)
    • Encouraging user-generated content: asking customers to share their photos
    • Running simple competitions or giveaways that boost local engagement
    • Using polls, questions, and quizzes to get feedback and ideas
  7. 07

    Module 7: Using Free and Low-Cost Tools to Schedule and Track Your Posts

    • Introduction to scheduling tools like Meta Business Suite and Buffer
    • How to schedule a week of posts in under 30 minutes
    • Reading your platform's free analytics: reach, engagement, and clicks
    • Simple ways to track which posts lead to enquiries or sales
  8. 08

    Module 8: Staying Safe, Legal, and Consistent on Social Media

    • Understanding UK advertising rules: when to label a post as an ad
    • Copyright basics: using images, music, and quotes legally
    • Protecting your business from scams, fake accounts, and negative comments
    • Creating a simple social media policy for you and your team