Using social media to grow your business

Standout Arts shares useful tips on social media best practices for small businesses

Tap. Like. Share. Scroll. Ah, yes. A familiar routine we all know a bit too well. Social media has increasingly become such an important part of our everyday lives, whether we like it or not. The truth is 5.79 billion people use social media worldwide, and the average person spends nearly 19 hours a week online. 

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While it’s a great place to keep up with friends, it’s also the perfect place for a business to build influence, grow its reach, and connect with its customers. However, with a constantly changing landscape and so much content out there, it can be hard to keep up and understand how to make an impact.

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Luckily, Standout Arts is here to help. We’ve compiled a comprehensive outline detailing the best social media practices for small businesses as we head into 2027. 

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First things first, before even opening an app, businesses need to be thinking about who they’re connecting with. Who is their target audience? Who are the people who are likely interested in what you have to offer? And how do those people get their information? 

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“This also means discovering which social media channels your audience is on. If they’re not on specific platforms, it is best to use your time to focus on the platforms they are on,” Brianna Stomp, Marketing and Client Care Specialist for Standout Arts, said.

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Another thing businesses should keep in mind is how AI is becoming a primary search engine for people to find information. This means it’s important to create content where AI can actually find it. If your content isn’t being found by AI, then it won’t suggest it to the consumers.

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What type of content performs the best?

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Human-centric content: In 2026, showing authenticity and people performs the best. People want to follow other people, not corporations. 

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While a small business may have great products or services to offer to their community, they should also prioritize highlighting the people who help make it all happen. 

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Try this:

• A reel showcasing employees/volunteers behind the scenes or in a regular workday
• Photo carousel highlighting the team, their roles, and fun facts about them
• Reels that show your personality 

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Valueable/Unselfish content: Content that is “unselfish” is what actually retains viewers and cultivates a true following. So, what does that mean? 

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Unselfish content is educational, engaging, and provides value for your ideal customer. 

“The word ideal is important here. Not all viewers will be interested in your products or services. However, people are generally more likely to follow a brand if some sort of value is provided,” Stomp explained.

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What are the best times to post?

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Finding the sweet spot for posting is nuanced and can feel like jumping through hoops. While we can help break down some of the recommended guidelines from marketing industry experts, it’s important to note that everyone’s audience and followers’ behaviors look different. Just because it was recommended doesn’t always mean it is specific to your business and audience. 

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• Overall best times to post on social media: Midday to late afternoon, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Best days to post on social media: Tuesdays and Wednesdays consistently show the highest peak engagement across almost all platforms.

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Source: sproutsocial

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Instagram

• Peak engagement favors midday through evening blocks
• Highest-performing windows are Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Secondary peaks include Mondays 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursdays 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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Facebook

• The primary midweek momentum drives the highest traffic
• The strongest posting windows are Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Additional optimal slots are Mondays at 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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Source: sproutsocial

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Now that you know when to post, how often should you be posting? Good question. Here’s what we found, according to Buffer:

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• Facebook: 1–2 posts/day
• Instagram: 3–5 posts/week
• TikTok: 2–5 posts/week
• X (Twitter): 3–4 posts/day
• LinkedIn: 2–5 posts/week
• Pinterest: 15–25 pins/day
• YouTube: 1 video/week
• YouTube Shorts: 1–3 videos/week

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Buffer's 2026 performance analysis demonstrates that scaling from 1–2 posts to 3–5 posts per week on Instagram yields roughly 12% more reach per piece of content and more than doubles the follower growth rate. The data shows that posting more frequently does not automatically boost median views per post, but mathematically increases the probability of a breakout hit.

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Social media can be such a powerful tool, but like with any tool, it needs to be used correctly in order to get the best results.

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“In 2026 and the future, this looks like adjusting your content strategy for the current landscape,” Stomp said. “Today, platforms recommend a large amount of content to people from accounts they don’t follow. This means any small business or social media account can reach anyone's page.”

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This is an extremely beneficial opportunity for small businesses. You are no longer boxed into the people who follow you, but have access to tons of users on Facebook, Instagram, or other platforms who will likely have accounts (like yours) coming across their feed.

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But remember: Results take time. 

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“When implementing a social media strategy, it doesn’t usually have instant results. Showing up consistently and authentically to your audience and desired new audiences goes a long way. Keep being true to your brand while experimenting with new things, and you will succeed,” Stomp said.

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Still feeling overwhelmed?  Let us help! You can visit standoutarts.com or contact service@standoutarts.com to see how we can help manage your social media and grow your business!

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