The short version
- Don't apologize at length. Post something useful and move on.
- Fix the basics first: hours, phone number, cover photo and About.
- Post 3 times a week for 2 weeks, using easy posts like recent work, a question and your hours.
- Don't post 5 times in a day to make up for lost time. It looks odd and it's hard to keep up.
- After week 2, drop to a rhythm you can keep for a year.
Your Page went quiet. A busy season, a new baby, a staff change, or you just got tired of it. Now the last post is from months ago, and you're wondering how to restart an inactive Facebook business page without it feeling weird.
Good news: customers care far less than you think. They want to see you're open and working. Here's a plan that takes about 20 minutes a day for 2 weeks.
Before you post: fix the basics
A new post will bring people to your Page. Make sure they land on correct information. Spend 15 minutes on the Facebook business Page checklist before you restart. A "we're back" post helps. See Facebook announcement post examples.
- Hours and holidays are correct.
- Phone number and address or service area are current.
- Cover photo is recent and shows real work.
- The About line says what you do and where.
- Old pinned posts or expired offers are removed.
A 2-week plan to restart your Page
You're not trying to catch up on months of missing posts. You're trying to show the Page is alive again. Three posts a week is plenty.
Week 1: say hello and show your work
- Day 1Comeback postShort, friendly, no apology tour. Template below.
- Day 3Photo of recent workPick the best job from this month.
- Day 5Hours and how to reach youConfirm your hours so nobody guesses.
Week 2: be useful
- Day 8A question customers askAnswer it in 2 or 3 sentences.
- Day 10Meet the team or the ownerOne photo and a line about who you are.
- Day 12A seasonal reminder or specialSomething that fits the time of year.
After day 14, settle into a rhythm you can keep. How often a business should post on Facebook and a weekly Facebook posting schedule can help you pick it.
4 comeback posts to copy
The short hello
We've been busy at [business] and haven't posted much. We're back, and we'll be sharing our work and our hours here every week. Say hi if we've worked together!
Photo: You or the crew at work, or your front door
The recent work
Wrapped this one up on [street or area] last week. [One sentence about the job.] If you've got something similar, message us for a quote.
Photo: The finished job in good light
The still open post
Yes, we're open. [Days and hours.] Call [phone] or message us here and we'll get back to you the same day.
Photo: Your sign, storefront or van
The season post
[Season] is here and our schedule is filling up. If you need [service], message us this week and we'll find a time.
Photo: Something that shows the season, like a leaf-covered yard or a cold-weather job
Not sure what to post after those? Use what to post on your business Facebook Page and what to post when you have nothing to say.
What not to do when you restart
Do
- Keep the comeback post to 2 or 3 sentences.
- Use real photos from recent jobs.
- Reply to old messages and comments.
- Pick a rhythm you can keep for a year.
Don't
- Write a long apology for being gone.
- Post 5 times in a day to catch up.
- Delete old posts to hide the gap.
- Pay to boost before the Page looks active.
On boosting, read is boosting a Facebook post worth it first. A boosted post that sends people to a quiet Page wastes the money.
Keep it going after the restart
The restart is the easy part. The hard part is month 3, when the busy season hits and posting slides again. Make it small and put it on a schedule. Common slip-ups are in social media mistakes small businesses make.
Pick 2 posting days
Choose days you can usually manage, like Tuesday and Friday.
Snap photos on the job
Take 3 or 4 photos a week as you work. Post them later.
Keep a list of easy ideas
Write down customer questions as they come in. Each one is a post.