Social Media 101 for Contractors: A Simple Guide to Get Started

Hey there! If you’re here, of course you know about social media but you probably just don’t know where to start and want a social media 101 class. Social media can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not tech-savvy, but don’t worry—I’m here to break it down for you in plain, simple terms. Let’s get your business online and in front of more customers!

Why Social Media Basics Matter for Contractors

Let’s start with the big question: why should you, as a contractor, care about social media? Well, think of it this way—your potential customers are spending hours scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok every day. If you’re not there, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to connect with them.

Build Trust and Showcase Your Work

Social media is like a digital portfolio. You can post photos of your completed projects, share customer testimonials, and even show behind-the-scenes videos of your team in action. This helps build trust and shows potential clients what you’re capable of.

Reach More People Without Breaking the Bank

Unlike traditional advertising, social media is incredibly cost-effective. You can create a business page for free and start posting right away. Plus, with a small budget (as little as $5 a day), you can run ads to reach even more people in your local area. We’ll go into a future post about how to run ads on the Meta Ads platform (used for both Facebook and Instagram)

“Think of social media as word-of-mouth on steroids—it’s a way to get your name out there faster and to more people.”

Choosing the Right Social Media Platforms

Not all social media platforms are created equal, and you don’t need to be on all of them. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular ones and how they can work for you:

• Facebook: Great for connecting with local customers and sharing updates, photos, and reviews. This is usually one of the best ways on social to reach an older demographic 30+
• Instagram: Perfect for showcasing your work with high-quality photos and videos. This platform works really well for recruiting new talent and showing off your company culture. Not so much for selling, but as contractors, we need 2 lines of people walking in the door, customers and potential employees. We’ll touch on recruiting using social media in a future post.
• LinkedIn: Ideal for networking with other professionals and finding commercial clients. Here is where you’ll find property managers and building owners.
• TikTok: If you’re on top of the news, you’ll realize it was banned and taken off line a few days ago, however… It came back! Not sure how long it’ll stay, so I wouldn’t put too much effort into this if you’re not already doing it. This is a great place if you’re feeling creative, short videos of your projects or tips can go viral here and get you a ton of website traffic which is great for general SEO.

Start with one or two platforms that feel manageable and focus on those. For most contractors just beginning in Social Media 101, Facebook and Instagram are a great place to begin.

Simple Steps to Get Started on Social Media

Okay, now that you know why social media is important and which platforms to use, let’s talk about how to get started. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Set Up Your Business Profile on Facebook (Meta)

Make sure your profile includes:

• Your business name and logo
• A clear description of your services
• Your contact information (phone number, email, website)
• Links to your other social media accounts
• Some high quality photos of completed work you’re proud of

2. Post Regularly

Consistency is key. Aim to post at least 2-3 times a week. Here are some ideas for posts:

• Before-and-after photos of your projects
• Customer testimonials
• Tips and advice for homeowners
• Behind-the-scenes videos of your team

3. Engage with Your Audience

Don’t just post and forget about it. Reply to comments, answer questions, and thank people for their feedback. This helps build relationships and shows that you care. Engagement on your page is key to make sure the algorithms are showing you more and more. The less people interact with you, or the less you interact with them, the less they will show you to potential customers. Lets face it Facebook & Instagram want your time on the platform, it’s how they make their money.

4. Experiment with Ads

Once you’re comfortable, try running a small ad campaign at https://facebook.com/business. For example, you can promote a post about a special offer or a recent project. Start with a budget of $50-$100 and see how it performs. You’ll need to play around with the platform or find someone to help you with it if you’re unfamiliar. If you need some real help and want to dive in, I’ll be happy to assist if I have some free time available. Just email me at info@learnaboutgroup.com.

Cost Considerations

One of the best things about social media is that it’s affordable. Here’s a quick breakdown of potential costs:

• Setting up profiles: Free
• Hiring a professional to manage your accounts: $300-$1,000/month
• Running ads: $5-$50/day, depending on your budget

If you’re just starting out, you can do most of this yourself for free. As your business grows, you might consider hiring someone like us to help teach you how to properly manage your accounts.

We don’t do the work for you, we teach you or someone on your team the best practices to make your campaigns successful. Teach a man to fish, right? Questions? Email us: info@learnaboutgroup.com

Wrapping It Up

There you have it—a simple, no-nonsense guide and social media 101 for contractors. Remember, you don’t have to be a tech wizard to make this work. Start small, stay consistent, and focus on building relationships with your audience. Over time, you’ll see how powerful social media can be for growing your business.

Have questions or need more tips? Drop a comment below or send me a message—I’d love to help you out with a few easy questions at no charge!