How to Post on Facebook

Posting on Facebook feels like it should be simple, but moving from a quick personal update to a strategic post that builds a brand or community is a different skill altogether. This guide walks you through every step, covering the technical how-to of creating a post and the strategic why that turns your content into something people actually want to engage with. We'll cover everything from your very first post to scheduling content like a pro.

The Absolute Basics: A Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Post

If you're completely new to this, don't worry. Making your first post is straightforward. Whether you're on a computer or your phone, the process is nearly identical. You're looking for the post composer, which is always right at the top of your News Feed.

Finding the Post Composer

On your computer, the composer is a white box at the top of your main Facebook feed that says, "What's on your mind, [Your Name]?" On the mobile app, it's the exact same prompt right under the "Stories" section. Tapping or clicking on this box opens up the full post editor.

Crafting Your First Post: A Simple Walkthrough

1. Write Your Text: Click inside the text box and start typing. This could be a question, a statement, an announcement, or a short story. For now, just type a simple "Hello, world!" to get comfortable.
2. Add a Visual: Below the text box, you'll see several colorful icons. The green icon that looks like a landscape is for adding photos or videos. Click it, and a file browser will open, allowing you to select a picture or video from your computer or phone's gallery. Visuals get far more attention than plain text, so it's a good habit to always include one.
3. Tag a Friend or Page (Optional): If your post involves someone else, you can "tag" them by typing the "@" symbol followed immediately by their name (e.g., @JaneDoe). As you type, a list of suggestions will appear. Click the correct person or page to link to their profile. They will get a notification that you've mentioned them.
4. Share it with the World: Once you're happy with your text and visual, look for the blue "Post" button at the bottom right. Click it, and your content will go live on your profile or page's timeline. That's it - you've officially made your first Facebook post!

Mastering the Facebook Post Composer Tools

That "What's on your mind?" box holds more power than you might think. It’s packed with features that let you create different types of engaging content. Learning to use them expands your creative toolkit and helps you connect with your audience in unique ways.

Common Types of Facebook Posts

• Photo/Video: This is the most common and effective type of post. You can upload a single image, multiple images that appear as a gallery or carousel, or a video file. Facebook's algorithm heavily favors video, especially natively uploaded content (meaning you upload the file directly, not as a YouTube link).
• Photo Album: If you have a large set of photos from a single event, like a conference or a company retreat, an album is a great way to group them. When composing your post, you can select "Album" after choosing multiple photos. This keeps things organized and lets you tell a more cohesive visual story.
• Go Live: Clicking the "Live video" option starts a real-time broadcast from your phone or webcam. Live videos get high engagement because they create a sense of urgency and direct interaction. People can comment and react as you stream, making it perfect for Q&A sessions, event coverage, or behind-the-scenes peeks.
• Feeling/Activity/Location: This feature adds a little personality to your post. You can share that you're "feeling excited" or "celebrating an anniversary." Adding a check-in at a physical location (using the red map pin icon) is also great for local businesses, as it puts your post on the map for others in that area to see.
• Poll: An easy way to drive interaction. Ask your audience a simple two-option question. People love to share their opinions, and polls provide a very low-effort way for them to participate. Use them to get feedback on a product idea, settle a funny debate, or just for fun.

Beyond the 'Post' Button: Strategies for Growth and Engagement

Learning how to use the buttons is just step one. The real art is posting content that builds your brand and connects with your audience. This requires a more thoughtful approach to what you say, what you show, and when you say it.

Step 1: Find the Best Time to Post for *Your* Audience

You can find hundreds of articles suggesting the "universal best time to post on Facebook," but the truth is it varies for every audience. Your data is more valuable than any generic recommendation.

If you're managing a Facebook Business Page, you have access to a tool called Meta Business Suite (or Creator Studio). Inside, look for the "Insights" tab. Here, you'll find data on when your followers are most active online. Look for the peak times on each day and experiment by scheduling your posts to go live just before those peaks. Start there, track your results, and adjust.

Step 2: Craft Posts That People Actually Want to Read

Every piece of content you post should have a purpose. A great post usually checks at least one of these boxes: it's educational, entertaining, inspiring, or builds connection.

• Start with a Strong Hook: The first sentence determines if someone will stop scrolling. Start with a question, a bold or surprising statement, or a relatable problem. For example, instead of "Here's a tip for social media," try "Are you making this common social media mistake?"
• Provide Clear Value: After you've hooked them, deliver on your promise. If you asked a question, provide a helpful answer. If you started with a problem, offer a solution. This trains your audience to see your content as valuable, not just an ad.
• Write Like a Human: Avoid corporate buzzwords and jargon. Write conversationally, as if you were talking to a friend. Use emojis to add tone and break up long blocks of text to make your posts easier to read on a mobile screen.
• End with a Call to Action (CTA): A good CTA encourages engagement. Instead of the generic "Comment below," try something more specific that feels natural. For example: "What's one thing you're focusing on this week? Let me know!" or "If you found this useful, share it with a friend who might need it."

Step 3: Put Thought Into Your Visuals

On a crowded feed, visuals are what stop the scroll. Low-quality, blurry, or uninteresting images and videos will be ignored, even if your caption is brilliant.

• Clarity is Non-Negotiable: Use high-resolution images and clear, well-lit videos. A smartphone can produce amazing content, so you don't need fancy equipment - just good lighting and a steady hand.
• Think About Sizing: While Facebook accepts various sizes, square (1:1 aspect ratio) and vertical videos (4:5 or 9:16 aspect ratio) tend to perform best because they take up more screen space on mobile devices.
• Incorporate Your Brand: If you're building a brand, keep your visuals consistent. Use the same filters, color schemes, or fonts to create a recognizable look and feel. Tools like Canva make it easy to create branded templates without needing to be a graphic designer.

Key Features for Managing Your Posts Effectively

Posting is just the beginning. Facebook provides tools that help you manage your content over time, giving you more control and flexibility.

How to Schedule Posts Directly on Facebook

Posting consistently is one of the most important factors for organic growth, but you don't have to be online every single day to do it. Scheduling allows you to batch your content creation and plan your calendar in advance. To do this, you’ll need to use Meta Business Suite, which is free for anyone with a Facebook Business Page.

1. Navigate to Meta Business Suite (business.facebook.com).
2. Click on "Create post" from the main dashboard.
3. Craft your post just as you would normally - add your text, media, links, etc.
4. Instead of hitting "Publish," look for the "Schedule" option at the bottom.
5. A calendar pop-up will appear. Select the exact date and time you want your post to go live.
6. Click "Schedule," and you're done! Your post will automatically publish at your chosen time.

Editing a Post After It's Published

Ever notice a typo right after hitting "Post"? It's an easy fix. Navigate to the post you want to change. Click the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of the post. From the dropdown menu, select "Edit post." A window will pop up allowing you to change the text. Make your edits and click "Save."

Pinning an Important Post to the Top of Your Page

If you have a particularly important announcement, a special offer, or an introductory post you want everyone to see first, you can "pin" it. This keeps the post at the very top of your Page's timeline, even as you publish new content. To do this, click the same three dots (...) on the post and select "Pin to top of page."

Final Thoughts

Creating a Facebook post is mechanically simple, but doing it well is a skill that blends creativity with strategy. By mastering the tools in the post composer and applying thoughtful principles to your content, you can move from just adding to the noise to building an engaged community that cares about what you have to say.

Planning a consistent content calendar and scheduling posts ahead is often the biggest challenge. At Postbase, we built our platform to solve this by bringing all your social platforms into one beautiful visual calendar. It allows you to create your content once, customize it for each platform, and get a clear view of your entire strategy without having to juggle different apps or disconnected spreadsheets. If you want to take your social media management from chaotic to organized, give Postbase a look.