Social media is one of those things every small business owner knows they should be doing — and almost nobody has time for.
You've got a business to run. Coming up with clever captions, hashtags, and post ideas at 8pm when you're knackered is the last thing you want to do. So you either post sporadically, copy competitors, or just… don't bother.
Here's the fix: ChatGPT can write your social media posts in under 2 minutes. Not generic fluff, either — actual posts that sound like you, talk to your customers, and get people to take action.
This guide gives you 7 ready-to-use prompts for Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Swap in your details and you're done.
It's not because you're bad at marketing. It's because:
ChatGPT solves the blank screen problem instantly. You give it context, it gives you a draft. You tweak it to sound more like you, and post. That's the whole workflow.
Every few months it's worth posting a clear "who we are" post. New followers have no idea — and existing ones don't mind a reminder.
The Prompt:
Write a friendly Instagram intro post for [business name], a [type of business] based in [city/suburb]. We [brief description of what you do and who you help]. Keep the tone warm and local, around 100 words. Include a call to action to visit our website or DM us.
Example output for a plumber:
👋 New around here? We're Rennick Plumbing — a family-run plumbing crew based in Penrith, serving the Western Sydney region since 2014.
We handle everything from blocked drains and leaking taps to full bathroom renovations. No job too small, no drama too big.
What makes us different? We show up on time, give you honest quotes, and leave your place cleaner than we found it.
If you've got a plumbing headache, send us a DM or hit the link in bio 👇
Real, specific, and doesn't sound like it was written by a robot. That's the goal.
Before/after content performs incredibly well — especially for tradies, cleaners, landscapers, and anyone doing physical work. You don't even need to write much; the photo does the work.
The Prompt:
Write a short Instagram caption for a before/after post. We [describe the job — e.g. "installed a new timber deck at a home in Manly"]. The photo shows the old concrete slab on the left and the finished deck on the right. Keep it punchy, under 80 words. Add 5 relevant hashtags.
What to do with the output: Swap in your actual location and job details. ChatGPT will also suggest hashtags — pick the ones that are actually relevant to your trade and location.
Got a 5-star Google review? Turn it into an Instagram post. Takes 30 seconds and gives you credibility without sounding like you're bragging.
The Prompt:
Turn this Google review into an Instagram post for [business name]. Here's the review: "[paste review text here]". Keep it authentic, not salesy. Add a short comment from us thanking the customer. Around 100 words total. End with a call to action to leave a review or book with us.
Position yourself as the expert. Share one useful tip your customers would actually care about. These posts get saved and shared more than promotional content.
The Prompt:
Write an educational Instagram/Facebook post for [business name — e.g. a Melbourne electrician]. Give one quick tip that homeowners in Australia should know about [topic — e.g. power board safety / water pressure / garden irrigation]. Make it practical, not too technical, and useful. Around 120 words. End with a soft call to action.
Example topics by industry:
Tie your content to what's happening around you — school holidays, public holidays, local events, weather. This makes you feel like a real local business rather than a faceless company.
The Prompt:
Write an Instagram post for [business name] acknowledging [season or event — e.g. "the start of winter in Melbourne" / "school holidays" / "EOFY"]. Relate it briefly to what we do [e.g. "heating maintenance" / "family-friendly lunch specials" / "end of financial year tax tips"]. Keep it light and friendly, 80–100 words.
People buy from people they trust. Behind-the-scenes content builds that trust faster than any ad. It doesn't have to be polished — in fact, rawer is usually better.
The Prompt:
Write a casual behind-the-scenes Instagram caption for [business name]. Today we [brief description — e.g. "had a big commercial job in the CBD" / "spent the morning prepping for our weekend market stall" / "had the whole team in for training"]. Make it sound real and human, first person, around 80 words. No hashtags needed.
LinkedIn is different from Instagram — it's more professional but people still respond to authentic, practical content. If you work with other businesses, you should be posting here.
The Prompt:
Write a LinkedIn post for [your name], owner of [business name], a [type of business] in [city]. Share one insight or lesson from running the business recently — something other small business owners would relate to. Keep it conversational, not corporate. 150–200 words. End with a question to encourage comments.
LinkedIn posts that perform well are usually personal, a bit vulnerable, and end with a question. ChatGPT is good at this formula — just make sure you read it before posting and add your own voice where needed.
The outputs above are starting points. Here's how to get them sounding genuinely like your brand:
Most small businesses fail at social media because they try to do too much. Here's a sustainable approach:
You don't need to be a copywriter. You don't need to hire a social media manager. You don't need to spend hours a week thinking up content ideas.
You need a good prompt, two minutes, and the habit of actually doing it.
Social media isn't magic — it won't turn 10 followers into 10,000 overnight. But consistent, genuine posts build local awareness, trust, and word-of-mouth referrals over time. That's exactly what Australian small businesses run on.
Start with one post this week. Use the prompts above. See how it feels. Then do it again next week.
That's the whole strategy.