Course description

Your customers are already on Facebook, in local groups, asking neighbours where to get a key cut or who can fix a hem. This course shows you how to be there in a way that helps: a Page that's set up properly, posts local people actually want to read, honest replies, and a place in your community's conversations, without paying for ads.

It's practical and realistic. Facebook won't fill your diary overnight, and the course is honest about what it can and can't do, how much time it takes and how to tell whether it's working, using your own business measures as well as Facebook's numbers.

There are 10 sections and 50 written lessons, and each one ends with a short, practical exercise. You follow Kanwal, who runs a hardware shop off Northallerton High Street, through nine months of getting Facebook right: the unanswered "Are you still open?" comment, the wrong hours, the dark photos, the offer posted in the wrong group, a seed swap, a fair giveaway, a calm reply to a complaint and a fake message that nearly caught her assistant out. Every section has a practice pack with a worksheet, example answers and a cheat sheet, plus tools such as a Page set-up checklist, a content calendar, post and reply templates, a reviews response guide, an event and giveaway planner and an insights tracker.

What you'll learn

• Facebook for local customers: what organic Facebook can and can't do, how Pages, Groups, the feed, Reels, Stories and Messenger fit together, goals that link to your business, and a plan on a page.
• Setting up your Page properly: a Page rather than a profile, the name, category, photos, contact details and hours, the action button, two-factor authentication and the right access for helpers.
• Planning your content: content themes, behind the scenes and customer stories with permission, offers, seasons and local events, formats, and a monthly content calendar.
• Writing posts: the shape of a good local post, your own voice, clear calls to action, hashtags, tags and locations, and ten reusable post templates.
• Photos, video and accessible posts: clear phone photos, people and permission, short videos and Reels, simple editing, captions and alt text.
• Facebook Groups: finding and taking part in local groups honestly, posting as your Page or as yourself, and starting, moderating and keeping your own group going.
• Messages, comments and recommendations: prompt replies, comments, asking every customer fairly for recommendations, handling criticism calmly and data protection for messages.
• Local reach and the rules: events, reaching more local people without ads, fair giveaways under Meta's rules and the CAP Code, advertising rules for ordinary posts, and copyright.
• Insights, safety and your weekly routine: insights in plain words, measuring what matters with a till tally, scheduling with Meta's tools, scams, fake Pages and hacked accounts, and keeping it going.
• Putting it all together: a nine-month review, a practice review of a club's Page, and a final project: a launch checklist and a four-week content plan.

Who it's for

Small local businesses, sole traders, clubs and community groups in the UK who want Facebook to bring in local customers or members. You don't need any marketing experience, just a personal Facebook account and a phone that takes photos and video.

What this course is, and isn't

This course is about organic Facebook: what you can do without paying for ads. Boosting posts and running paid campaigns are covered in Rootlet's Facebook and Instagram Ads for Small Businesses course. Meta changes Facebook's features and menus often, so the lessons describe what each feature does rather than giving exact menu paths. The information on UK rules is general information, not legal advice, and the lessons say where to check the current rules. No other apps, brands or services are recommended.

What will I learn?

• Set goals for Facebook that link to your business, and write a plan on a page you can keep in a busy week
• Set up a Facebook Page properly, with the right details, hours, action button, two-factor authentication and access for helpers
• Plan content with themes, a weekly rhythm, a local calendar and a monthly content calendar
• Write clear local posts in your own voice, with one point and one next step, and reuse post templates in busy weeks
• Take clear phone photos and short videos, with permission from anyone who appears, captions and alt text
• Take part in local groups honestly, and start and moderate a community group of your own
• Reply to messages, comments and recommendations promptly, handle criticism calmly and look after customers' data
• Run events and fair giveaways, reach more local people without ads, and follow the CAP Code, copyright and fake review rules
• Measure what matters with insights and a till tally, spot scams and hacked accounts, and keep a weekly routine going

Frequently asked questions