“I know I should be using social media… but I never know what to post.”
Have you ever felt that way?
You scroll through your feed and see everyone else posting like it’s second nature. They seem confident, consistent, and their posts even get attention.
Meanwhile, you’re sitting there thinking, What am I even supposed to say?
It feels overwhelming.
However, most of those people didn’t start out confident or consistent. They felt stuck and unsure too.
The only way to get better at social media is to just start.
The best way to connect with people and build your personal brand is simple: tell stories on social media.
You don’t have to be a writer or a marketing expert to share something meaningful.
Tell stories on social media about your journey, your work, and your clients.
Let’s make this easy. We’ll take it step by step.
How to Tell Stories on Social Media
Step 1: Choose Your Audience
First, think about who you want to connect with online. Chances are, you’re part of that group or share similar interests. That’s great. It means you already understand them.
Now ask yourself: What would I like to say to these people? How do I want to show up for them?
Step 2: Choose How You Want to Communicate
You don’t have to do everything.
Love writing? Start there. Prefer taking photos or videos? Great. Use those to tell stories on social media.
Pick the format that feels easiest for you. You can always branch out later, but starting with what you enjoy will help you stay consistent.
Step 3: Pick One Social Media Platform
You don’t need to be on every social media channel. Start with one.
Choose the platform where your audience hangs out and where you feel comfortable. Focus your time there. Learn what works, find your voice, and get into a rhythm.
Once you’ve got that down and feel comfortable telling stories on social media, you can explore other platforms if you want.
Step 4: Stay On-Brand and Be Helpful
Everything you post doesn’t need to be about selling your service, but it should feel like you. That’s why you want to tell stories on social media.
It’s much easier to share what happens to you and around you related to your business than to constantly try to sell or post generic content.
Be useful, entertaining, and inspiring. The more people feel like they know and trust you, the more likely they are to support your work.
You can follow the 5–3–2 rule for balance:
- 5 posts can be valuable content from others (share what you’re reading or learning).
- 3 posts can be your own tips, ideas, or stories, without directly promoting your offer.
- 2 posts can be personal, showing the human behind the brand.
The goal is to connect, not just promote.
If you want to focus more on business, use these 25 sales story ideas to communicate your message more effectively.
Step 5: Craft Your Stories
There’s no one “right” thing about how to tell stories on social media or what to post, but here are some story ideas to get you going.
Questions that will help you come up with the story:
- Why did you start your business or project?
- What happens behind the scenes? Take a quick photo or write a few lines about what you’re working on.
- What do people say about your work? Use testimonials, screenshots, or kind messages you’ve received.
- What results did you get (good or unexpected)? Even a surprising mistake can become a fun, honest post.
- What inspired you today? A book, quote, podcast, or conversation that stuck with you.
- What’s happening right now? Are you in a meeting? Working on a new idea? Listening to something interesting?
Everyday moments can turn into powerful content. Just ask yourself: What would I share with a friend?
Step 6: Make It Simple
You don’t need to write essays. One simple paragraph is enough. One idea per post is enough. Start small.
A super easy way to tell stories on social media
A picture + a sentence = a great post.
Pick one of the questions above and just answer it in a few words. That’s already a story.
Step 7: Start Conversations
Want more engagement? Ask questions.
First, tell a story on social media and then end your post with a simple, open-ended question. Ask what people think, how they relate, or what they’ve experienced.
At first, people probably won’t respond. But keep going, even if it feels like you’re talking to yourself.
It might take a while for people to start engaging, but they will. They’ll get used to you being open to chat.
Conclusion
Yes, social media is a marketing tool. But more than that, it’s a place to build relationships.
Start talking to people. Share stories you’d want to hear and others will want to hear them too.
If you’re still unsure about what to post or how to write, start with topics related to your business that you genuinely care about, things you’d enjoy learning yourself. Then, share those things with your followers.
The best way to learn how to tell stories on social media is through practice. Stay consistent, even if it’s just one short post a day.
The more you practice, the more natural it becomes.
And one more thing. Your content isn’t for “everyone.” It’s for your people. The ones who care about what you care about. The ones who will stick around, engage with you, and become your community.
So show up for them and tell your stories. One post at a time.
