Facebook is giving users more control over what lands in their feed. Here’s how to post useful local stuff people will want to keep seeing.
A job photo from last Tuesday won’t keep earning attention on Facebook just because you posted it. If locals change what they see in their feeds, your posts need to give them a proper reason to keep you around.
Meta announced these controls in October 2026. It hasn’t confirmed when they’ll reach every Australian account, but Instagram’s version is already here. The federal government has also proposed laws that would let Australians switch off algorithm feeds and see only the accounts they follow. Either way, locals are getting more say in whether your posts show up.
You don’t need polished videos every day. A café in Cairns, a sparky in Ballarat and a physio in Bunbury need posts that are useful, timely and easy to recognise.
People will filter out posts that only sell
Ask a basic question before every post: would a local customer choose to keep seeing this?
A generic “book now” graphic gives them little reason. A post saying you’ve got two Friday afternoon spots in Buderim gives a homeowner something practical.
Don’t get caught up in talk about feed settings or chase secret tricks. Make your page worth following when locals need information, help or a timely reminder.
Think of Facebook as the noticeboard near your counter. People stop when there’s something useful on it, not because the paper is glossy.
Use the four-part local post test
Before you post, run it through four checks: useful locally, timely, human and easy to act on. A post doesn’t need all four, but it needs at least two.
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- →Useful locally: Share something that helps people in your area. A Newcastle plumber might explain where to turn off the water before help arrives.
- →Timely: Give people a reason to care this week. A Darwin café can post its public holiday opening hours on the Monday before the break.
- →Human: Show the people doing the work. A Bendigo hairdresser can introduce the apprentice who’s taking model appointments.
- →Easy to act on: Tell people the next step. A Townsville bike shop can say, “Call before 3pm to check your tyre size is in stock.”
This is social media without the carry-on. Help people decide, remember or act instead of shouting at them to buy.
Post availability when it actually helps someone
Availability posts work because they answer a real local problem. They’re far more useful than a vague post saying you’re “taking bookings”.
A mobile detailer in Geelong could post on Thursday morning that one rain-free slot opened on Saturday. A dentist in Rockhampton could mention a cancelled appointment for a check-up that afternoon.
We’ve had one electrical repair spot open up in Buderim this Friday afternoon. If your safety switch keeps tripping or you’ve got a power point that needs sorting, call [Business name] on [contact number] before 2pm today. We’ll confirm the job and arrival window before you’re booked in.
Keep the details honest. Don’t create fake urgency, because locals spot that sort of thing quickly and stop trusting the page.
Give locals a useful update they can save or share
Your best post ideas often come from questions customers ask every week. Write down five questions you answered on the phone, then turn one into a plain-English post.
A plumber in Wagga Wagga could explain what to do when a hot water system starts leaking. A café in Hobart could list which cabinet treats contain nuts. A chemist in Mackay could share its revised holiday trading hours.
Prompts for trades
- →Show where a household can safely switch off water or power before you arrive.
- →Explain the difference between a quick repair and a job that needs replacement.
- →Share weather-related advice, such as clearing gutters before a wet weekend.
- →Post real appointment availability for the next few days.
Prompts for hospitality and retail
- →Post the menu item returning for the weekend, with a clear finish date.
- →Show a staff member choosing their favourite item and explain why.
- →Share parking, access or opening-hour changes before customers make the trip.
- →Show new stock with sizes, colours or quantities people need to know.
Prompts for health and professional services
- →Explain what to bring to a first physio appointment in Albury.
- →Share a simple checklist for clients before tax time, without giving personal advice online.
- →Introduce a new team member and explain the type of appointments they handle.
- →Clarify cancellation, referral or booking information that often causes confusion.
Show the people behind the work
Local customers don’t need every post to look like an ad. They want to know who’ll turn up at their house, cut their hair or make their coffee.
A quick photo of the team loading up for a job in Launceston can work. So can a short post about the café manager trialling a new gluten-free slice in Fremantle.
Keep it real. A clear phone photo and two honest sentences beat a heavily edited clip that takes three hours to make.
Use customer proof without making it awkward
Fresh customer feedback helps people decide if you’re worth calling. Ask permission before naming a customer or sharing photos from their home, business or appointment.
A painter in Orange could share a completed exterior job with the homeowner’s okay. A salon in Adelaide could post a client’s new colour after getting clear consent.
Better still, point people towards your Google Business Profile for current reviews. Facebook posts move down the feed fast, while your Google profile often appears when somebody is ready to call.
If you’re a registered health practitioner, Ahpra rules stop you using testimonials in advertising, so skip this one.
Make every Facebook post lead somewhere you control
Facebook reach can jump around without warning. Your website, Google Business Profile and email list are steadier places for people to find your hours, services and contact details.
If a café posts a weekend brunch special, link to the menu page on its website. If a locksmith posts after-hours availability, make sure the same hours appear on its Google Business Profile.
That connection matters when someone sees your post, then searches your name on Google. They need to find the same phone number, opening hours and service details.
- →Check the phone number on your Facebook page matches the one on your Google Business Profile.
- →Link service posts to the relevant page on your website, not only your homepage.
- →Use Facebook to invite regulars onto your email list for offers, events or booking reminders.
- →Update holiday hours on Facebook, Google and your website at the same time.
Plan one week of posts in 20 minutes
You don’t need a content calendar that fills a wall. For most small businesses, three useful posts a week is a solid place to start.
On Monday, post a practical tip from a question you heard last week. On Wednesday, show a staff member, a job in progress or new stock. On Friday, share next week’s availability, trading hours or an event reminder.
A mechanic in Ipswich could explain tyre warning lights on Monday, show a safety certificate inspection on Wednesday and post two available service slots on Friday. That’s useful, local and manageable.
Watch for signs people want more of it
Don’t judge every post by likes alone. Calls, website clicks, messages, saves, shares and in-store mentions tell you more about whether the post did its job.
Keep a simple note for four weeks. Write down the post topic, what action it asked people to take and what happened next. A bakery in Mildura might find trading-hour updates bring more messages than pretty cake photos.
Repeat the posts that earn useful attention. You’ll learn what works without making social media a full-time job.
Keep your page worth choosing
It comes back to a simple local rule: be useful before you’re promotional. If people want your updates, they’re less likely to tune you out.
Post what helps a customer in your patch today. Then make it easy for them to find the same information on Google and your website when they’re ready to book.
Social media works best when it supports the rest of your local presence. It’s one place customers meet you, not the whole shebang.