How do I set up social media for a new business?

Direct Answer

Start with Google Business Profile (for local search visibility), then Facebook (for social proof), then Instagram (for visual discovery). Claim your name on LinkedIn, Pinterest, X, Bluesky, and Threads while you're at it — takes 15-20 minutes total with a setup tool. You don't need content ready before creating profiles.

Why This Matters

New businesses have a search visibility gap. Nobody knows your name yet, so every indexed page matters. Each social media profile you create becomes another page that Google can surface when someone searches for your business. A new bakery with profiles on 6 platforms has 6 chances to appear in search results. A new bakery with zero profiles relies entirely on their website — if it even ranks yet. Setting up profiles on day one also prevents name-squatting. The longer you wait, the more likely someone else takes your preferred username.

Real-World Example

A new dog daycare opening in two weeks used glowsocial.com/setup to scan their website (which was just a coming-soon page with their name, services, and address). The tool generated bios for 8 platforms and walked them through creating each account. Before they'd served a single customer, they had a Google Business Profile, Facebook Page, and Instagram account — all appearing in search results for "[city] dog daycare." Their first three customers said they found them by searching online.

What Most People Get Wrong

"I'll set up social media once I have content." This delays your search visibility for no reason. Profiles with a bio and logo — even zero posts — get indexed by Google. You're not waiting for content. You're waiting for nothing. Set up the profiles now, figure out posting later.