Setting Up Social Media the Right Way (and Why It Matters)
If you are starting a business, chances are social media is one of the first things on your to do list. It feels simple enough. Create a page, upload a logo, start posting. But there are a few small decisions you make at the very beginning that can quietly cause big headaches later on, especially once your website comes into the picture. Let's talk through what actually matters when you set up your social profiles, so you get it right the first time.
Choose your username carefully
Your username, sometimes called a handle, is the @name that shows up under your business name on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and everywhere else. It seems like a minor detail, but it plays a bigger role than most people realise.
An accurate username makes you easy to find. If someone hears about your business from a friend, sees your sign on the road, or spots your logo on a work van, the first thing they will usually do is search for you online. If your username matches your actual business name, they will find you straight away. If it does not, because you added extra numbers, words, or a completely different name than what is on your signage, people can end up scrolling through a dozen accounts trying to work out which one is actually you.
It also matters for consistency. When your username is the same across Instagram, Facebook and your website, it builds trust. People recognise your brand faster and feel more confident that they have landed on the real thing, not a copycat account or a page that has not been updated in years.
If your ideal username is already taken, try to keep it as close as possible to your real business name rather than adding random letters. A small, sensible variation is far better than something that has nothing to do with who you are.
Pay attention to your profile url
Your profile url is the actual web address of your page, the one that appears in the address bar or when you share a link to your profile. On most platforms this is tied directly to your username, so getting your username right usually takes care of this too.
A clean profile url is something you can confidently put on a business card, in an email signature, or on a flyer without it looking messy or confusing. It also matters when you are linking your social pages to your website. A tidy, recognisable url makes that connection feel intentional and professional, rather than accidental.
Use a business page, not a personal profile or a group
This one trips a lot of new business owners up, especially on Facebook. There is a real difference between a personal profile, a group and a business page, and using the right one from the start will save you a lot of trouble down the track.
A personal profile is meant for individuals, not businesses. Facebook's terms actually do not allow businesses to operate from a personal profile, and using one limits what you can do. You cannot run ads properly, you cannot access page insights to see how your posts are performing, and you cannot add a website link, opening hours or a booking button the way you can on a proper business page.
A group is also not the right fit for representing your business publicly. Groups are designed for communities to talk to each other, not for a business to present itself professionally to potential customers. They do not give you the same tools, the same credibility, or the same visibility in search.
A business page gives you everything a group or profile cannot. It lets you add your logo, your opening hours, your location, reviews, a call button and a link straight through to your website. It also allows other people to like and follow you without needing to be your friend first, which matters a great deal when you are trying to reach new customers rather than just people you already know.
A quick step by step to get it right
If you are setting up a new page or fixing up an existing one, here is a simple order to work through it in.
1. Decide on your business name first, exactly as it appears on your signage, invoices and website, and use that as your starting point.
2. Search that name across Facebook, Instagram and any other platform you plan to use, so you know straight away if it is available or already taken.
3. Choose your username to match your business name as closely as possible. If it is taken, add something small and sensible, like your suburb or town, rather than random numbers.
4. Set up a business page rather than a personal profile or a group, so you get access to insights, ads, a website link and all the proper business tools.
5. Fill in your details fully, including your logo, cover photo, opening hours, location and a link to your website, so your page looks complete and trustworthy from day one.
6. Check your profile url once your username is set, and make sure it is clean and easy to read before you start sharing it anywhere.
7. Connect it all to your website, more on exactly how below.
Connecting it all to your website
Once your social profiles are set up properly, with the right username and the right type of page, connecting them to your website becomes the easy part. You can add simple icons or links in your website footer or header that lead straight to your social pages, and in turn, your social bios can link back to your website. This creates a smooth loop between the two. Someone who finds you on Instagram can click through to book or enquire on your site, and someone who lands on your website can click through to see your latest posts and get a feel for your business.
Getting these small details right at the start might feel fiddly, but it sets a strong foundation. It means every new customer who goes looking for you online finds the same business, the same name and the same story, no matter where they land first.