How to Post on Facebook - The Ultimate Beginner's Guide

So, you've finally decided to dive into the world of Facebook? Welcome to the party! Whether you're looking to reconnect with old friends, share your life updates, or promote your business, knowing how to post on Facebook is your first step to making the most of the platform.

Don't worry if you feel like your parents trying to work a smartphone—we've all been beginners once.

 I will walk you through everything you need to know about creating your first Facebook post and beyond. Let's get started!

Understanding Facebook posts

Facebook is all about sharing—whether it's a quick thought, a funny meme, or a big life update. But not all posts are created equal! Different formats help you express yourself uniquely and engage your audience more effectively. Before we cover how to post on Facebook and the various types of posts available to you, let’s quickly define what a Facebook post is.

What is a Facebook post?

Let's quickly cover the 'what' before we jump into the 'how.' A Facebook post is any content you share on the platform—whether it's a simple text update (also called a status update), photos, videos, polls, links to websites, or events. These posts appear in your friends' News Feeds and on your Page.

Think of posts as your voice in the Facebook world. They're how you communicate, share, and engage with friends, family, and followers across the platform.

Types of Facebook posts

Facebook offers several types of posts to keep your content fresh and engaging:

1. Text posts (The OG status update 💬)

Sometimes, simple is best! A text post lets you share your thoughts, updates, or hot takes with your Facebook friends—no photos or videos needed. Whether it's a quick life update, a funny observation, or a question to spark engagement, a well-crafted text post can still grab attention in a busy feed.

2. Photo posts 📸

These are for when you want to show, not just tell. You can share a single photo to highlight a special moment or upload multiple images to create an album—perfect for showcasing your latest adventure, a behind-the-scenes look at your business, or that scrumptious meal you just cooked.

3. Video posts 🎥 

Want to share your best moments in motion? Upload your videos directly to Facebook, whether it’s your friend’s embarrassing dance moves, an important announcement, or a product demonstration for your business.

4. Link posts 🔗

Got something worth reading? Share articles, guides, or must-see websites directly on Facebook. Whether it’s industry news, a trending story, or your latest blog post, link posts help spark discussions and keep your audience informed. Add a caption to give context, ask a question to encourage engagement, and watch the clicks roll in.

5. Live video posts 🔴

Live videos let you broadcast in real time, making them perfect for sharing updates, hosting Q&As, or giving your audience a behind-the-scenes look at your world. Whether you're a business answering customer questions live, an influencer sharing an exciting event, or just someone with something to say, going live creates authentic, unfiltered interactions. Plus, viewers can comment as you stream, turning your broadcast into a real-time conversation! 

Note that you don’t create Live videos as regular posts. Instead, when you go Live, Facebook streams it in real time. Once your Live ends, Facebook automatically saves it as a video post on your profile or Page.

6. Story posts ⏳ 

Got something fun, random, or just not forever-post-worthy? That’s what stories are for. These temporary posts vanish after 24 hours, making them perfect for quick updates, behind-the-scenes moments, or that slightly embarrassing but hilarious clip you don’t want living on your profile forever. If you’re a business, use them to share promos or just let people know what you’re up to that day.

7. Poll posts 📊

Engage your followers by asking fun or insightful questions and collecting their opinions in real time. Whether settling a debate (pineapple on pizza—yes or no? 🍍🍕), getting feedback on a new product idea, or just sparking conversation, polls are a quick and interactive way to keep your audience involved. Plus, they make decision-making way easier.

8. Reels post 🎞️

Reels are short, snappy videos designed to grab attention fast. They take up the entire screen, play automatically, and are heavily pushed by Facebook’s algorithm, meaning more chances for your content to go viral. Whether it's a quick tip, a behind-the-scenes look, or a fun trend, reels are your ticket to more engagement.

Each post type plays a role, so mix them up to keep things fresh. Since the brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, and attention spans average just 8.25 seconds, visual content like photos and videos is your best bet for increasing Facebook engagement.

How to post on Facebook

You can choose to post via desktop or mobile. I’ll show you how to do both, starting with regular Feed posts and then going on to stories, reels, and Live videos:

Posting from a desktop

1. Log in to your Facebook account. At the top of your News Feed or your profile Page, click the "What's on your mind?" box.

2. The box will expand into a post creation area. Type your message in the text field.

To create a link post, copy its URL from the address bar. Paste the copied URL into the text box. Facebook will automatically generate a link preview, including an image, title, and description. Once Facebook generates the preview for your link, you can delete the URL from the text box if you'd prefer a cleaner look for your post. The preview will remain intact and clickable for your audience.

3. If you want to add photos or videos instead, click on the images icon.

4. When you're ready to publish, click the blue ‘Post’ button at the bottom.

For those using Facebook for business purposes, the process is similar when posting on your Facebook Business Page. The main difference is that you'll need to ensure you're posting as your Page rather than your profile.

Pro tip 🛎️ When crafting your post, keep in mind that shorter posts (around 40-80 characters) tend to get more engagement than lengthy ones. People scrolling through their feeds prefer content they can consume quickly!

Posting from a mobile device

1. Open the Facebook app on your device. At the top of your News Feed, tap where it says, "What's on your mind?"

2. Type your text update.

If you want to create a link post, paste the site’s URL in the text box. Once the preview pops up, delete the URL from the text box to neaten your caption.

3. To add photos or videos from your phone, tap ‘Photo,’ ‘Video,’ or the camera icon. From there, tap ‘Next.’

4. When finished, tap ‘Post’ in the top right corner.

The Facebook app makes it incredibly easy to share content on the go, whether at a concert, traveling, or just having coffee with friends. It's particularly convenient for sharing photos and videos directly from your phone's gallery.

Posting a Facebook story

Posting stories on Facebook is quite similar on mobile and desktop. Here's a quick guide:

1. Launch the Facebook app on your mobile device or desktop.
2. Tap the ‘Create story’ button at the top of your News Feed.

3. Upload a photo or video, take one using your camera, or write text.

4. Editing Facebook stories on a desktop can be tricky, as the platform's features are more optimized for mobile use. You can, however, add text and rotate the story. Click ‘Share to story’ when done.

If you’re posting from your mobile phone, you can add music, stickers, GIFs, text, or filters to make your story more engaging. Once satisfied, tap ‘Share’ to add it to your story. Your story will be visible for 24 hours.

Posting a Facebook reel

On desktop:

1. Tap the ‘Reels’ tab under the Facebook status bar.

2. Next, click on ‘Create reel.’

3. You can now add your video and click ‘Next’ to trim your video if necessary.

4. Then, you can add your video description, tag people, enable remixing, and adjust who sees your post. Hit ‘Publish’ when done!

On mobile:

1. Go to your Facebook profile and tap on ‘Reel.

2. Tap the camera icon to record a new reel or upload a pre-recorded video from your gallery.

3. Customize with music, effects, text overlays, or filters to enhance the reel. Click ‘Next’ afterward.

4. Next, write a caption for your reel, tag people if you want, and set your audience (public, friends, or custom).

5. Hit the ‘Share now’ button and your reel will go live!

Posting a Facebook Live video on a desktop

1. Open Facebook on your desktop browser. Click on the ‘Live video' option on your News Feed or the Page where you want to go live. That will take you to the Facebook Live producer.

2. You must then set up your stream: Configure your camera and microphone settings. You can add a title, description, and tags to your live video. Use the Live Producer tools to add polls, questions, or graphics to make your stream more engaging.
3. Look for the ‘End live video’ button within the Facebook Live Producer interface to end the stream. After that, you can save or share the live stream as a regular video.

Posting a Facebook Live video on a mobile

Remember, you can't pre-create a Live video post on Facebook. Instead, you need to go Live first, and Facebook will automatically save the broadcast as a video afterward. 

1. Go to the ‘Live’ tab on your Facebook personal or Business Page.

2. Set up your Live stream: Write a description for your live video to inform viewers about the topic. Choose your audience (public, friends, or specific groups).

3. Tap ‘Go Live’ when you’re ready to begin streaming. Don’t forget to engage with viewers by responding to comments and questions during the stream!
4. Tap 'Finish' to end the Live video. You can then save or share the stream as a regular video.

Additional features for Facebook posts

Wondering how to post on Facebook for maximum impact? Don’t just drop a post and hope for the best—Facebook gives you tools to boost visibility and engagement! Tag people to expand your reach, add a location to attract local eyeballs, or even schedule posts so you can stay consistent without being glued to your screen. Here’s how to make the most of it.

How to tag people and Pages

Tagging is a great way to connect with friends and other Pages on Facebook:

1. While writing your post, type the @ symbol followed by the person's name or Page to include them in the text.
2. A drop-down menu will appear with matching names
3. Select the person or Page you want to tag.

You can also tag people via the ‘Tag people’ button on the mobile app and desktop menus.

4. Continue writing your post.
5. When published, Facebook notifies the tagged people or Pages you’ve tagged them.

Tagging can increase the reach of your posts since they may appear in the News Feeds of the tagged person's friends as well. It's a small detail, but learning how to post on Facebook with features like tagging can make a big difference. Just don't go overboard with tagging—nobody likes being tagged in irrelevant content!

Using hashtags effectively

Yes, hashtags aren't just for Instagram and Twitter—they work on Facebook too! When you're figuring out how to post on Facebook for more reach, don't skip the hashtags—they can help more people find your content.

1. Include relevant hashtags in your post by typing the # symbol followed by keywords
2. Keep hashtags short and specific
3. Use about 1-3 hashtags per post on Facebook (unlike Instagram, where more is often better)
4. If you’re a business, consider creating branded hashtags like Strongbow did for World Bartender Day. Hashtags help categorize your content and make it discoverable to people interested in that topic.

Adding locations to your posts

Location tagging adds context to your posts and helps friends or potential customers know where you are. It’s a smart move if you’re learning how to post on Facebook in a way that boosts visibility—especially for local reach.

1. When creating a post, click the ‘Check-in’ option on mobile or desktop.

2. Start typing the location's name and select the correct place from the dropdown menu. Your location will appear next to your name or your business’s name.

3. Finish your post as usual and publish.

Scheduling posts for later

Planning ahead? Facebook allows you to schedule posts for future publication—perfect if you’re learning how to post on Facebook more strategically. Just note that scheduling is only available for Facebook Pages, not personal profiles. If you're using a Business Page:

1. Access the scheduling feature by navigating to your Page's sidebar and selecting ‘Meta Business Suite.’

2. From there, click ‘Create post’ to make a regular Feed post, ‘Create reel’ to post a reel, or ‘Create story’ for a story post.

3. From there, add your post text and photos or videos as usual. Then, enable the scheduling feature by toggling on ‘Set date and time.’ Click on ‘Schedule’ to publish.

This feature is handy for business owners who want to maintain a consistent posting schedule or prepare content in advance. Creating a content calendar can help you plan your posts strategically and avoid the worst time to post on Facebook.

How do you take it to the next level?

Once you've mastered the basics of posting on Facebook, you should explore more advanced options, like how to advertise your business on the platform or learn how to promote on Instagram and get Instagram followers as part of your broader social media strategy.

For businesses, Facebook offers powerful advertising tools to reach your target audience precisely. The good news? If you're a beginner in 2025, you're lucky because you can leverage the power of AI to do the heavy lifting for you.

With platforms like Madgicx, you don't have to get overwhelmed by learning multiple tools from scratch. Instead, you get one powerful platform to manage your Facebook ads with AI-powered ad creation, optimization, and analytics tools.

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• Ad creation - The AI Ad Generator turns a simple product photo or ad reference into multiple high-quality Facebook and Instagram ads in seconds. 
• Intelligent optimization - AI Marketer gives you instant, data-driven optimization tips based on your ad account insights—ready to apply with a single click.
• Analytics - The Business Dashboard shows all your key metrics in one place for a clear, no-nonsense view of your campaign performance.

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