The 5-5-5 and 50/30/20 rules explained

The 5-5-5 rule

A quick daily habit. People tell it a few ways, but it usually means:

• Like 5 posts
• Comment on 5 posts
• Reply to or talk with 5 people

For a local business, do it with local people: customers, the shop next door, community pages.

The 50/30/20 rule

A guide to what you post. Versions differ, but it's roughly:

What that looks like in a week

• 2 posts of your work and team
• 1 helpful tip
• 1 post that asks for the job

Should you follow them?

• Yes, as a start, if you don't know what to post
• Don't count percentages
• Real work beats a perfect mix
• If you only do one thing, post real jobs and reply to people

More: how often to post and what to post when it's quiet.

General advice for local businesses, November 2026. These are popular rules of thumb, not official standards.