The new year is a fresh start for your social media too. Once the Christmas posts are done, people are looking back on their year, making plans and resolutions, and trying to stick to Dry January. January is also famously quiet for lots of businesses, which makes showing up on social media even more important.
Here are 40+ New Year social media post ideas for small businesses, covering New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Dry January, Veganuary and the rest of January, plus a year in review carousel plan, captions and hashtags.
Your New Year content countdown
New Year's Eve is Thursday 31 December 2026, and New Year's Day is Friday 1 January 2027, which is also when Dry January and Veganuary begin. Plan your posts in early December and schedule them, so you can enjoy the break.
- 40+ post ideas
- Year in review carousel plan
- Ready-made captions
Key dates for New Year and January
January has more to post about than you might think. These are the dates worth planning around.
New Year's Eve post ideas
The last few days of the year are perfect for looking back and saying thank you.
Post your opening hours
Let people know when you're open over New Year and when normal hours return. Update your Google Business Profile too.
Share your year in review
A carousel of your best moments, biggest wins and favourite projects. There's a slide-by-slide plan further down.
Crown your product or service of the year
What sold the most or got booked the most? Celebrate it and thank the people who chose it.
Say thank you on video
A short, unpolished thank you from the team feels far more genuine than a graphic.
Ask about their plans
"Big night out or pyjamas and a film?" Light, fun polls get easy engagement.
Share your biggest lesson
A founder post about what the year taught you is the kind of honest content people remember.
New Year's Day post ideas
A Happy New Year message
Keep it short and warm, and schedule it in advance so you can enjoy the day.
Tease what's coming
New products, services, a refurb or a new team member? Give followers something to look forward to.
Share your goals for the year
Telling people what you're working towards brings them along for the ride.
A "we're back" post
When you reopen, let people know you're back and ready.
Dry January and Veganuary post ideas
Both start on 1 January and get people talking all month. Keep it supportive, never preachy.
Show off your alcohol-free options
Pubs, bars and restaurants: post your best mocktails and alcohol-free drinks. Plenty of people want somewhere to go that isn't all about drinking.
Share a recipe or swap
Easy recipes, healthy swaps or "what we're eating this week" posts suit food, health and wellbeing brands.
A Veganuary round-up
Highlight your vegan products or dishes in one easy-to-save post.
Cheer people on
A "how's everyone getting on?" check-in halfway through the month builds community.
Join in as a team
Is anyone on your team taking part? Share their progress. It makes your brand feel human.
Blue Monday and wellbeing post ideas
Blue Monday is a marketing invention rather than real science, so skip the "most depressing day of the year" jokes. Samaritans' Brew Monday on the same day is a much better angle.
Join Brew Monday
Encourage people to catch up with someone over a cuppa, and share your own team tea break.
Share a wellbeing tip
A small, practical tip linked to what you do, like getting outdoors, a stretch or a tidy workspace.
Post a feel-good story
A lovely customer review or a heart-warming moment from the year lifts everyone's feed.
Post ideas for a quiet January
January can be slow for sales, but people have more time to scroll and plan. Use it.
Run a January sale or offer
A "beat the January blues" offer can keep things ticking over in a quiet month.
Get people booking for spring
Trades, events and services can encourage early bookings while people are planning their year.
Teach something useful
How-to posts, tutorials and tips do well when people have time to read and save them.
Answer your most common questions
Turn your FAQs into a carousel or a series of short videos.
Ask December customers for reviews
Lots of people bought from you over Christmas. A gentle nudge now brings in reviews. Here's how to encourage more reviews.
New Year post ideas for your industry
A few ideas tailored to your sector.
Fitness and wellbeing
- A beginner-friendly January challenge
- New member offers and taster sessions
- Client progress stories, with permission
More: gym post ideas
Hospitality
- Your alcohol-free and mocktail menu
- Veganuary dishes and specials
- A Burns Night supper on 25 January
More: bar social media tips
Retail and ecommerce
- Your January sale
- New stock for the new year
- Storage and organisation for the January clear-out
More: retail post ideas
Hair and beauty
- "New year, new look" transformations
- January treatment offers
- Skincare after the party season
More: beauty salon post ideas
Trades and home services
- Home improvement plans for the year
- Winter checks, like boilers and gutters
- Book early for spring projects
More: builder post ideas
Professional services and B2B
- The Self Assessment deadline on 31 January
- Your predictions for the year ahead
- Planning tips for a strong first quarter
Plan your year in review carousel
A year in review carousel is one of the best posts you can share at New Year. Use these six slides as your plan, and if you're not sure what to count, our guide to measuring social media results has some ideas.
New Year captions you can use
Swap in your own details and they're ready to go.
What a year it's been ✨
Thank you for every order, booking, review and share. We couldn't do it without you.
Swipe through for our year in review.
See you in 2027!
Happy New Year from all of us 🎉
We've got big plans for 2027, and we can't wait to share them with you.
We're back open on [date], ready to help.
Here's to a brilliant year.
Doing Dry January? We've got you 🍹
Our alcohol-free menu is packed with drinks that are actually worth going out for.
Come in, catch up with friends and still feel great on Monday.
Book your table at the link in our bio.
New Year and January hashtags
Mix two or three of these with hashtags for your industry and location.
- #HappyNewYear
- #NewYearsEve
- #YearInReview
- #NewYear
- #FreshStart
- #DryJanuary
- #Veganuary
- #BrewMonday
- #BurnsNight
- #JanuarySale
New Year social media dos and don'ts
Do
- Plan and schedule your New Year posts in early December
- Share real numbers and real photos from your year
- Keep posting through January, even if it's quiet
- Be supportive of people doing Dry January or Veganuary
- Update your opening hours everywhere
Don't
- Lean on tired "new year, new me" clichés
- Shame people about drinking, eating or their bodies
- Joke that Blue Monday is the "most depressing day of the year"
- Disappear from social media until February
- Copy the same year in review template everyone else uses
New Year social media FAQs
When should I post my New Year content?
Plan it in early December and schedule it. Post your year in review between Christmas and New Year's Eve, and your Happy New Year message on 1 January.
Should I post on New Year's Day?
Yes, one short, warm message is plenty. Schedule it in advance so you don't have to think about it.
Is January a bad time to post on social media?
No. Sales can be quieter, but lots of people have more time to scroll and plan. It's a great month for helpful content and getting early bookings.
What should I post if I run out of ideas in January?
How-to tips, FAQs, behind the scenes and customer stories always work. Here's what to do when you run out of content ideas.
Can 99social create my New Year content?
Yes. We plan, design, write and schedule content for UK small businesses from £99+VAT a month, with key dates like New Year built in. See our social media management for small businesses.
