Your September Scroll-Stoppers Await 📲

The first week of September is here, and so are the fresh social updates, trends, and inspo to keep your feeds buzzing. From engagement benchmarks to can’t-miss content ideas, we’ve got everything you need to kick off the month strong.

• Meta moves worth knowing – the latest shifts from the Meta-verse

• September social holidays – dates that make posting a no-brainer

• Engagement rate decoded – what “good” really looks like on Instagram

• Reel inspo drop – a trend idea to spark your next scroll-stopper

What’s New in the Meta-verse

1. Managing Your DMs Just Got Easier

You can now sort and organize messages into folders, making it easier to keep track of customer questions, collabs, and conversations without losing anything in the scroll. This is a big win for business owners juggling busy inboxes.

2. Threads Now Supports Long-Form Posts

The app now allows longer posts, giving creators and businesses more space to tell stories, share insights, or break down information beyond quick updates. Think mini blogs, but built for social.

3. Picture-in-Picture Reels Are On The Way.

Soon, you’ll be able to keep watching a Reel while scrolling through your feed. It’s a feature designed for multitaskers, and could mean more eyes stay on your content for longer.

4. Instagram is Making Edits Easier To Use.

Not sure how to use the new editing tools? Instagram has launched a video series that explains it step-by-step, making it easier to level up your content without the tech headaches.

5. Instagram is Auto-Translating Videos.

The platform is rolling out automatic translations for videos, making your content more accessible worldwide. Early results show the translations are impressively accurate.

6. Instagram Shops just got a sales boost.

Business owners can add special promotions directly to their Instagram bios. It’s a simple way to drive more clicks and highlight sales to customers at a glance.

📅 September Social Media Holidays to Post About

If you’re looking for easy, engagement-friendly content this month, September is stacked with national days and quirky celebrations. Here’s what’s coming up, plus inspo for how different types of small businesses can join the fun:

National Cheese Pizza Day (Sept 5)

Yes, it’s cheesy—but that’s the point.

• Restaurants/pizzerias: Run a special deal or show your pie-making process.

• Retail: Post a “what’s your pizza personality?” poll for fun engagement.

• Gyms/fitness: Playfully remind followers that every slice can fit into balance.

International Day of Charity (Sept 5)

Spotlight giving back.

• Shops: Share a charity you’re donating a % of sales to that day.

• Restaurants: Partner with a local nonprofit for a dine-to-donate night.

• Service providers: Highlight volunteer work your team does in Rhode Island.

National Read a Book Day (Sept 6)

Invite followers to cozy up with a story.

• Bookstores: Share staff picks or run a book giveaway.

• Cafes: Create a “books & brews” post pairing your drinks with good reads.

• Retail: Style a flatlay with your products and your favorite fall reads.

National Grandparents Day (Sept 7)

Warm, nostalgic, and perfect for family-driven posts.

• Restaurants: Invite grandparents to dine with a discount or free dessert.

• Shops: Post a throwback photo with a “what did your grandparents love to buy?” caption.

• Fitness/wellness: Share inspiring stories of active grandparents in your community.

Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept 19)

Silly, but surprisingly fun for engagement.

• Bars/restaurants: Create a pirate-themed cocktail special.

• Retail: Post a Reel of staff “talking pirate” with product shoutouts.

• Fitness studios: Try a cheeky caption like “Time to plank… like a pirate.”

First Day of Fall (Sept 23)

The season everyone’s been waiting for (pumpkin spice and all).

• Cafes: Show off your fall drinks or pastries.

• Retail/boutiques: Drop a fall fashion lookbook.

• Wellness/fitness: Post “fall back into routine” motivation.

National Coffee Day (Sept 29)

One of the biggest social holidays of the year.

• Cafes: Offer a special, share latte art, or spotlight your roaster.

• Retail: Pair products with “morning coffee essentials.”

• Service-based businesses: Share your team’s favorite local coffee spots.

 📊What’s a “Good” Instagram Engagement Rate?

It’s the question every creator and business owner has asked at least once: is my engagement rate actually good? The short answer: it depends on your follower count.

Buffer recently crunched the numbers on 27 million Instagram posts and found that benchmarks shift by tier:

• 0–1K followers: ~5.2% engagement — small but mighty, thanks to close-knit audiences.

• 1K–5K followers: ~4.6% — consistency matters more than chasing big numbers.

• 5K–10K followers: ~4.1% — Reels boost reach, carousels drive engagement.

• 10K–50K followers: ~3.7% — double down on proven formats and series.

• 50K+ followers: 3–3.6% — growth slows, but reach scales into the thousands.

👉 The takeaway: don’t measure yourself against giant accounts. Compare within your tier, focus on consistent posting, and lean into the formats your audience actually responds to.

Explore the full benchmarks here →

–––––

🌊 Rhody Tip: Bring these benchmarks home by using what makes Rhode Island unique.

• Coffee shop? Post a Reel of your barista making a pumpkin latte with a cheeky “only in PVD” twist.

• Retailer? Carousel your fall must-haves against a Newport backdrop.

• Service-based biz? Share a quick behind-the-scenes clip from WaterFire or a Block Island day trip.

Engagement grows when your content feels both personal and hyper-local.

Got a burning social media question? Wondering how to get more engagement, what to post next, or if hashtags still matter? 🤔 Now’s your chance to pick a marketer’s brain – no consulting fee required! Drop your questions in our quick survey, and we’ll tackle the hottest topics in an upcoming newsletter. Whether it’s content creation, branding, or social media trends, we’ve got you covered.