Greek or English on Social Media in Cyprus? (Which is Better?)
It’s the #1 question every business owner in Cyprus asks: “Should I post in Greek, English, or… both?”
The most common answer you’ll hear is to do both in the same post. Write in Greek, add “///”, and then write it in English.
Here’s our professional opinion: That is a terrible approach.
The “Bilingual Post” is a Mistake
Trying to talk to everyone at once means you end up connecting with no one.
- It’s Messy: Your captions get long and cluttered. People get lazy and just scroll past.
- It’s Confusing: It confuses your brand identity. Are you local? Are you international? Nobody knows.
- It’s Ineffective: You’re watering down your message. The emotional connection you try to make in Greek is lost on the English-reader, and vice-versa.
The best solution is not to mix your messages. The best solution is to choose one primary language and master it.
Option 1: The Greek-First Strategy (Recommended for 90% of Businesses)
This is the winning strategy for almost every local business in Cyprus.
- Who is this for? Restaurants, cafes, retail shops, gyms, local services… any business that wants to win the local Cypriot market.
- Why it’s better: It builds deep, authentic trust. It shows you are a part of the community, not just selling to it. You connect with the biggest, most loyal, and highest-spending part of the market—the people who live here.
- But what about tourists/expats? This is a valid question, but you must win your home base first.
Option 2: The English-Only Strategy
This is a very specific, niche approach.
- Who is this for? This is only the right choice if your audience does not speak Greek.
- Good Examples: A hotel in Paphos that only markets to UK tourists. A B2B software company trying to go global from day one.
- The Risk: If you’re a local business (like a Nicosia restaurant) and you post only in English, you are actively telling the local market, “You are not my main customer.” It feels cold, and you will lose out to your competitor who makes the local community feel welcome.
Our Professional Recommendation: Start Greek, Then Expand.
Here is the strategy we recommend to 90% of our clients in Cyprus:
- Start with GREEK. Focus 100% of your energy on becoming the #1 brand for the local Cypriot market. Build your case studies, get your reviews, and grow your local fan base.
- Then, Expand. Once your business is strong and you have the funds, you can then target the English-speaking market. But you don’t do it by making your Greek posts messy. You do it with a separate, targeted strategy. This could mean running specific Facebook Ads only to English-speakers, or even launching a separate “English-version” account if you grow big enough.
Win your home first. Then, use that success to expand.
We Are Your Local Experts
This is the kind of local knowledge you can’t get from an international agency.
As a local social media agency in Cyprus, we live here. We are fluent in Greek and English, and we understand the culture. We build strategies that actually work in this unique market.
Want to learn more about our local team? Check out our About page.
Ready to talk to your customers in the right language?
Contact us today for a free, no-pressure chat.