Social media may have started as a space to share memes and adorable pet photos, but it’s so much more now. One of the biggest shifts is the rise of social media marketing. Wherever your smartphone takes you, you’ll find your favorite brands. And in many cases, their content is like a slideshow of your college roommate’s vacation photos: pretty, but not very engaging.
Marketing on social media isn’t as simple as posting photos of your products and demanding “buy now.” More than ever, customers care about values like authenticity and relatability when engaging with content. Come across as too salesy or out of touch, and you might end up with lackluster engagement — or worse, backlash.
But keeping up with social media trends isn’t easy, even if you’re chronically online. That’s why you need a few social media tricks up your sleeve. There are hacks for everything, from filming viral TikTok dances (it’s harder than it looks) to writing thought pieces. These tips will help you bring your A-game to social media and woo customers with top-notch content.
Content production hacks
Social media algorithms are always hungry for content, and they tend to reward accounts that feed their appetites. Posting regularly throughout the week will help you show up more often in your audience’s feeds.
But creating a steady stream of content is often easier said than done. Even if you only post twice a week, you’ll still need 104 fresh ideas per year — a bit daunting! Here are a few shortcuts to keep the content flowing.
Batch content creation strategies
Professional bakers often prepare cookies in huge batches: 500 chocolate chip cookies one day, then 300 gingerbread the next. Content batching works the same way.
Get started by picking a few “flavors” of content. These will be your core topics. Then, brainstorm and create several pieces of content for each. For example, you might film a series of how-to videos for different products. Instead of posting them all in one go, stick them all in the metaphorical freezer to share later. This tactic lets you do all the research and production at once, saving time and energy.
Tools for efficient content planning
The days of relying on handwritten to-do lists are mostly gone. Now, it’s all about using content planning software to stay organized.
Look for a project management platform that lets you map out your content creation. Asana, Monday, and Trello are popular options. Or, you could join a dedicated social media management platform like Buffer or Hootsuite.
This software also lets you add your colleagues, so you can keep an eye on their progress. That way, you’ll never have to wonder if Jane posted on TikTok or if Mark finished this week’s Facebook posts.
Creating a content calendar
Theoretically, you could post content whenever you feel like it — there’s no social media police, after all. But this chaotic approach can make it difficult to get into a routine. You might accidentally go weeks without posting or share too frequently.
Avoid this issue by developing a content calendar. Your social media schedule helps you plan exactly what you’ll post and when you’ll do it. Effective content calendars typically include:
- A brief description of each post
- Publication date
- Person in charge of the content
- Status (drafting, editing, complete, etc.)
- A link to the completed post
Many websites offer free content calendar templates, but if you don’t want to go digital for this social media trick, use an old-fashioned whiteboard calendar. Just make sure your entire team can easily access and update the schedule.
Repurposing content across platforms
Developing a new Facebook post and a TikTok video and Instagram stories every day is a recipe for burnout. Conserve your energy by looking for ways to recycle content for different platforms.
This social media trick takes a little strategic thinking. For example, it’s relatively easy to turn a long YouTube video into several TikTok videos. But mashing together individual TikToks into a single narrative is much harder. In other words, start with a big idea instead of trying to stitch random content together later.
Quick content generation techniques
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are the ultimate hack for generating content ideas. A 2024 SurveyMonkey study found that 45% of marketers are already using this technology to brainstorm content.
You don’t need extensive AI training to get started. Just fire up ChatGPT or Microsoft CoPilot and tell it a little about your brand. Then, ask it to suggest topics for your social media posts. For example, you might input, “Suggest 10 quirky skits for TikTok videos about hiking gear.” Once you’ve got a few great ideas, start planning content production with your team.
Just don’t get too carried away. Many customers strongly dislike AI and mistrust businesses that blatantly use it. If you share AI-generated photos or videos — especially ones with wonky faces or six-fingered hands — you risk hurting your reputation.
Of course, you can also create ideas with good old-fashioned brainpower. Herd your team into the conference room, energize them with coffee, and give everyone a few minutes to write down as many ideas as they can. They won’t all be winners, but you’re sure to get a few gems.
Leveraging user-generated content
Sharing customer testimonials and other user-generated content (UGC) can lighten your team’s load. It’s also your secret weapon for building social proof. According to an EnTribe survey, 86% of respondents trust brands more when they post UGC.
Some customers love your brand so much that they’ll create UGC without any prompting. But offering incentives can inspire more passive clients to join the fun. Take LEGO, for instance. The toy company encourages users to submit ideas for new LEGO sets, such as treehouses and houseboats. The top innovators get the chance to collaborate with LEGO designers and sign autographs for fans.
Audience targeting tricks
Use the following social media marketing strategies to create tailored content that genuinely interests your target audience.
Understand social media algorithms
Algorithms are the all-powerful bits of code that control each user’s social media feed. You may have heard people make comments like “My algorithm just shows me cat videos” or “Huh, my algorithm never shows me that influencer.”
Every social media platform has its own algorithm. Each operates slightly differently, but their inner workings are mysterious — like Mr. Krabs in Spongebob Squarepants, these companies are fiercely protective of their secret sauces.
The social media trick here is simple: research. Stay up to date with algorithm updates by reading informative articles and watching videos online. These resources will help you understand how social media platforms rank content.
Define your ideal audience persona
Ideally, every customer in the world would clamor to buy your products or services. But unless you’re selling the secret to immortality, that’s going to be pretty tough. Your brand probably appeals to much more specific audiences.
Analyze your customer base for behavioral and demographic patterns. These trends will help you create personas, or semi-fictional characters who embody your sub-audiences.
For example, a fashion retailer’s personas may include:
- Ambitious Amy, a 27-year-old attorney who’s obsessed with work wear and earns six figures
- College Carly, a nursing major who loves wearing crop tops and quirky sandals to music festivals
This might seem like a random creative writing exercise, but personas can help you customize your content effectively.
Try niche targeting techniques
As the example personas above demonstrate, your audience likely includes several niches. Here are a few strategies to help you create laser-focused social media posts for each:
- Collaborate with influencers within each niche
- Create location-specific content, especially if you have multiple storefronts
- Use social listening tools to see what different groups are talking about online
Use platform-specific targeting tools
Every platform has built-in target tools to help you connect with your audience. For instance, Instagram Insights lets you track many follower metrics, including:
- Age ranges
- Gender
- Interactions
- Top cities and countries
Use this data to study your followers and tailor your content accordingly. For example, 30-something-year-old women may gravitate toward career-oriented or parenting posts. But for Gen Z, it’s all about the memes. Just make sure you maintain a consistent brand identity no matter what you post.
Build engagement strategies for different audience segments
Your audience isn’t a monolith, so don’t treat them like one. Experiment with different tactics to see what appeals to each segment. One group might love interactive quizzes, while another is eager to voice their opinions in the comment section.
Analyze and refine audience targeting
Even the savviest marketers don’t always nail their targeting on the first try. Luckily, every social media platform has built-in analytics tools to help you track your performance. Use them to see what’s working, what’s falling flat, and where you can improve your approach.
Create content that resonates with specific demographics
As you learn more about your audience, you can develop increasingly relevant content for them. This social media trick is basically a marketing superpower — not quite as thrilling as telepathy, but still effective!
Let’s say you run a pet supply business, and lots of senior dog owners buy your products. When you survey these clients, you discover they’re very concerned about their pets’ mobility and health. As a result, your social media could feature supplement reviews and tips for helping elderly pets get around.
Engagement boosting techniques
You work hard on your content — sometimes really hard — so it’s only natural to want people to actually, you know, interact with it. Use these social media tricks to rack up the likes, comments, and shares.
The 5-5-5 rule for social media engagement
Don’t just post your content and immediately log off. Social media marketing is about engaging in conversations, not just shouting your message at random bystanders.
Set yourself up for success by following the 5-5-5 rule:
- Focus on five social media platforms instead of joining every single one.
- Interact in five ways every day. This might involve responding to comments or reposting content from influencers you admire.
- Monitor five key metrics, such as conversion rate and follower growth.
The 5-5-5 rule is the holy grail of social media tricks. These strategies will help you strike the right balance between producing content and building your online community.
Create interactive content
If you’ve ever spent hours answering Buzzfeed quizzes, you already understand the appeal of interactive content. There’s something incredibly addictive about answering questions about yourself and getting personalized results.
Give your followers the same rush with interactive social media posts. For example, the American Kennel Club uses Instagram stories to create educational quizzes about various dog breeds. This content is much more engaging than simply posting dog facts.
Use visual storytelling
Social media is inherently visual. Sure, platforms like X and Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram Threads allow you to share purely textual posts. But users are often more drawn to vibrant photos and videos, especially when they tell fascinating stories.
Take advantage of this trend by using visuals to grab attention. This can be as simple as sharing photos of your team volunteering for a community organization. Or, you could film customers talking about how your products have influenced them.
Time your posts for maximum visibility
Timing is everything for social media. Research when your audience is most likely to be online so you can post at the perfect time. LinkedIn users, for example, typically log in during weekday business hours — after all, they’re likely job searching or networking with industry peers! Meanwhile, YouTube gets more views in the evening when people are relaxing at home.
Hashtag strategies that work
Marketers sometimes treat hashtags like an afterthought or just sprinkle in a few random words. But these little snippets matter! The right hashtags help customers find your content and join your little corner of the internet.
Consider creating a unique hashtag for your brand to link all your content. This is a tiny social media trick, but it’s powerful! The app Sniffspot uses the hashtags #sniffspot and #sniffspots in many of its Instagram posts, building brand recognition. It also uses relevant hashtags, such as #privatedogpark and #reactivedog, that pet owners might search for.
Community building tactics
Your followers already have one thing in common: they like your brand. Deepen their connections by actively nurturing a sense of community among them. Here are a few ways:
- Invite fans to give feedback about new product releases
- Get excited about UGC and share it with your audience
- Use polls and surveys to gather your followers’ opinions
These simple strategies can boost loyalty and cause your engagement to soar.
Respond and interact with followers
Social media users want to interact with brands, not get blasted with ads. Spend a few minutes every day replying to your followers’ comments and content. These responses will make your customers feel seen and reduce the risk that they’ll perceive you as another faceless corporation.
Platform-specific social media tricks
Every social media platform has its own vibe and expectations. TikTok users often love absurd or silly videos — just look at the wild success of Nutter Butter’s surreal content. But if Nutter Butter posted those nightmarish cookie videos on LinkedIn, they might be met with crickets or even scorn.
Adapting your strategies to each platform is essential. Here are a few social media tricks and tips to help you thrive on every channel.
Facebook marketing hacks
With over three billion active users, Facebook is a must-have marketing tool. Get the most out of it with these tips.
Organic reach optimization
Even the best Facebook posts won’t help your brand if nobody sees them. Use these tricks to reach more users:
- Create unique and informative captions for every post
- Facebook wants to keep people on the platform, so don’t exclusively share external links
- Post consistently to get the algorithm’s attention
Group engagement strategies
Facebook allows businesses to create Groups related to their brands. These communities let you interact with your fans on a more personal basis without the pressure of selling anything.
As you build your Group, establish clear rules from the get-go. That way, members are less likely to bicker or post inappropriate content. You should also commit to sharing valuable content several times a week to keep the community active and engaged.
Facebook Live tips
The Facebook Live feature lets you broadcast live video from anywhere. The platform rewards this type of content by pushing it to the top of the news feed and notifying your followers that you’ve gone live.
Be sure to use quality technology — this isn’t the time for unstable WiFi or crackly microphones. And be sure to interact with your audience’s comments so your livestream isn’t a boring monologue.
Instagram growth techniques
Instagram is another wildly popular platform, boasting two billion active users. Build an enthusiastic following with these social media tricks.
Reels and Stories optimizations
Instagram has several types of content, including short-form videos (Reels) and temporary content that disappears after 24 hours (Stories). Focus on creating strong hooks for your Reels so viewers don’t scroll away. Stories should also be intriguing, but they can be less polished.
Visual storytelling
It’s all about the visuals on Instagram. Choose images and videos that will make your audience feel something, such as awe-inspiring nature photos or vulnerable behind-the-scenes chats with your founder.
Hashtag research
Free tools like Flockler and Talkwalker can help you research and generate the best hashtags for your Instagram captions. Stick to 5-10 hashtags per post to maximize your reach without coming across as spam.
LinkedIn professional networking tips
LinkedIn is filled with career-oriented people eager to chat about their industries. Appeal to them with these strategies.
Content positioning
Forget about aggressive sales techniques. LinkedIn is all about building authentic relationships, not pushing products. Focus on producing valuable content, such as:
- Client success stories
- Commentary on the latest industry news or trends
- Personal anecdotes and lessons learned
- Upcoming events, both in-person and online
Thought leadership social media tricks
Build your authority by sharing expert insights backed by research and personal experience. For example, you could publish posts about how to ethically and responsibly use AI in your industry.
TikTok content creation strategies
TikTok caters to a younger crowd, so focus on creating fun and memorable content. Here are a few social media tricks to help you get started.
Trend participation
On this platform, viral sounds and phrases — like the already outdated “very demure” — come and go at lightning speed. Follow top creators in your niche and check out the Explore tab to find the latest trends. Then, participate in them if they fit your brand.
Viral content techniques
There’s no foolproof way to go viral on TikTok, so there’s no easy social media trick to follow here. However, using trending hashtags and sounds can increase your visibility on users’ For You pages and push your content to different accounts.
X and BlueSky engagement strategies
X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky are perfect for sharing short-form marketing content. Here’s how.
Original posts
Like LinkedIn, these platforms prioritize meaningful content over sales-y language. Use them to share industry commentary, relevant memes, and news.
Reposts and quote posts
You can also repost or respond to other users’ content. This approach can help you make connections and join conversations within your niche.
Trending topics
Check out the Explore page on Bluesky and the Trending page on X to see what people are talking about. Hop on the topics that make sense for your business to get new eyes on your content.
Budget-friendly social media tricks
Social media marketing is as expensive as you make it. Sure, you could shell out thousands to collab with famous influencers or buy the fanciest cameras. But these expenses aren’t necessary!
Here are a few affordable social media marketing hacks:
- Focus on creating low-cost content, such as a time-lapse of your team packaging products or informal customer testimonials.
- Take advantage of free design and editing tools like CapCut (for TikTok) and Canva (for images).
- Research the best times to post so you can expand your reach.
- Invest in micro-budget advertising tactics, such as partnering with nano-influencers who have small followings.
- Encourage your community to create UGC.
- Promote your social media accounts on your email list.
Social media security and best practices
While social media marketing can be incredibly fun and creative, it’s still part of your business. That means you need to protect your customers and your reputation.
Account protection tips
Use multi-factor authentication to protect your accounts, and only give the login information to a few team members. These easy strategies reduce the risk of getting hacked.
Managing multiple accounts
Use social media software like Constant Contact to centralize your login information and post content across platforms quickly.
Avoiding common social media pitfalls
Protect your business’s image by steering clear of these hazards:
- Don’t post content that customers may perceive as insensitive or offensive.
- Don’t share random or low-quality content just for the sake of posting.
- Don’t push sales too hard — relationships over profit, always.
- Don’t forget to respond to comments.
Building a consistent brand voice
While you’ll need to adapt your content for different platforms, all your content should still be 100% you. Use the same color palettes and styles across accounts so your customers can recognize you wherever you go.
Handling negative feedback
It’s no secret that the internet is full of negative comments and reactions. Always respond politely to valid critiques, but don’t get bogged down by petty comments. Keep a positive mindset, never react in anger, and take negative feedback as an opportunity to improve your product or customer service.
Make a splash with these social media tricks
Social media marketing has unlimited potential to grow your business, no matter which platforms you’re on. This guide has only just scratched the surface of social media marketing, so keep experimenting and adapting.
Want more social media tips and tricks? Join our Constant Contact Community to learn from other small business owners!
