30 Proven Strategies for Growing Your Business on Social Media

“30 proven strategies for growing your business on social media with actionable tips and tools like Wishpond.”

Social media is no longer optional for businesses looking to grow—it’s a must-have tool for connecting with your audience, building brand awareness, and driving conversions. Whether you’re a small or established business, using social platforms effectively can make all the difference.

This blog will explore 30 actionable strategies for growing your business using social media. Each tip is practical, results-driven, and ready to implement. Let’s get started.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #1. Choose the Right Platforms

One of the businesses’ most significant mistakes is trying to be everywhere at once. Each social media platform has its audience and strengths. For example, Instagram and Pinterest are highly visual and great for brands with appealing imagery, while LinkedIn caters to professionals, making it ideal for B2B marketing. TikTok and Snapchat resonate with younger audiences through short, engaging videos.

How to Choose:

• Define your target demographic. What age group, interests, or behaviors are you targeting?
• Research where your competitors are active and flourishing.
• Test platforms with a small content experiment to see which brings the best engagement.

Pro Tip: Don’t limit your resources by managing too many accounts. Focus on 2-3 platforms that align most with your business goals and audience.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #2. Set Clear Goals

You can’t succeed without a roadmap. Social media goals vary from brand awareness to direct sales. Setting clear objectives ensures your efforts aren’t wasted. Goals should follow the SMART principle: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Example Goals:

• Increase Instagram followers by 15% in three months.
• Generate 1,000 website clicks through Facebook ads in one quarter.
• Gain 200 sign-ups for a webinar through LinkedIn promotions.

Pro Tip: Tie every goal to specific outcomes, such as tracking conversions from social campaigns with tools like Wishpond.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #3. Optimize Your Profiles

Your social media profiles are often potential customers’ first point of contact. A poorly optimized profile can discourage visitors from engaging with your brand.

Key Optimization Steps:

• Use a professional profile picture (e.g., a logo or a branded image).
• Write a clear, concise bio explaining your offer and including a strong call-to-action (CTA).
• Add a clickable link directing users to a landing page, your website, or a promotional offer.

This image showcases an example of an optimized social media profile. It features:

1. Professional Branding: A recognizable logo as the profile picture.
2. Clear and Concise Bio: The bio highlights the brand’s unique selling point and includes a call-to-action (CTA) directing visitors to a clickable link.
3. Engaging Highlights: Organized Instagram Story Highlights provide quick access to important content, such as growth strategies, press mentions, and more.
4. Active Content: Posts reflect the brand’s identity, professionalism, and audience engagement.

This example demonstrates the importance of presenting a polished and compelling profile to attract and retain customers.

Pro Tip: Regularly update your profile to reflect new campaigns, seasonal changes, or fresh branding elements.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #4. Use Hashtags Strategically

Hashtags make your content discoverable. However, flooding your posts with irrelevant hashtags can hurt your credibility. Instead, research hashtags that are popular yet niche enough to target your ideal audience.

How to Use:

• Combine broad hashtags (#fitness) with niche ones (#beginnerworkouts).
• Monitor which hashtags perform well for your competitors.
• Don’t overload your post; stick to 5-10 relevant hashtags.

Pro Tip: Use branded hashtags to encourage user-generated content, such as #YourBrandStory.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #5. Create a Content Calendar

A content calendar helps you stay consistent, plan, and save time. Instead of scrambling for ideas daily, a calendar ensures you post with purpose. It also allows you to balance different types of content, like promotional posts, tips, and entertainment.

Steps to Build a Content Calendar:

1. Map out weekly or monthly themes.
2. Decide on content types (videos, carousels, live sessions).
3. Schedule posts at optimal times for your audience.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Wishpond or Buffer to automate your social media posts while maintaining consistency.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #6. Focus on Video Content

Videos dominate social media. They’re engaging, shareable, and favored by algorithms. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube prioritize video content, making it a must for growth.

Ideas for Video Content:

• Tutorials: Teach your audience how to use your product.
• Behind-the-scenes: Showcase your work culture or manufacturing process.
• Customer success stories: Share real testimonials in video form.

Pro Tip: Don’t overcomplicate production. Authentic, relatable videos often outperform overly polished ones.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #7. Run Paid Ad Campaigns

Organic growth is essential, but combining it with targeted paid ads accelerates your results. Paid campaigns let you reach specific audiences based on demographics, location, interests, or behaviors.

Steps to Create Effective Ads:

1. Define your objective (e.g., traffic, engagement, or sales).
2. Use compelling visuals and short, direct copy.
3. Split-test ads to identify what resonates most with your audience.

Pro Tip: Use Wishpond’s marketing solutions to seamlessly create and manage ad campaigns.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #8. Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)

UGC is content your customers create, such as reviews, photos, or videos. It builds trust and encourages other followers to engage with your brand.

How to Encourage UGC:

• Create a branded hashtag and ask customers to tag you in their posts.
• Offer incentives, like discounts or giveaways, for UGC submissions.
• Feature the best content on your profile to boost engagement.

This image is an excellent example of leveraging user-generated content (UGC). GoPro showcases a customer-submitted photo featuring their product in action, highlighting an adventurous and heartwarming moment. Key takeaways include:

1. Branded Hashtags: Tags like #GoProPets and #DogsOfInstagram encourage community contributions.
2. Engagement: Featuring the user’s handle (@lucamartinis) creates a personal connection and inspires others to participate.
3. Authenticity: The natural, unscripted content resonates with followers and builds trust.

This approach promotes the product and fosters a sense of community among users.

Pro Tip: Authentic UGC often outperforms paid influencer campaigns regarding trustworthiness.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #9. Host Giveaways and Contests

Giveaways are a fantastic way to gain followers and engage your audience. By offering an attractive prize, you encourage followers to share your content with their network.

How to Run a Contest:

1. Define the rules (e.g., “Follow us, tag three friends, and share this post to enter”).
2. Pick a prize relevant to your audience.
3. Announce the winner publicly to build credibility.

Pro Tip: Use Wishpond’s tools to efficiently create and track contest entries.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #10. Collaborate with Influencers

Influencers bring credibility and access to a targeted audience. You don’t need to hire celebrities; micro-influencers with smaller, engaged followings often yield better results.

How to Find Influencers:

• Look for creators who align with your brand values and audience.
• Use platforms like Upfluence or manually search hashtags in your niche.
• Collaborate on authentic campaigns that feel natural, not forced.

This image illustrates an effective collaboration with a micro-influencer. The creator promotes Sephora’s lip balm through an authentic, relatable review, sharing personal experiences with the product. Key aspects include:

1. Targeted Audience: The influencer speaks directly to beauty enthusiasts, aligning with Sephora’s target market.
2. Authenticity: The post feels genuine, highlighting specific product features like texture, scent, and shades.
3. Hashtags and Tags: Using branded hashtags (#sephoracollectionlove) and tags boost discoverability and reinforces brand identity.
4. Creative Freedom: The influencer integrates the product seamlessly into their unique style, making the content more engaging.

This collaboration demonstrates how working with influencers can enhance credibility and effectively connect with a niche audience.

Pro Tip: Offer influencers creative freedom to produce content in their unique style.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #11. Use Polls and Surveys

Interactive content like polls or surveys creates engagement and gives valuable insights into your audience’s preferences. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter make running polls easy.

Ideas for Polls:

• “Which new flavor should we launch next?”
• “What’s your biggest struggle with [industry problem]?”

This image is an excellent example of using polls to engage and gather insights from an audience. Dunkin’ uses an Instagram Story poll to ask followers whether they prefer “Team Sweet” or “Team Savory,” encouraging interaction while showcasing their menu items. Key takeaways include:

1. Interactive Engagement: The poll invites followers to participate, increasing engagement rates.
2. Targeted Insights: Responses help Dunkin’ understand customer preferences, which can inform future marketing or product decisions.
3. Direct Call-to-Action: The “Order Here!” link immediately allows followers to act, driving conversions.

This approach is a simple yet effective way to connect with your audience while simultaneously promoting your products.

Pro Tip: Use responses to create targeted content or improve your offerings.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #12. Post at Optimal Times

Timing can significantly impact your engagement rates. You are posting when your audience is active, which increases the likelihood of likes, comments, and shares.

How to Determine the Best Time:

• Use analytics tools from platforms like Instagram or Facebook.
• Experiment with posting at different times and track performance.

Pro Tip: Schedule your posts in advance using Wishpond to hit those sweet spots consistently.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #13. Share Customer Testimonials

Word-of-mouth remains one of the most vital marketing tools. Featuring genuine customer reviews or case studies demonstrates your product’s value.

How to Share Testimonials:

• Turn text reviews into eye-catching graphics.
• Post video testimonials for added authenticity.
• Share stories on Instagram or Facebook with direct purchase links.

Pro Tip: Encourage happy customers to leave reviews by offering small incentives.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #14. Monitor Analytics Regularly

Data doesn’t lie. Regularly tracking your social media performance ensures that your efforts are paying off and helps you refine your strategy. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer built-in analytics tools, but third-party options such as Google Analytics provide deeper insights.

Key Metrics to Monitor:

• Reach: The number of unique users who see your content.
• Engagement: Likes, comments, shares, and clicks.
• Conversions: Actions taken after seeing your posts, such as purchases or sign-ups.

Pro Tip: Use analytics to identify top-performing content and double down on similar formats or topics.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #15. Offer Exclusive Deals

Your social media audience follows you for a reason—reward them with exclusive promotions, flash sales, or early access to new products. These offers make your followers feel valued and encourage them to act quickly.

How to Implement:

• Post-limited-time offers in Stories or tweets to create urgency.
• Use promo codes tied to specific social platforms to track conversions.

Pro Tip: Highlight the exclusivity of the deal, such as “For Our Instagram Followers Only,” to create a sense of privilege.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #16. Go Live Regularly

Live videos are highly engaging because they feel personal and allow real-time interaction. They’re perfect for product launches, Q&A sessions, or behind-the-scenes glimpses.

Live Video Tips:

• Announce your live sessions ahead of time to generate interest.
• Choose a specific theme or topic to keep your audience engaged.
• Respond to comments or questions during the session to create a dialogue.

Pro Tip: Save your live videos and repurpose them as posts or highlights for added value.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #17. Invest in High-Quality Visuals

First impressions matter, especially on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. High-quality visuals capture attention and establish professionalism, making your brand stand out.

How to Create Stunning Visuals:

• Use tools like Canva or Adobe Spark for custom graphics.
• Hire a professional photographer for product shoots or team photos.
• Incorporate your brand colors, fonts, and logo consistently.

Pro Tip: Don’t just focus on quality—ensure your visuals align with your brand’s message and audience preferences.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #18. Engage in Conversations

Social media isn’t just a broadcasting tool; it’s a space for dialogue. Responding promptly to comments, mentions, and messages shows your audience that you care.

How to Engage:

• Use a friendly and approachable tone in your replies.
• Proactively join discussions in your niche by commenting on trending posts.
• Share user-generated content to show appreciation for your followers.

This image is a perfect example of a brand engaging in conversations to build rapport with its audience. McDonald’s uses a friendly and humorous tone to respond to a customer’s tweet, creating a playful exchange that feels personal and relatable. Key takeaways include:

1. Approachable Tone: The casual, witty reply mirrors the conversational style of social media, making the brand more relatable.
2. Customer Interaction: McDonald’s demonstrates attentiveness by replying directly, strengthening customer loyalty.
3. Brand Voice: The interaction reinforces McDonald’s fun and approachable personality, aligning with its brand image.

This approach shows how engaging directly with customers can create memorable moments that boost brand affinity.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Wishpond to manage and automate responses for efficiency.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #19. Highlight Milestones

Sharing your achievements humanizes your brand and gives your audience a reason to celebrate with you. Whether reaching a follower milestone, launching a new product, or winning an award, let your audience share the joy.

How to Celebrate:

• Create a thank-you post featuring your followers’ contributions.
• Host a giveaway or special promotion tied to the milestone.
• Share a story about the journey leading to the milestone.

This image is an excellent example of highlighting milestones to celebrate brand achievements and engage the audience. Zoom proudly announces reaching 1,000,000 registered users for its Learning Center, using the milestone to foster a sense of community and accomplishment. Key takeaways include:

1. Celebrating Growth: The post reinforces credibility and success, building trust with existing and potential users.
2. Strong Visual Impact: Simple yet bold text grabs attention, emphasizing the milestone.
3. Community Involvement: The celebration invites followers to feel part of the achievement, encouraging positive engagement.

Highlighting milestones like this showcases progress and strengthens your connection with your audience.

Pro Tip: Pair your milestone posts with strong visuals or videos for maximum impact.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #20. Test Different Content Types

Your audience isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither should your content be. Experimenting with various content types helps you understand what resonates best.

Content Ideas to Test:

• Carousels: Perfect for step-by-step guides or product features.
• Memes: Lighthearted humor that aligns with your brand tone.
• Long-form captions: Tell stories or share valuable insights.

Pro Tip: Regularly review your analytics to identify trends in content performance.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #21. Cross-Promote Your Channels

Your audience might follow you on one platform but not others. Cross-promoting your social channels increases visibility and helps grow your overall reach.

How to Cross-Promote:

• Add links to all your social profiles in your bio or website.
• Create posts encouraging followers to check out your other platforms.
• Offer exclusive content or promotions on specific platforms to drive traffic there.

Pro Tip: Use consistent branding across platforms to make it easier for followers to recognize your accounts.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #22. Provide Value with Free Resources

Social media users love valuable content. Free resources like guides, templates, or webinars can attract new followers while nurturing your existing audience.

How to Offer Freebies:

• Create a lead magnet, such as an eBook, and promote it on your profiles.
• Host free webinars to share industry insights or teach skills.
• Use landing pages from Wishpond to capture leads while providing valuable resources.

This image is an excellent example of providing value with free resources. The post offers a free e-guide, enticing followers to learn about renovating for love, lifestyle, and profit. Key takeaways include:

1. Lead Magnet: The e-guide is a valuable resource for attracting potential customers.
2. Engagement Call-to-Action: Asking users to comment “GUIDE” creates interaction and streamlines the lead capture process.
3. Clear Messaging: The post highlights the guide’s benefits and provides simple access instructions.

Free resources like this nurture your audience, help generate leads, and build trust with potential clients.

Pro Tip: Link your freebies to a specific business goal, such as growing your email list or driving website traffic.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #23. Align Content with Trends

Staying relevant is crucial in maintaining engagement. Monitor social media trends, seasonal events, or viral challenges and find creative ways to align them with your brand.

How to Stay Trendy:

• Follow influencers and competitors in your niche to spot trends early.
• Use trending hashtags to boost discoverability.
• Create timely content, such as holiday promotions or industry-specific events.

Pro Tip: Be authentic when participating in trends—forced attempts often backfire.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #24. Build a Community

Growing a social media presence isn’t just about numbers; it’s about fostering a loyal community. Creating a sense of belonging makes your followers more likely to engage and advocate for your brand.

How to Build Community:

• Start conversations with thought-provoking questions or polls.
• Highlight your followers’ stories or feature their content.
• Create exclusive groups or forums where your audience can connect.

Pro Tip: Consistently interact with your community to maintain a strong connection.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #25. Use Retargeting Ads

Most visitors won’t convert on their first visit to your website. Retargeting ads help you re-engage these users and guide them further down the sales funnel.

Steps for Effective Retargeting:

1. Use pixel tracking to capture website visitors.
2. Create ads that address objections or highlight benefits.
3. Offer incentives like discounts to encourage conversions.

Pro Tip: Platforms like Wishpond simplify retargeting campaigns with user-friendly tools.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #26. Tell Stories

Storytelling captures attention and builds emotional connections with your audience. Instead of just showcasing products, share the “why” behind your brand.

Story Ideas:

• The inspiration behind starting your business.
• Challenges your team has overcome.
• Customer success stories that highlight your product’s impact.

Pro Tip: Use Instagram or Facebook Stories for quick, engaging storytelling that disappears in 24 hours, creating urgency.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #27. Collaborate with Other Businesses

Partnerships with complementary businesses can help you reach new audiences without direct competition. It’s a win-win for both brands.

How to Collaborate:

• Co-host events or webinars.
• Create co-branded products or campaigns.
• Share each other’s content on social media.

Pro Tip: Choose businesses that share similar values and target audiences.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #28. Highlight Your Team

Humanizing your brand makes it relatable. Showcasing the people behind the scenes gives your audience a glimpse of your company’s culture and values.

What to Share:

• Employee spotlights or interviews.
• Fun moments or team-building activities.
• A “day in the life” video featuring your team members.

This image is an excellent example of highlighting your team to humanize your brand. Google shares an employee spotlight featuring Charan R., a data analytics apprentice, showcasing his role, skills, and learning journey. Key takeaways include:

1. Employee Storytelling: Sharing Charan’s personal and professional growth makes the brand relatable and inspiring.
2. Showcasing Culture: Highlighting Google’s commitment to upskilling and professional development reflects the company’s values.
3. Diversity and Inclusion: Featuring team members from various backgrounds demonstrates workplace inclusivity.

This type of content builds trust and engagement while giving your audience an inside look at your company’s culture and mission.

Pro Tip: Use these posts to highlight your brand’s mission and workplace diversity.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #29. Repurpose Old Content

Don’t let good content go to waste. Repurposing extends its lifespan and allows you to reach new audiences with minimal effort.

Ideas for Repurposing:

• Turn a blog post into an infographic.
• Create a video tutorial based on a written guide.
• Share snippets of webinars as bite-sized social posts.

Pro Tip: Regularly update and repurpose evergreen content to keep it relevant.

Growing Your Business on Social Media Strategy #30. Stay Authentic

Authenticity is the cornerstone of successful social media marketing. Today’s audiences value transparency and relatability over perfection.

How to Stay Authentic:

• Show your brand’s personality in every post.
• Share behind-the-scenes moments, even the less polished ones.
• Be honest about challenges or failures your business has faced.

Pro Tip: Focus on building relationships, not just sales, to foster genuine connections with your audience.

Conclusion: Transform Your Social Media Presence Today

Growing your business on social media doesn’t happen overnight, but with consistent effort and the right strategies, you can achieve significant results. From choosing the right platforms to running engaging contests and crafting authentic content, each of the 30 strategies outlined above offers a proven path to boosting your brand’s online presence and driving meaningful results.

However, success requires more than just a checklist—it demands the right tools and resources to streamline your efforts. Platforms like Wishpond provide an all-in-one solution for social media promotions, marketing automation, and lead generation. Whether you want to create social promotions, design high-converting landing pages, or run targeted ad campaigns, Wishpond’s social promotions tools and marketing executive solutions can help you achieve your goals.

If you’re looking for even more insights, explore these articles:

• Mastering Social Media Strategies: A Guide to Boosting Your Online Presence
• Social Media Marketing for Small Business.

Now’s the time to take action. Schedule a VIP demo with Wishpond today and see how their tools can transform your social media strategy. Don’t wait—start growing your business on social media and achieve the success you’ve been striving for!

FAQs

1. How often should I post on social media?

It depends on the platform. For example, posting daily on Instagram may work, but LinkedIn audiences prefer fewer, high-quality posts.

2. What’s the best way to measure social media ROI?

Track metrics like engagement rate, website traffic, leads generated, and sales conversions. Use tools like Wishpond for deeper insights.

3. Do I need to be active on every social platform?

No. Focus on platforms where your target audience is most active, and your content performs best.

4. How can I keep up with changing algorithms?

Stay informed by following social media blogs, attending webinars, or experimenting with your content to see what works.

5. Can I grow my business on social media without a budget?

Yes, but growth will be slower. Focus on organic strategies like engaging content, UGC, and collaborations to build your presence.