How do you outsmart competitors when you don’t even know what they’re up to?

In marketing, flying blind rarely ever works.

Here’s where competitive insights enter the scene. Think of them as your secret weapon for learning about your competitors’ best-performing campaigns, top audience segments, key strategies, and potential gaps.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the journey of how to gather competitive insights and make the most of them. We’ll also dig deeper into how you can supercharge your social media competitor analysis using top tools and perspectives.

8 powerful competitive insights to fuel your strategy and guide on how to get them

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#1. Market and industry insights

Understanding broader industry trends enables businesses to stay ahead of market shifts. Competitive analysis insights, combined with market research, can help refine brand positioning and target audience strategies.

Take a look at the different ways you can track market and industry insights connected to your competitors.

Market trends and consumer behavior

Track demand fluctuations, emerging trends, and customer preferences to better understand the current market trends. Your market research should also consider consumer behavior and economic factors to identify potential business opportunities.

Social media strategists can use these types of insights to get a good understanding of their competitors’ position in the market.

Evaluate key questions like:

• Who is the target audience for your competitors?
• What is the demand for the products/services offered by your competitors?
• What is the current market size and saturation level?
• When are customers more inclined to buy these products/ services?
• Are there new trends in the market that are slowly gaining momentum?
• Why do some customers prefer one brand over the other?

By analyzing these factors, you can tailor your offerings, marketing campaigns, and pricing strategies to better meet customer needs.

Industry benchmarking

Using performance insights about competitors, you can benchmark your brand against industry standards and identify areas for improvement.

AI-powered social media analytics tools like Socialinsider provide valuable competitive insights by analyzing social media trends, engagement rates, and content performance. Businesses can use data from Socialinsider to:

• Run a head-to-head social media competitive analysis;
• Benchmark against industry, competitors, or brands they admire;
• Discover their competitors’ weakest and strongest strategy points and gain a competitive advantage;
• Categorize social media content from competitors based on keywords, topics, or hashtagsIdentify social media best practices.

For example, retail brands can leverage Socialinsider to track the success of their competitors' seasonal campaigns.

After adding all of the competitor profiles in Socialinsider, go to the Posts section and use the search tab to find social media posts that contain keywords such as 'deal, ' 'Black Friday, ' or 'holiday sale.' To compare and benchmark the performance of these posts, categorize them using custom tags.

This helps businesses adjust inventory, refine promotions, and align marketing efforts with peak consumer demand periods.

Regulatory and economic changes

External factors such as new regulations, trade policies, or economic shifts can significantly impact market conditions. Always staying on top of the legislative changes and economic indicators enables businesses to:

• Adjust pricing strategies based on inflation or market shifts;
• Comply with industry regulations and avoid legal challenges;
• Anticipate market downturns and develop risk mitigation strategies.

New technologies and innovations

New technologies can disrupt industries and create new market opportunities. Businesses that stay ahead of technological advancements are the ones that gain a competitive edge.

#2. Competitor performance insights

Analyzing competitor performance across different channels provides a clearer picture of their market positioning and highlights areas of opportunity for your brand. These insights can reveal their strengths and weaknesses, helping you refine your own competitive strategies.

Take a look at the different ways you can gather competitor performance insights.

Competitor growth trends

Monitor competitors’ expansions, new product launches, acquisitions, communication strategies, and content pillars to get insights. The best way to stay ahead is to know exactly what the other players are up to.

Socialinsider provides an inside look into the content strategy of your competitors through AI content pillars. The tool uses AI to categorize posts across different platforms into strategic content themes.

To find the main content pillars of your competitors, add their social media profiles to Socialinsider. Then go to their profile → Click on content pillars.

You’ll find the AI-generated content pillars here. You can also analyze the performance of each pillar to identify which drives higher engagement.

Financial performance

Evaluate your competitors’ financial health to fine-tune your own pricing strategies and assess the industry’s overall growth potential.

You should look into your competitors’ revenue reports, pricing models, and funding rounds.

By analyzing insights from competitors’ strategies, you can better understand their position in the market and adjust your pricing models accordingly.

Brand positioning and messaging

Look into how competitors define their unique value proposition and position in the industry. This can involve analyzing their:

• Mission statements, values, goals, and vision;
• Brand personality and tone across different digital channels;
• Core messaging themes of their major marketing campaigns;
• Customer perception and average engagement levels.

Using Socialinsider, you can also compare the performance of a brand across different channels by grouping together their social media profiles.

For example, here's an overview of Walmart's social media performance across channels.

And if you want to dig even more profound, and have a breakdown of each channel's contribution to the brand's social media performance, well, you can also do that.

#3. Social media performance and engagement insights

There’s no better place to get real-time competitive insights than social media platforms. You can get an inside look into your competitors’ audience engagement levels, content strategy, and even influencer collaborations.

Combining social media market research with competitive insights can help you identify emerging social media trends and adapt your strategy accordingly.

Take a look at the different ways to gather social media insights.

Audience engagement and sentiment analysis

Analyzing your competitors' audience can reveal gaps and opportunities in their social media marketing strategy.

You might find they’re neglecting certain social media platforms or struggling to gain traction. For example, a competitor may dominate Instagram but have little to no presence on TikTok, even though your target audience is active there.

For example, a retail brand like Target can use Socialinsider to compare competitor engagement rates and top-performing posts to refine their social media strategy. They can review all the competitor profiles together, analyze industry benchmarks, and compare engagement.

On the other hand, sentiment analysis is also another powerful tool for learning about your competitor's audience and their opinions about the companies.

For example, they may have their customers complaining heavily about a specific business segment, and by knowing this is their weakest point, you can integrate into your messaging reasons why your brand is better at handling that specific issue.

Consider the following factors when reviewing the audience engagement metrics of a competitor.

• Audience size: What’s the follower count of your biggest competitor?
• Audience growth: How quickly are your competitors growing their audience on different platforms?
• Sentiment: What is the general sentiment around their social media content? Is it more positive, negative, or neutral?

Content performance and virality

Examining what kind of content drives the most engagement for your competitors can provide deep insights into their successful content strategies.

Social media analytics can track their top-performing posts and identify social media trends that resonate with your target audience.

Here are the social media insights that you should look into:

• Top posts: Track the best-performing content of your competitors. See to which content pillars belong.
• Engagement: Look into the number of likes and comments your competitors get on average. If certain posts are getting a lot more attention than others, try to find the reasons behind it.
• Hashtags: What are the hashtags or keywords your competitors usually use in their top-performing content? How does it help brand awareness and discoverability?

Influencer and partnership tracking

Evaluating the effectiveness of your competitors' influencer marketing campaigns can help you understand their audience reach and brand visibility.

• Analyze engagement metrics: Check the likes, comments, shares, and overall engagement on your competitors’ influencer posts. High engagement often indicates successful campaigns.
• Identify untapped influencers: Find influencers who align with your brand value but haven't partnered with any of your competitors.
• Leverage niche influencers: Collaborate with micro-influencers who have dedicated followings in niches relevant to your brand.

#4. SEO and digital marketing insights

Tracking how competitors attract and convert online traffic can help you build a stronger marketing strategy. A competitive landscape analysis can also uncover strategic marketing insights about competitors.

Take a look at the different ways to gather SEO and marketing insights.

Organic search rankings

Create an SEO competitor analysis report to identify patterns and trends in their organic content strategy. Look into the type of content your competitors have published in the last 12 months and how that has performed on search engines.

Conduct a keyword gap analysis to identify keywords that are yet to be targeted by your competitors. Keep in mind that while low volume, low ROI keywords have less competition, they might also deliver lower conversions.

On the other hand, high ROI keywords are usually highly relevant to your target audience and offer higher conversion rates, but they are also more competitive.

You can use SEO tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to:

• Identify high-performing keywords competitors rank for;
• Analyze competitor blog topics and content structure;
• Optimize your own SEO strategy to get more search traffic.

Paid ads and PPC strategies

Analyzing competitor ad copy, targeting, and bidding strategies reveals where they invest their marketing budget.

SEO tools can help you track PPC activities, ad spend, and the most profitable copy of your competitors. You can also view past ads from the last 12 months and check examples of live ads to gain insights.

With PPC competitive analysis, your goal should be:

• Assess competitor ad creatives and messaging;
• Review successful ad placements and audience targeting techniques;
• Optimize your own bidding strategies to maximize ROI.

Backlink and domain authority analysis

Analyzing backlinks gives you a clear picture of the link-building tactics your competitors are using and the overall effectiveness of their backlink profiles.

While analyzing the backlinks of your competitors, you should focus on:

• Identifying the total number of backlinks and the relevancy of these links;
• Looking into the high authority sites linked to your competitors;
• Discovering potential partnership or guest posting opportunities;

But backlinks alone don’t tell the whole story. Domain Authority (DA) also plays a crucial role in determining the overall strength of a website.

Compare your DA with your competitors to gauge where you stand. If their DA is significantly higher, their backlink strategy might be more advanced, requiring you to step up your efforts.

#5. Customer and audience insights

By analyzing your competitors’ audiences and reviewing customer feedback, you can better understand how to position your brand and meet your target market’s needs.

These analysis insights help you identify competitors’ positioning and craft messaging that resonates with your audience.

Take a look at the different ways to gather customer and audience insights.

Demographics and buyer personas

You can identify the target demographic of your competitors by looking at their website messaging and checking comments on their social media posts.

Also, consider examining industry reports and case studies (if available) that provide details about consumer behavior trends relevant to your competitors. This information can then be used to build customer personas and understand their marketing tactics.

Developing detailed customer personas should include:

• Competitor product usage and customer demographics;
• Job roles, interests, and buying motivators;
• Customer pain points and how they measure success;
• Opportunities to differentiate and craft compelling messaging.

Customer pain points and reviews

Head to your competitors' public pages on Google Business, G2, Trustpilot, and similar websites to see what customers say about them. Online reviews give you insights into the overall brand perception and the current market trends as well.

Additionally, you can monitor brand mentions and track how customers talk about competitors.

• Does the company take too long to get back to customers? You can provide better support to get ahead of them.
• Are customers praising a competitor’s transparent pricing model while criticizing hidden fees elsewhere? Highlight your straightforward pricing in marketing materials.
• Are customers frustrated with limited integrations? Build partnerships or create seamless API connections to differentiate yourself.
• Do reviews mention a lack of customization options? Offer flexible plans with modular features to attract enterprise clients.

#6. Product and pricing insights

Take a look at the different ways to gather product and pricing insights.

Feature comparison and innovation tracking

Stack your product against the competition: feature by feature, benefit by benefit. Identify the strengths, weaknesses, and unique selling points (USPs) that set them apart.

• What do they offer that you don’t?
• What are the newest features that they have launched?
• Where do you outperform them?

Create a comparison table to visually map out the key differences among multiple competitors. This will help you spot gaps in the market and areas for innovation.

Pricing and discount strategies

Compare your pricing with both direct competitors offering similar products and indirect competitors providing alternative solutions with competing approaches.

Look into how they package their pricing:

• Do they offer tiered pricing (basic, pro, enterprise)?
• Are there any annual discounts, free trials, or money-back guarantees?
• How do they justify their price points (better support, premium materials, advanced features)?
• What is the minimum and maximum pricing plan?

You should also keep monitoring changes in competitor pricing to stay up to date.

Keep in mind that while charging less than your competitors might attract some short-term customers, it could devalue your brand and only attract customers who care more about the pricing than the features or support you offer. These customers will leave you the moment another competitor offers an even lower price.

Customer retention and subscription models

Pricing alone doesn’t tell the whole story. You also need to look into how competitors structure their customer retention strategies.

• Do competitors offer a free trial or a freemium model? If there’s a free trial, how long is the trial period?
• Are they using credit card-free sign-ups to reduce friction, or do they require payment details upfront?
• How do they convert free users into paying customers? Are there email sequences, limited feature access, or other perks offered?
• Do competitors have referral programs, cashback rewards, or VIP memberships for long-term customers?
• Are they offering discounts for long-term commitments (annual vs monthly pricing)?

Use the data you collect to identify gaps in your own customer retention strategy and refine the sales funnel to improve customer lifetime value. More than pricing, strong retention strategies help brands improve customer satisfaction.

These data-backed insights about competitors’ strategies and performance can help you identify gaps in your own approach and refine your marketing efforts.

For example, let’s say a fintech startup tracks competitors to refine its own subscription model. Seeing that one of their competitors now offers a 30-day free trial, the startup also extends its trial from 14 to 30 days while requiring a credit card to reduce churn.

To sweeten the deal, they also introduce a 20% discount on annual plans and a one-month free extension for users who attempt to cancel. The startup also uses AI-driven personalized upsells, recommending premium upgrades based on user behavior. By continuously monitoring their competitors' pricing and retention tactics, the startup can maximize customer loyalty and revenue.

#7. Advertising and content strategy insights

To better understand your competitors' advertising and content strategies, consider analyzing their approach across several key areas.

Ad creatives and copy

Look into the most popular types of ads your competitors use, such as static images, carousels, or short-form videos, and assess which formats get the highest engagement rates.

Analyze the messaging tone, call-to-action (CTAs), and value propositions to determine what resonates with the target audience.

Is their messaging witty, emotional, or straight to the point? What call-to-action hooks their audience? Uncover the patterns to fine-tune your own ad strategy.

Campaign performance tracking

Monitor competitors' social media campaigns, focusing on metrics such as likes, shares, comments, CPCs, and click-through rates.

A competitor increasing their ad spend on a particular platform may indicate a shift in their content strategy. They may be targeting a new audience or preparing for a product launch. The analysis can help identify effective strategies and potential areas for improvement in your campaigns.

Video and visual content trends

Conduct an in-depth content performance analysis to identify which types of content perform the best with your competitors’ audiences.

When you know exactly what drives conversions and engagement in the industry, creating a powerful content strategy becomes much easier.

Analyze video and visual content published by competitors to identify what formats drive the most engagement. Track high-performing content types like short-form videos (Reels, TikToks), live streams, carousels, infographics, and user-generated content (UGC).

Monitor key metrics like the ones below and use these insights to refine your strategy, boost engagement, and create content that outperforms competitors.

• Views and watch time: They indicate content relevance and audience interest.
• Shares and saves: They signal high-value content that the audience finds worth sharing.
• Comments and engagement: They measure audience interaction and sentiment.
• CTR and conversions: They reveal what content drives action.

You can use Socialinsider to find your competitor’s high-performing content types. Go to any competitor’s profile → Click on Engagement → Check Post types sorted by engagement.

For example, here are the content formats used by Target on Instagram for the last 6 months. As we can see from the data, Reels are the most performing content format, which enables further content strategy optimization.

#8. Sales and customer acquisition insights

You've looked into how your competitors generate engagement and get new leads. Now, it's time to analyze how they convert those leads into paying customers.

Lead nurturing tactics

Examine the competitor's customer journeys and how they guide prospects from initial interest to purchase. Look into their lead nurturing campaigns, content strategies, and the value they provide at each stage of the funnel.

Email and retargeting strategies

Subscribe to competitors' newsletters to evaluate their email frequency, content, personalization, and segmentation tactics. Assess how they re-engage potential customers who haven’t taken the next step yet.

Affiliate and partnership strategies

Identify partnerships and affiliate programs your competitors currently use to attract more paying customers. Check the kind of incentives they pay their affiliate partners and the overall satisfaction level of the program.

How to gather competitive insights effectively?

To gather competitive insights, you’ll first need to collect competitive data from the best sources possible, which can include:

• Industry reports: Access comprehensive reports about market trends and competitor performance
• Search engine rankings: Use SEO tools to analyze competitors' organic content strategies and their high-performing pages
• Social media: Monitor competitors' engagement metrics to understand audience preferences

Social media analysis is probably one of the best ways to analyze competitor content and performance in real time.

You can use tools like Socialinsider to add competitive context to your social media data. Analyze industry benchmarks and competitor performance to see how your brand’s analytics stack up in the market.

Here’s how you can set up and analyze industry benchmarks on SocialInsider:

• Navigate to the Benchmarks section in the left sidebar;
  
• Select the required social media platform from the available options;
  
• Select the competitor profiles you want to compare;
  
• Choose relevant metrics for comparison;
  
• Click Update to generate the analysis.

The in-depth benchmark report provides details about competitive positioning, reach, engagement rate, content strategy, growth trajectory, and more.

Best tools for competitive insights (2025 Edition)

Socialinsider: The ultimate social media competitive analysis tool

Socialinsider is a straightforward competitive analytics tool for busy social media marketers interested in deep competitive analysis. The tool can help compare your brand's performance across different channels.

With competitor and industry-level benchmarking, the tool provides a clear view of how your brand is performing against competitors and the whole industry. You can identify content gaps, analyze competitor strategies, and refine social media campaigns–all through the same tool.

Using Socialinsider, you can even conduct a social media audit, identify trends, monitor audience sentiment, and generate detailed reports for strategy optimization.

SEMrush & Ahrefs: For SEO and digital marketing insights

SEMrush: The SEO tool comes packed with features to improve SEO, content marketing, and paid ad strategies. You’ll have access to in-depth search intent insights, keyword clustering, backlinking insights, and PPC reports.

Ahrefs: This tool is known for its powerful backlink analysis. It can help discover keyword opportunities to build valuable links and recover lost link authority by identifying broken links. Ahrefs also offers all the basic SEO features, including site audit, keyword research, rank tracker, and content gap analysis.

Google Trends and industry reports: Market research essentials

Regular market research can help understand consumer behavior and stay competitive. Here are two valuable resources to enhance your research:

Google Trends: Use it to monitor real-time search trends and audience interests. Analyze rising keywords and seasonal patterns to refine your content strategy and identify emerging opportunities.

Industry reports: Get detailed insights from industry reports to analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive dynamics. These reports can shed more light on industry performance, growth projections, and key market drivers.

AI-powered competitive intelligence platforms

There are also many AI-powered tools available that help you collect competitor data and convert it into valuable insights.

Quid for consumer trend insights

Quid is a powerful AI social media analytics tool that helps enterprises identify emerging trends, detect risks early, and uncover potential growth opportunities. It offers actionable insights through predictive analytics, monitors brand health, and analyzes customer sentiment from various sources to help businesses optimize their strategies.

Brandwatch for competitive insights

Brandwatch comes decked with competitive intelligence capabilities that help businesses gain detailed consumer insights. The tool offers comprehensive social listening, detailed sentiment analysis, and trend detection.

Dash Social for sentiment and brand health reports

Dash Social is an AI-powered social media analytics tool for brands focused on visual content. It offers AI-driven social listening, sentiment analysis, and brand health reporting.

The tool’s USP is that it can analyze videos, images, and text trends on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. It can also identify and analyze high-performing user-generated content to help you improve brand visibility.

Final thoughts

Competitive insights can help you stay ahead in the market. Using tools like Socialinsider, you can uncover competitor strategies and identify growth opportunities. Start by benchmarking your performance, analyzing gaps, and adapting your strategy to outsmart competitors.

There’s no better way to show off your brand’s personality than with trending memes! They’re relatable, hilarious, and super shareable.

Plus, nothing builds a stronger connection with your audience than a good laugh, right?

Here, you can find what memes are trending on social media and stay ahead of the trends to keep your content game on point!

Trending memes in February 2025

Superbowl meme

Like every year after the Super Bowl, the social media world is flooded with memes. This year, the most popular one was Kendrick Lamar looking straight at the camera, along with the moments above.

The secret to these viral memes? Watch the full show and pick whatever moment you find funniest and since it’s a major pop culture event, people will recognize it and love it.

Grammys meme

Besides the incredible show at the Grammys, the memes were just as iconic. This month’s best memes came straight from the Grammys, and the internet loved every second of it.

We have this legendary Beyoncé meme, one that’s sure to stick around for a long time, along with plenty of other viral moments.

Trending memes in January

Irena Aizen Bunny Art

One of the most popular memes right now features paintings by artist Irena Aizen, specifically her bunny-themed artwork.

The viral meme format involves a two-image carousel. The first image sets up the joke with: “How I look at the robber when I tell them to take anything and they take my [insert item].” The second image delivers the punchline with “Noo mi [thing].”

As a brand, this trending meme is a great way to highlight something essential to your identity—whether it’s a best-selling product, a key feature, or even a beloved inside joke from your community. It’s a fun and relatable way to engage your audience while tapping into internet culture!

How I look when...

This trendy meme is being used by TikTok users to express emotions, often paired with this trending sound. There’s no strict rule on how to use it—I’ve seen plenty of personal stories shared with this format.

FYI: I haven’t come across any brands using this viral meme yet, but to stay on the safe side, you can still join the trend by using the sound and recreating the format with your own photos. Try snapping pictures of your colleagues with “How I look when…” captions for a fun and relatable spin.

Trending memes in December

Pepe the King meme

Pepe the King Prawn is one of the hottest memes right now. It’s commonly paired with the “Like a Prayer” (Choir Version) sound on TikTok, but you can also use a simple photo with text or layer text directly onto the photo and posted on any social media platform.

Share funny, relatable stories from your office or team that match Pepe’s meme face. Encourage your followers to join in by sharing their own stories that capture that exact vibe to build a community around laughter!

Hello Kitty memes

Hello Kitty memes are trending with a new twist, now known as “Untamed Kitty” and very popular on X and LinkedIn.

Instead of the sweet princess we’re used to, Kitty-chan is portrayed engaging in all sorts of mischief like arson and property destruction.

These current memes are perfect for expressing feelings like tiredness or overwhelm in a funny way for your audience.

Emma Roberts Meme

This trending meme shows Emma Roberts with an awkward smile, often paired with text capturing a POV or situation where you're unsure what to do, so you just sit there and smile.

Tap into this viral meme to connect with your audience by reflecting on their most cringe moments in a relatable way.

Blinch (blue Grinch)

The “Blue Grinch knee surgery” meme is a funny take on unexpected situations, typical of Gen Z humor.

It features a blue-tinted, smiling Grinch with a quirky caption like him eagerly anticipating knee surgery.

I heard a story online where a random person’s dad made a meme and sent it to their child, saying, “That feeling when knee surgery is tomorrow.” The joke is that it doesn’t make sense.

As a brand, you can use this latest trending meme in a Story (first) to surprise your audience and see how they react.

Trending memes in November

Chill Guy meme

One of the newest meme trends in November is the “Chill Guy.”

This character exploded across social media as users placed him in various situations, often as an exploitable template, to poke fun at his laid-back attitude. The humor typically involves imagining how “just being a chill guy” could defuse tension or awkward situations.

The “Chill Guy” meme is a great  opportunity for brands to show they’re in touch with internet culture, being a fun and relatable way to engage audiences.

Little Moomin meme

Maybe the opposite side of a chill guy is the little Moomin meme, which is getting viral on the internet this month. This meme features this girl in various looks, capturing her fiery personality. You can find endless variations on Pinterest to fit your idea perfectly.

Because it’s one of the trendiest memes right now, audiences will instantly recognize it and enjoy the humor.

The Little My meme is a fun way for brands to express strong emotions, bold opinions, or playful sass. It’s being used to highlight everything from customer personas to clever insights, making it a versatile and relatable choice for connecting with audiences.

Smoking cat (Money Talks)

This viral meme highlights those moments when you feel rich, whether it’s in a humorous way or from things that make you feel wealthy inside. Creators often use the “Dirty Cash” sound, which has been used in 147.7K videos.

Brands can use it to highlight moments of achievement, or anything that adds value to their customers’ lives.

Kermit the Frog meme

Kermit the Frog is making a comeback as a trendy meme with a fresh twist. It’s all about those moments when you feel like you’re being misunderstood or tossed around, like you’re flying through the air with no control.

This best new meme is perfect for brands looking to connect with their audience in a funny, relatable way. Use it to empathize with your audience's struggles or awkward moments, and bring some humor to those times when things just don’t go as planned.

Trending memes in October

Cat on a broomstick

In the list of the best new memes for Tiktok and Reels, a special place is taken by the cat on the broomstick viral meme.

This video features an adorable cat that vanishes into the darkness, and it’s become a popular meme trend for capturing those moments when we all just want to escape. Get creative and relate it to your audience’s everyday experiences.

Use the CapCut template and its original sound to make this viral meme and join the FYP on a funny note.

In the klerb, we’re all fam

This meme sound came out of nowhere, yet it’s been widely used and even carried over to other platforms.

It originates from the TV sitcom Broad City, and the original sound on TikTok has been featured in 193.1K videos.

Users are posting it as a way to express a sense of community, actually meaning, "In this club, we’re all family." If you want to use the sound or create a simple text post, make sure to convey a message that reflects community and resonates with shared experiences.

The Staring Robot

The Staring Robot meme is one of the most recent memes making waves across social media. Originally starting as a GIF or video, it has now evolved into a still screenshot with different captions.

These captions often feel random, but the meme is typically used to describe a predictable yet unexpected situation, like something you anticipated but were still caught off guard by.

There are many creative ways to use the Staring Robot meme, so have fun with it! And make sure you use the “No One- Alicia Keys” sound for discoverability.

It’s a very popular meme today, and if it’s funny and relatable, your audience will love it.

Larry David Zoom call meme

The Larry David Zoom call is a trendy meme that features him awkwardly framed, appearing small and blurry.

Brands can use this current meme to humorously capture relatable situations, like virtual meetings or being caught off guard.

For example, "When the camera’s on, but you’re not."

Moo deng

One of the newest memes is also the most adorable one with Moo Deng.

It features a tiny pygmy hippo from Thailand, who went viral for her cute, slightly awkward appearance.

With her pudgy face, sassy attitude, and slick skin, she’s become a symbol of relatable and clumsy moments. Perfectly embodying as "cute but chaotic."

Dancing alien on Ne-Yo

One of the top memes on TikTok right now is this alien dancing to Ne-Yo song, Closer. Such an unserious meme, absolutely hilarious, in which you have to present somehow “depressing” facts while the alien is dancing in the background.

As a brand, this meme is gold for when you need to balance humor with reality checks. It’s a great way to connect with your audience by showing you their struggle, but with a playful twist.

Trending memes in September

Very demure, very mindful

One of the fastest memes that went viral is the "Very Demure, Very Mindful" one. This new meme trend started on TikTok and quickly spread to other platforms.

With over 24,100 TikToks using the audio, brands and creators have begun incorporating the phrase into various texts and images, often mimicking the original voice when spoken.

You can incorporate this viral meme into your messaging and tone of voice to add some flair and boost awareness. By using the "Very Demure, Very Mindful" phrase in a playful or ironic context, you can create content that resonates with your audience.

PS: Check if your competitors or other brands have already posted it to ensure your content stands out and feels fresh.

Henry Danger

These Henry Danger pics are the Internet's most viral memes, and everyone’s loving it. The meme pairs perfectly with Ashanti’s Rain on Me sound, which has already been used over 156,000 times.

If your brand loves a bit of drama (in a fun way), this trendy meme is a perfect chance to make light of everyday struggles or funny stories that match the pics.

If you are posting on TikTok, you can add #HenryDanger for better discoverability.

Standing ovation from me in my living room

Of course, everything started with the Cannes Film Festival for these current memes with “BREAKING NEWS.” It’s a copypasta take on those super long-standing ovations, poking at how we often measure a film’s quality by how long people clap.

As a brand, you can use this viral meme to celebrate your wins or highlight your favorite brand products, adding a playful twist to your messaging like, “55 standing ovation from me in my living room for this gorgeous lipstick”.

Trending memes in August

Olympic Pistol shooter

The Turkish shooter captured everyone’s attention at the Olympics, not just for his precision, but for his super casual stance—hand in his pocket, no extra gear, now being a viral sensation.

People couldn’t help but compare him to South Korea’s Kim Yeji, whose high-tech, futuristic style stood in stark contrast to Dikeç’s chill vibe. This side-by-side comparison became iconic in the world of social media memes.

You can use this meme format to showcase contrasting product styles or experiences.

Symphony Dolphin

The dolphin ‘Symphony’ is the most famous meme on social media right now. After first appearing on TikTok, it quickly spread across other platforms.

It features glowing dolphin visuals set to Zara Larsson's ‘Symphony’(1.1M videos), but instead of uplifting captions, users are adding self-deprecating, funny ones.

The humor lies in the unexpected contrast between the beautiful visuals and the quirky quotes. Because who would have expected it, right? Such an unserious meme; love it!

Even brands are jumping in, with Duolingo turning the dolphins into their mascot.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t chosen for the Olympics

The most hilarious and top trending memes are videos with the caption, “Unfortunately, I wasn’t chosen for the Olympics,” featuring various funny situations where the person is falling or pretending to fall.

You can join this popular meme by making a fun video with your team, showing off your company culture in a playful way. Use the Star Spangled (Bass Boosted) sound to easily connect with your audience and help them recognize the meme.  

This meme is trending on TikTok and Instagram Reels, so depending on your goal, choose the right one to join.

Inside out 2 memes

After the movie hit theaters, a lot of memes emerged. Not gonna lie; the movie is emotional, but the memes are incredibly relatable! Some of the memes trending now are with snapshots from the movie and mostly with anxiety.

You don’t have to watch the movie to understand the memes. They capture a few key emotions, so play with them by using different relatable stories that provoke those feelings.

Trending memes in July

Brat

You’re so BRAT. Brat summer. You’re so Julia. You have probably seen these phrases all over the internet. So, what’s the deal? The popular meme gained momentum with Charli XCX’s album, which is famously known for its green cover.

You can join the brat culture by posting about "brat summer essentials," show off your "brat dance," or join the fun in the comments by dropping a “You’re so brat 💚”

You also can use a BRAT generator. And because of the mega virality of the word and music sound, this is one of the most used memes this month, so start being a brat on social media.

Raccoon dancing

Definitely, the most popular memes right now are about the adorable raccoon who's dancing in a loop on Pedro Remix sound. Perfect for expressing feelings of joy after an event or showcasing your latest obsession. (for a product, TV show, etc.)

As a brand, you can leverage this viral meme by using the raccoon dancing video to highlight exciting announcements, product launches, or any moments worth celebrating. You can also recreate the video with your co-workers to add a funny and unique touch.

Painting meme (Honore Daumier, Il Difensore meme)

The meme trends with classical paintings hit this summer on every platform, especially on video social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram Reels, Youtube Shorts). One of the most popular ones features a split painting: in the first image, a man is speaking to a judge and pointing to a girl; in the second, the girl looks like she's bursting into laughter.

Using the “Messa da Requiem: II. Dies irae” sound, users are pairing the meme with funny captions like, “Your honor, she won’t stop saying this word,” with the second image being “slay.”

This meme’s humor comes from the contrast between the serious setting and the absurd captions. Brands can use this meme trend by creating relatable scenarios for their audience.

Reluctant bride

From the latest trending memes about painting, the Reluctant Bride focuses on situations where you are serious or mad but still on a funny note.

It is associated with the Borjoquez- original sound; the trendy meme plays out in two photos timed to the beat: the first shows the entire painting and the second zooms in on the bride's disapproving face.

It’s perfect for showcasing those “when you have to, but you really don’t want to” moments. So brands can join in to tell everyday stories of frustration or reluctance and show their human side in a funny and trending way.

Deadpool and Wolverine green screen meme

If you haven’t seen the movie, this scene features Deadpool and Wolverine teaming up for a fight. While Deadpool is playful and carefree, Wolverine stays serious and focused.

This trending meme is perfect for brands highlighting different approaches within their teams or product offerings. You can use it to highlight the fun, playful side of your brand while still flexing the serious grind that happens behind the scenes.

Trending memes in June

“Huh” cat

One of the all-time most popular memes, the “Huh” cat, returns from time to time on our Fyp and gains more and more popularity every time.

Whether you post the video with a funny caption or just use the image, everyone knows exactly what it's about. It perfectly captures those moments when you're confused, caught off guard, or just plain clueless. And let’s be real, we all make the same face as the cat.

As a brand, you must know your persona to see the world through your audience's eyes. Because this meme reflects those "wait, what?" moments your persona experiences. If you understand their daily challenges, you can use this meme to build a stronger connection.

Black cat zoning out

The Black Cat zoning out meme, an all-time classic, is making a comeback on social media. It’s perfect for capturing those moments when you're speechless, too overwhelmed to care, or giving that look when you just don’t like something.

As a brand, you can use this meme to connect with your audience during those “I can’t even” moments. You can use it on TikTok by adding the sound with the same name or on other platforms as a screenshot.

Trending memes in May

Fully conscious baby

The meme comes from a TikTok by @sobrizzle, where she asks two kids if they want to go to the Four Seasons Orlando. The toddler excitedly shouts “me,” as you’d expect, but then the baby casually raises her arm and says “me” in a chill way that’s unexpected for someone so young.

Users went wild and named it "the full conscious baby," and the meme blew up in just about a week.

Brands can totally ride this wave by using it to respond to anything that connects with "me." It’s a fun and trending way to engage your audience. You can use it as a video and just add a caption that resonates with your brand and audience or as a photo, as you can see in the example below.

Met Gala Memes

Met Gala just happened, so as expected, the trending memes right now are about this iconic event.

You can take standout photos from the Met Gala and add a relatable caption. This meme format is super catchy since it's tied to a current event that many people are following, so don’t miss the chance to jump on it!

It’s a great idea to prep a content calendar and social media strategy ahead of time for these pop culture events, so you're always ready to engage with your audience.

Callot: There are a lot of pros and cons to posting memes from the Met Gala, so make sure to do your research on the photo you choose before sharing!

I’m looking for…

“I am looking for a man in finance” is one of the best memes right now, not just because of the catchy sound but because users are putting their own unique spin on it.

Everyone seems to be searching for something, whether it’s a job, a shop, or anything else.

You can jump in on this trend by creating your own sound using this phrase.

Trending memes in April

Solar eclipse memes

For every major event, we expect some great memes, and the solar eclipse is no exception! It’s a great opportunity to put your products/ services in the light of your audience.

Get creative by incorporating themed humor into your posts, using catchy captions or visuals that tie into the event's excitement.

You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me

“You wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me” is a phrase from Taylor Swift's song "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me."

Since April 2024, this lyric has blown up in memes, letting social media users share their stories and “hauntings.”

This meme trend is about nostalgia and humor, and brands can hop on this by asking their audience to share their own experiences. You can also come up with different scenarios that match the persona’s experience.

Tip: Sometimes, the simplest ideas you come up with are the best!

Aura points

The internet is totally obsessed with aura points! But what are all these aura memes, anyway? In a nutshell, aura points are a fun and lighthearted way to measure someone’s “coolness.”

Every action we take can either boost or lower our aura points, depending on who’s keeping track. It’s all just a joke, nothing to take too seriously, and it really depends on individual perception.

You’ll often see posts like “How many points did I lose when…?” or “+100 aura points for doing that…” This meme trend is super versatile, as it can thrive on any platform, not just as videos or photos, and there are endless ways to get creative with it.

For brands, this is a fantastic opportunity to engage with your audience by linking aura points to things they care about.

Trending memes in March

All that work and what did it get me

Starting as a TikTok sound and quickly becoming a viral meme worldwide, the phrase “All that work and what did it get me” now shows up on every platform, with users staring off in disappointment to highlight moments when hard work didn’t pay off.

For brands, this meme is a fun way to add humor to those times when effort goes unrewarded or find your audience’s pain points and make them feel seen through the latest meme trends on social media.

The Oscar memes

The Oscars are chef's kiss for event-based memes because they are trendy and super relevant.

All you have to do is pick the most iconic or funniest pics from the night, then add some clever captions or relatable conversations that’ll give your audience a good laugh and keep them engaged.

Plus, this type of meme is super shareable, thanks to all the well-known celebs in the spotlight! So, go ahead and take your shot and create the most viral memes from the Oscars.

I wouldn’t tell anyone I won the lottery, but there will be signs

"I wouldn’t tell anyone I won the lottery, but there will be signs" is one of the trending social media memes right now that humorously suggests that winning the lottery would be evident through different choices.

But, instead of sharing the news, there will be hints from interests, like treating with your favorite products or planning dream trips.

Creators share all sorts of funny and unexpected ideas, and brands are getting in on the action, too, showcasing their products as the go-to choices for anyone celebrating a lottery win.

Trending memes in February

Sad hamster meme

And the prize for the most viral meme this month goes to this adorable hamster. Accompanied by a sweet violin sound and boasting 197K video uses, this current meme has taken social media by storm. And it’s not just Gen Zers who love this meme!

The tiny hamster, with its large, sad-looking eyes, is often featured by users reacting to situations that feel too tough or overwhelming to handle.

You can hop on this trend with a carousel post or a video, but make sure to keep it relatable since it’s already super popular!

Ha ha yeah…

This latest meme features a video of a little girl casually saying, “Ha, ha… yep” in a sarcastic way. It’s used for those moments when you want to respond to someone with a bit of sass or like you’re hiding something.

Actually, the beauty of this TikTok meme is its versatility because it can take on different meanings depending on how you use it. So, feel free to put your own spin on it and join the fun.

You can use the template from CapCut (which is free) or take the original video and change the caption to be original.

Cillian Murphy memes

This meme features the talented Cillian Murphy, known for his roles and his signature confused look that perfectly captures those “I’d rather be anywhere else” vibes.

The example below is just one of a few, but it is the most popular meme today because it resonates with many.

Brands can jump on this trend by using it to highlight everyday situations that leave us feeling a bit overwhelmed or tired, like those long meetings or busy workdays.

Just make sure to infuse it with your unique brand personality to connect with your audience and keep things light-hearted!

Trending memes in January

Thank you Rachel

The newest meme on social media features a little girl getting really mad at her friend for stealing her charger. She dramatically says, “Thank you, Rachel! Thanks a lot!” in a sarcastic tone.

It perfectly captures that relatable frustration we all feel after something doesn’t go our way.

Brands can use this meme as a voiceover and share a funny story behind it, creating a lighthearted connection with their audience. You can start a conversation and ask questions in the captions like “Does that ever happen to you?”.

Penguin meme

POV: This penguin meme is the most recent meme in the club! The scene is from Toy Story 2, featuring a penguin looking sad and alone, hiding. It's often paired with "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" by Alicia Keys and has already racked up 78.4K videos.

Initially, it made its way onto TikTok but quickly spread on other platforms like Twitter and Reddit as a simple reaction image. Now, the meme has evolved to express just about any situation where someone feels sad or even a bit inconvenienced.

Hasbulla walking meme

Hasbulla is a very popular social media UGC, and nearly every video he posts turns into a trending meme sooner or later.

This particular one features him walking with intense focus and high energy, making it perfect for a variety of contexts.

Brands and creators are using this meme to express their determination as they head toward something (whether it’s a meeting, a shopping spree, or a party).

While it might not be the laugh out loud type of humor found in other memes, its relatability and recognizability make it a great choice. You can easily adapt this meme to showcase your brand's excitement about upcoming events, giving it a fun vibe.

Best practices for memes

#1. Track your memes performance to ensure relevance

Including trending memes in your social media strategy is smart, but it's essential to check if they’re really helping you reach your marketing goals.

Fortunately, analyzing their effectiveness is quick and easy with a social media competitor analysis tool like Socialinsider:

• Start by creating an account and adding your profiles and competitors to the Socialinsider dashboard. Enjoy a 14-day free trial to explore the features and gather insights!
• Go to the Posts section, select a time frame, and filter by AI Content Pillar, in this case, Memes, GIFs, and Viral Moments.

• Then, dive into each meme’s post analytics to view engagement, impressions, and many other metrics.

• You’ll find your overall meme performance metrics in the Content Pillar section, providing a clear view of how memes are resonating with your audience and your overall marketing strategy.

#2 Be careful of content copyright when choosing a meme

Nearly all images, video clips, and other media content found in memes are under copyright protection.

However, some “allowed” exceptions allow these materials to be used when transformed into commentary or other forms of creative expression.

So, before using a meme in your marketing, ensure it’s legally permissible for commercial purposes. This can save you from potential copyright issues down the road.

#3 Ensure that the tone and style of your memes align with your brand’s voice

For a meme to go viral on your branded pages, it needs to be funny and relatable, but it must also align with your brand.

A hilarious meme that feels out of place can confuse your audience and dilute your brand identity. So, ensure the memes reflect your core values and resonate with your audience.

By keeping your memes aligned with your brand voice, you build trust and authenticity while creating a consistent online presence that encourages sharing and engagement.

#4 Create a meme calendar

While some of the most popular memes pop up randomly and take social media by storm, many well-known memes follow recognizable patterns. That's why it's a good idea to create a memes calendar that aligns with upcoming events, holidays, or campaigns.

This way, you can ensure your content is timely and relevant, making it more likely to resonate with your audience and to be on time without rush.

Conclusion

Memes now are a powerful tool in marketing, offering brands a way to connect with audiences in a relatable, engaging way.

They’re also highly shareable, which means a well-crafted meme can spread quickly, giving brands a boost in visibility without a big budget. It can also help brands show their personality and values, making them feel more approachable and human.

It’s very important to note that, to succeed with memes, brands should understand their audience behavior, like preferences, pain points, and needs.

The timing is very important, ensuring the meme is still relevant. When done right, memes don’t just entertain; they build meaningful connections between the brand and followers and create a sense of community.

Make sure you stay updated on the latest memes on social media and curate viral sensations!

FAQs on popular memes right now

What are memes?

Memes are pieces of entertaining content, taking the form of images, sounds, videos, or text that spread quickly online. They’re typically funny or relatable, making them a popular way to engage audiences.

How to find popular memes?

There are several ways to stay updated on popular memes on social media:

• Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter often have trending sections where you can explore viral memes using hashtags like #memes or #viralmemes.
• You can follow dedicated meme accounts, which is another great way to stay in the loop, like 9gag or memes on Instagram.
• You can also bookmark blogs that regularly share round-ups of the latest and most viral memes, like this one or Know Your Meme.

These resources will help you get up to date memes and never be out of trend.

What are the most popular social media memes?

“Distracted Boyfriend” – The most popular meme is with this guy looking at another woman while his girlfriend looks on disapprovingly. It’s used to represent shifting focus.

“Leonardo DiCaprio Laughing” – This viral meme is from the movie Django Unchained, where DiCaprio's character laughs, often used for sarcastic humor.

“Woman Yelling at a Cat”- This is one of the most viral memes that features a woman yelling in one frame and a cat sitting at a table in the next, looking like they are having a conversation. It’s used to represent funny misunderstandings.

“Surprised Pikachu” – This meme uses a Pikachu from Pokémon to express mock surprise in response to an obvious or expected outcome.

Drake “Hotline bling” meme- This meme is iconic, showing Drake rejecting one option with a displeased face, then enthusiastically approving another.

People relate to people. Not faceless brands.

This is partly a reason why we see more and more brands encouraging employee-generated content (EGC) as part of their social media strategy.

If you are someone like me who scrolls through social media for a living (literally), it’s difficult not to come across a day-in-the-life post, behind-the-scenes content, or employee journey post.

The best part? This social media content is no longer restricted to LinkedIn. EGC is everywhere—on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and even X.

In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about EGC. From what it really is to how to build a strategy for EGC, we will learn it all.

What is employee-generated content?

Employee-generated content (EGC) is any form of content, such as social media posts, podcasts, videos, or even memes, created and shared by a company's employees.

Businesses are using employees as brand ambassadors alongside traditional marketing strategies to boost brand trust and credibility.

For example, imagine your product designer sharing a TikTok about the brainstorming process behind a new feature, or your customer support rep tweeting about a heartwarming interaction with a client. This adds a human touch to your brand. And you manage to reach a wider audience through your employee’s following.

How does employee-generated content contribute to a business’s image?

Here are three ways in which encouraging employees to create content can help your company.

Boost brand awareness

Take these two statistics.

• Content shared by employees gets 8X more engagement than content shared through brand accounts.
• Employee posts get reshared up to 24 times more than a branded post.

This shows that by encouraging employees to create and share content, you can tap into a powerful yet organic way to expand your brand’s reach. Think of it like this. Employees are the new influencers. Except these influencers already know and love your company.

These employees have their own network of followers — friends, industry peers, potential customers, and even future hires. When they post about their work, experiences, or company culture regularly, they indirectly influence brand awareness and make your brand memorable.

Foster credibility and authenticity

Think of employee-generated content (EGC) as a word-of-mouth recommendation from a friend. It feels more real, trustworthy, and personal than branded content.

EGC is a subtle way of showing your company culture, the fun things you do at your office, the values you follow, and the different products/features your employees use.

Because this trusted content fits in naturally and comes from a human, it feels more authentic and credible.

Strengthens employer branding and talent acquisition

When employees speak about their positive experiences working for your company, it speaks volumes compared to a traditional job ad. It builds an image of a company that is great to work for.

With 86% of job seekers using social media in their job search, powerful EGC can influence whether they want to apply for your company or not.

For example, which content would you trust more?

• Content A (Branded content): A company posts, “We’re a great place to work! Check out our amazing office culture.”
• Content B (EGC): An employee shares a LinkedIn post, “Just wrapped up an exciting brainstorming session with my team! Love how everyone’s ideas are valued here.”

Content B, right? That’s the power of EGC.

Types of employee-generated content

You don’t have to stick to one or two types of employee-generated content. Here are 11 types and examples of employee-generated content you can experiment with.

Job openings and referral shares

Want to get the best talent for your company? Don’t just share the opening on your website or career sites.

Ask your employees, especially those who will work directly with the new hire, to share this job opening on their social platforms. Instead of just sharing the application link, ask your employees to include details like:

• A sentence about why they love working there or what makes the team special;
• A brief story about their experience working for the company;
• What the growth trajectory might look like;
• An invite to reach out for queries/doubts;
• Engaging media to go with the text-only post.

Here’s how Dina AbdelWahab shares a hiring post for IBM.

Why does this type of EGC work?

• A job opening shared by an employee feels more personal and credible than a corporate job ad.
• Employees have unique networks that may not overlap with the company’s audience.
• This helps you tap into fresh talent pools.
• Employee referral programs reduce hiring costs by minimizing the need for expensive job ads and external recruiters.

Work anniversaries and milestones

This is one of the most popular types of EGC because employees love to share their milestones and achievements with others. This content could be about a promotion, a year of being associated with the company, or goals that they hit.

This creates a culture of recognition, attracts top talent, and strengthens company credibility.

Here’s how Eric Henriquez, sales recruiter at HubSpot, talks about completing one month at HubSpot and what that month looked like.

Why does this type of EGC work?

• A post from an employee celebrating their time at a company acts as an endorsement of the workplace, showing job seekers and clients that people enjoy working there.
• Work anniversary posts often get high engagement, with colleagues, peers, and company leaders joining in to celebrate, boosting visibility for your company.
• It promotes a growth mindset, motivating employees to set and achieve goals.

A day-in-the-life post

People are naturally curious about what a person actually does day-to-day, beyond just a job title.

What does a typical workday look like? What kind of tasks and challenges do employees handle? How do they collaborate with their teams?

Employees can highlight team interactions, office perks, flexible work schedules, or even their work-from-home setup. Many also use these posts to showcase company culture, whether it’s bonding over lunch, enjoying a game in the office sports area, or sharing funny Slack conversations with teammates.

Here’s how Maggie talks about what it’s like to intern at Google.

Why does this type of EGC work?

• Gives potential hires a real glimpse into the company culture, daily tasks, and work environment.
• This EGC with storytelling elements gets higher engagement than standard promotional posts.
• These posts are generally visually appealing, and they grab attention faster.

Celebration of values

Are your company values just sitting on a page of your company website? Or is it getting mentioned only during onboarding?

EGC can help change that. When employees actively share how they see company values in action, those values become more than just words. Think of it as the difference between reading a company’s mission statement and actually seeing employees embody that mission in their work.

For example, look at how Carolina Caparros gives a shout-out to the hybrid policy at HubSpot. She adds, “As our culture code states, work isn’t a place we go but a thing we do.”

Why does this type of EGC work?

• Candidates want to work for companies that genuinely uphold their values. This helps you create a strong employer brand.
• When one employee shares a story about how the company lives its values, it inspires others to do the same.
• When employees post about values like sustainability, integrity, or corporate responsibility, it boosts the company’s public image.

Employee testimonials

Employee testimonials act as social proof for customers and potential hires.

It could be of two types.

• Workplace experience testimonials: Employees share why they love working for the company, highlighting aspects such as career growth, leadership support, work-life balance, or company culture.
• Product/service advocacy: Employees speak about the benefits of the company’s offerings from an insider’s perspective, showing their belief in the brand.

Here’s how Valentina Gallego shares her testimonial about working at HubSpot.

Why does this type of EGC work?

• Employees sharing their experiences makes the company feel more relatable and transparent.
• Employees endorsing products or services and possibly showing the product in action adds an extra layer of trust and reliability.

Company achievements

When a company reaches a milestone, wins an award, or achieves something remarkable, it’s not just a corporate success. It’s a collective achievement that employees take pride in.

This could be something as big as raising funding or something as small as launching a new internal initiative.

The more employees volunteer to create this EGC, the more it amplifies the company’s reputation.

Here’s how Sebastian Scharf-Barak shares the news about the employee-led family group building a new parent-child room at Microsoft’s Frankfurt office.

Why does this type of EGC work?

• A company announcing its own achievement can feel like bragging, but when employees share it, it becomes a genuine moment of excitement and pride.
• Seeing employees genuinely proud of where they work makes a company more desirable to potential hires.
• Employees sharing company achievements with their personal networks extends the company’s reach far beyond corporate channels.

Expert advice

Have you ever read a LinkedIn post from an industry expert that completely changed your perspective? Or watched a quick tutorial that solved a problem you’ve been struggling with?

Chances are that content came from an employee sharing their expertise and not a corporate brand.

When your employees share their expert advice on social media, they build their personal brand. When this personal brand grows, its reputation also benefits the company's image.

Take how our social media manager at Socialinsider, Miruna Vocheci, talks about the stats from our social media benchmarks report.

Why does this type of EGC work?

• Educational, opinionated content naturally gets shared, helping brands reach wider audiences.
• Thought leadership content can spark conversations with decision-makers and industry peers. This can get brand attention from the right people.
• Employees sharing knowledge online inspires internal learning and helps build a culture where knowledge gets transferred easily.

Employee's journeys

Not everyone in your company has had a linear career trajectory. Some may have jumped fields, while others may have had a very inspiring journey. Why not encourage them to share these stories?

These employee journey posts take people behind the scenes of what it’s like to work at a company/specific role, from first-day experiences to big career milestones.

When employees share these journeys, they showcase not only their own success but also the company as a place where people thrive and grow.

In this post by IBM, Alexandra shares her journey of being a consultant and how IBM has helped shape her career.

Why does this type of EGC work?

• Highlighting promotions, lateral moves, and skill development proves that employees aren’t stuck; they’re constantly evolving.
• When employees talk about their journey, it shows the company’s commitment to professional growth.
• Employee journeys highlight what makes your company unique, giving you a competitive hiring edge.

Behind-the-scenes

People love getting a sneak peek into their dream companies’ workplaces. Whether it’s how teams collaborate, products get made, or just the fun moments that happen every day, this content is engaging because it feels raw and unscripted.

Think about it. A brand announcing a product launch is one thing, but seeing employees testing, brainstorming, or celebrating the process makes it more exciting and relatable.

Many employees also create behind-the-scenes content for events, celebrations, and conferences.

Why does this type of EGC work?

• BTS posts often get higher engagement because they are lighthearted, visual, and fun to watch and share.
• BTS content shines a light on your culture and team bonding in the workplace, showing that work can be both productive and enjoyable.
• A strong BTS strategy can help a company stand out as a transparent, fun, and inspiring place to work.

Workplace culture and moments

A company is a lot more than just a place to work. From team lunches to inside jokes, brainstorming sessions to company traditions, these small but meaningful moments shape the work experience.

And that’s what this EGC is all about.  These posts could be about celebrating a teammate’s birthday, participating in a fun challenge, or simply enjoying the workspace vibe.

For example, our team came together for a fun activity where they answered the question — What would they like to say ‘No’ to this week?

Why does this type of EGC work?

• Sharing moments like team lunches, office jokes, and celebrations shows that the company values its people.
• When employees share authentic workplace moments, it helps attract people who align with the company’s values and vibe.
• Culture posts don’t just highlight individual teams. They show how different departments collaborate and support each other.

Employee recognition

Who doesn’t love a little appreciation? When employees feel valued, they’re more engaged, motivated, and proud of where they work. Employee recognition posts are a powerful form of EGC that celebrates achievements, hard work, and milestones.

A simple shoutout can make a big difference, and when it’s shared publicly, it boosts morale and also builds a company culture where appreciation is the norm.

In this post, Andrew from IBM’s Egypt team is recognized for his work.

• Public appreciation makes employees feel valued and motivated. This boosts employee morale.
• When employees see their peers getting recognized, they’re inspired to go the extra mile.
• When prospective hires see a workplace where hard work is celebrated, it makes the company more appealing and strengthens employer branding.

How to build an employee advocacy program?

You can encourage employee-generated content. But how do you give it direction and keep motivating employees to create content?

One simple way is to build an employee advocacy program. Here’s how to do it in six steps.

#1. Set clear objectives and KPIs for your EGC program

Before you encourage your employees to generate EGC, figure out “why” you’re even asking them.

Is it to attract more talent to your open roles? Or increase brand awareness on social media?

This goal will guide the type of content you will want the employees to create. And the KPIs you track. For example, if you are trying to boost brand awareness, you might track metrics like reach, impressions, and shares on social media.

Other valuable metrics include:

• Top contributors: Identify employees driving the most engagement.
• Click-through rates: See how well posts convert interest into action.
• Content performance: Understand which formats (videos, testimonials, day-in-the-life posts) resonate most.

With clear KPIs in place, you lay the foundation for a successful employee advocacy program. And your employees are driven to create content that is tied to goals.

#2. Announce the initiative

The objectives are set. It’s time to create enthusiasm around this program among your employees.

Start by announcing the initiative and focusing on three aspects.

• What is the program about?
• Why should employees participate?
• How can they get involved?

You can do this through a company-wide email, an internal meeting, or a Slack channel message.

For example, when Carmen Vicente, social media manager at Gorgias, launched the EA program, she decided to forego a software tool in the beginning. She just created a Slack channel to centralize all communication around the EA program. Anyone who wished to participate was invited to the channel.

While announcing the initiative, she also made sure the employees were incentivized to participate.

Below, you'll see how she described the strategy behind the program:

We offer two (modest) gift card incentives but in the end I don't think they've dazzled all that much. So, I built a solid case for how much this bolsters their personal brands, and everyone (who's joined) is motivated by that.

People understand how important career visibility is in today's age, so once we make that connection, participation seems to flow.

It's not without challenges in motivation and bandwidth, but I do swoop in quite a bit to cheerlead, keep folks accountable, and get my hands dirty with 1:1 content sessions of editing assists.

#3. Provide requirements and expected completed actions

Once the employees know about the program, the next step is clarity. What exactly do you expect from them? Without clear guidelines, participation can feel overwhelming or confusing.

Here are some guidelines you can establish.

• What type of content should employees share: Company updates, job openings, work culture moments, behind-the-scenes insights, or industry-related posts?
• How often should they participate: Weekly, bi-weekly, or as opportunities arise?
• Where to share: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or other relevant platforms.

For example, Carmen formulated one simple goal for anyone who wished to participate: create two work-related LinkedIn posts per month, with no guardrails on topics or word count.

The completed actions involved the employees sharing the engagement metrics of those posts with her.

#4. Offer resources and guidance

Your employees may have a lot of expertise and unique insights to share. But they still might not know how to craft their posts in a compelling way. Or how the algorithm works. It’s your role to give them the right resources and support needed to succeed.

Some examples of resources that you can provide:

• Best practices on how to write engaging posts, such as using top-performing content formats.
• Content inspiration and prompts.
• Branded assets like high-quality product images, templates, and videos that employees can use.

The best way to provide these resources is to create a central hub.

For example, Carmen created a Notion doc that had all key resources like post starters, hook strategy, navigating the LinkedIn algorithm, and a couple of Loom videos. She also provides 1:1 support to help employees create EGC posts and succeed with their personal branding.

#5. Have a monthly analysis

What you don’t track, you don’t improve. You might have given your employees all the resources. But their posts might still not be bringing the desired reach or engagement.

Some of the social media metrics you should track are engagement metrics, content performance, and traffic & conversions.

Don’t just stop there. Use this data to:

• Identify trends: See what kind of content from employees is engaging the audience the most.
• Recognize and reward top advocates: Acknowledge employees who are actively contributing.
• Optimize strategy: If certain content isn’t performing well, adjust your content strategy with new formats or better guidance.

Create a report based on these insights and share it with your employees. This will keep them engaged, show them their impact, and motivate them to keep participating.

For example, the employee advocacy program plan that Carmen executed brought the following results in just 6 weeks:

• 19 members
• 43 EAP published posts
• More than 560K total impressions

#6. Invest budget and resources for a longer plan

Creating an employee advocacy program isn’t the most difficult bit. It’s about how to manage an employee advocacy program that is challenging.

Carmen mentions in her LinkedIn post:

My feeling is that employee advocacy, like most kinds of content, is all about compounding interest, so the real benefits (and biggest hurdles) are yet to come.

And we agree. A successful social media employee advocacy program isn’t a one-time effort. It requires long-term investment to keep employees engaged and ensure consistent impact.

Here’s where we suggest investing your budget and resources:

• Incentives: Recognize top contributors with bonuses, gift cards, shoutouts, or exclusive perks.
• Training and development: Host workshops on personal branding, content creation, and social media best practices.
• Community building: Organize networking events, mentorship programs, or team challenges to keep employees engaged.

How to encourage employee participation?

You have an employee advocacy program in place, and all the resources have been finalized. Now, it’s entirely up to you to encourage your employees to participate in it.

Here are five strategies you can try.

Overcome common barriers to employee content creation

Many employees hesitate to create content for a number of reasons. They could lack time, fear saying the wrong thing, or simply not know what to post.

You can try the following way-outs for each of these barriers.

• Lack of time — provide ready-to-share templates and encourage micro-content such as short posts or a quick photo.

• Fear saying the wrong thing — encourage personal stories or share examples of what works for them.

• Not knowing what to post — share content ideas, create a repository of shareable company updates and news, and highlight trending topics.

Create incentive programs that actually work

Not every employee would want recognition. Some may prefer monetary rewards or career growth opportunities. You can design your rewards accordingly. For example, you can use a combination of bonuses, gift cards, exclusive perks, extra time off, or public shoutouts.

You can even keep the program fresh by rotating incentives to keep everyone included and engaged.

Pro-tip: Instead of just giving incentives, explain why personal branding is important for their careers and how EGC can help them create content that showcases their expertise in the industry.

Train and empower employees to create quality content

Want employees to create great content? Make it easy and fun. Start by hosting simple training sessions along with fun events.

For example, host a Lunch & Learn session where employees can get tips on how to create quality content from their social media manager.

Once EGC keeps pouring in, share the best content within your Slack channels and explain what made it great. This gives inspiration to other employees.

Also, train them on how to use certain tools to make content creation easier. For example, using Canva for templates they can tweak, CapCut for easy video editing, etc.

Build content creation into employee development plans

Want employees to create content consistently? Make it part of their growth journey.

Instead of treating employee-generated content (EGC) as an extra task, incorporate it into development plans. Encourage employees to share insights about their expertise, leadership growth, or industry trends.

When EGC is tied to career growth and recognition, employees are more likely to participate.

Recognize and celebrate employee content creators

Just sending a personal message like “Loved this post” or “You’re doing great” will not do much. Here are four ways we celebrate our EGC creators.

• Feature them on company channels. Highlight top employee posts on social media or newsletters. A simple “Employee Spotlight” can go a long way.

• A shoutout in a team meeting, a Slack channel message, or even a thank-you from leadership can make a big impact.

• Create a leadership board where you feature top contributors and reward them with small perks like company swag, gift cards, or LinkedIn endorsements.

• Turn their content into case studies. Show how their posts positively impact brand awareness, recruitment, or engagement.
  

How to manage risks and challenges?

Encouraging employee-generated content is great. But it also comes with a few risks. Here’s how to deal with them.

• Address legal considerations and intellectual property: Educate employees on copyright laws, content ownership, and disclosure requirements to prevent legal issues.

• Maintain brand consistency while encouraging authenticity: Provide brand guidelines that give a direction but let employees share their personal takes and opinions on different topics.

• Handle sensitive information and confidentiality: Educate employees on what internal information should remain private to avoid accidental leaks.

• Make plans for crisis management: If employee-generated content goes wrong, have a response plan in place to address miscommunications or controversial content quickly.

• Build a review process that doesn’t stifle creativity: Have an approval process, but don’t make it too restrictive. Encourage unique content ideas and topics.

How to measure the effectiveness of employee-generated content?

The simplest way is to track the metrics of your employee-generated content. It will give you a clear picture of whether it is working.

For example, as mentioned earlier, track the metrics from individuals’ posts. You can do this by asking your employees to send screenshots or input data into your spreadsheet.

At the same time, we also suggest tracking metrics of employee content that gets featured on your company’s pages.

To avoid wasting too much time scrolling through numerous social media posts across platforms and manually gathering all the insights you need, we suggest using tools such as Socialinsider to automate this reporting task.

With Socialinsider, you can manually assign a tag to each post from your business page that features an employee and create a content pillar for which you can analyze performance.

This performance analysis is available both at a content pillar level and also at a post level, in case you want to dive deeper into a particular post's performance.

Final thoughts

Employee-generated content (EGC) is more than just a trend. It’s a powerful way to build trust, showcase company culture, and widen your brand’s reach.

When employees share their experiences, it feels real, relatable, and engaging. The best part? It benefits both the company and the employees by strengthening brand advocacy and personal branding.

To make the most of EGC, track its impact with the right tools. Socialinsider helps you measure performance effortlessly so you can see what’s working and refine your strategy.

Ready to take your EGC to the next level? Try Socialinsider today and start measuring success with ease!

Do you always feel like haunting Instagram trending audios? Well, who’s not?

New trending Instagram songs emerge every week, and it has become a constant battle to find the perfect one that can increase your brand's visibility.

Since Reels is one of the top-performing content types on Instagram in 2024, staying up-to-date with the current trending audio on Instagram is an ace up your sleeve.

I know the process can be exhausting, and you don’t have much time; as a busy marketer, you are! But don’t worry, you are in the right place.

Here, you’ll find the latest viral sounds on Instagram, and you can start integrating them into your Instagram strategy to boost brand awareness.

Let's hop on!

How do you find trending audio on Instagram for your Reels?

No worries if you missed the viral Instagram songs from last week! You can always seek new ones because it never ends; that’s the beauty of it.

Below, you’ll find all the ways to search and choose the best songs for your Reels and stay ahead of the game.

• Instagram’s search feature

The easiest way to find Instagram trending audio outside of recommended options is through its search feature.

1. Tap on the Search Bar at the top of the page and type “trending songs” or “trending audio.” Depending on your needs, you can also try something more specific, like “aesthetic songs” or “skin-care routine.”
2. Now, you can tap the Audios and Tags filters at the top of the page and scroll until you find the perfect one for your Reel.

• Instagram’s Creator Account

This account is pure gold, updated with new trends and resources from Instagram creators to everyone who wants to master their Instagram strategy.

Usually, they post new trending sounds, plus editing tips. So you’ll get more than what you came for!

• Instagram’s trending audio list

This feature is only available in the US and on the Instagram mobile app, but it’s worth noting. Hopefully, it will be available for everyone one day!

You need a professional Instagram account to view reel trends.

Then, tap the three-dot icon on your profile and select Reels Trends—Select reels from Audio or Hashtags.

If “See what’s trending on Reels” first appears on your profile page, you can tap on the button to enter the Reels Trends destination and start discovering the latest trending audio.

• Trending Reels on Instagram

I know that I said that your process will be simplified, yet sometimes, you just have to be chronically online.

I'm kidding, but the Trending Reels page is a perfect spot to find viral audio on Instagram. Scrolling is a big part of your job, so let’s start making it great again!

1. Tap the Reels icon using the button on the right of your Instagram page.
2. Scroll through the page till you find the best songs for your Reels.
3. On the left button on the video you choose, tap the name of the trending song and the artist.
4. You can see how many times this song has been used, and if it’s worth it, save it for your Reel.

• Your competitor's Instagram page

Believe it or not, your competitors are a great source of inspiration when it comes to trending Reels audio. Spy on their page and check how they make use of the latest trending sounds on Reels and how they integrate them into their strategy.

Then, you can apply the strategy to your own Reels or devise something new to stay ahead. With Socialinsider, you can filter your competitors' content and see what audio for Reels they use.

Plus, you’ll get to know the performance of the post and see if it’s worth using it.

You can also sort by specific keywords if you already have a sound chosen or a hashtag.

Get In-depth Analytics for Your Reels

See the performance of your competitor's Reels and improve your strategy

Start a 14-day FREE trial

Trending Instagram Audio in 2025

You probably figured out there is no secret to finding the most trending Instagram song.

Still, following everything from above and having a special eye for spotting trends, I craft a list of current trending Instagram audio, which will be updated monthly.

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in February

Miss you forget something

This trending Instagram Reel sound is perfect for showcasing your products. It works best in scenes where you "forget" something—only to reveal that the missing piece is your product.

A simple, fun way to highlight what makes your brand unforgettable with this viral Insta sound.

Uu piece of candy

This trend is another great way to highlight your brand by using this trending Instagram audio. It creates a playful, enticing effect, just like luring someone in with a piece of candy.

Perfect for showcasing products that are irresistible!

Sports Car x Promiscuous

Another great remix by ALTÉGO MIX, quickly becoming one of the top trending audios on Instagram.

It’s one of those viral sounds that works for almost any type of video, making it a go-to choice for brands and creators alike.

Slim Shady

Slim Shady is a trending music on Instagram again, this time with the "My name is? Who?" part.

It’s perfect for transitions, whether switching outfits, introducing team members, or showcasing different products in a fun, dynamic way.

Traffic Was Crazy

A new way to say you're late because of "traffic"—but the real traffic is something else.

This popular Reels sound perfectly captures those unexpected delays, like choosing the right shoes, picking a lipstick, or finishing your favorite series. So many reasons to be late, and “traffic” is always the excuse!

Lovely background sound

With 34.7K Reels and counting, this trending Instagram audio is perfect for the month of love. It’s ideal for aesthetic videos.

Whether you're cooking, packing orders, having dinner with your team, or enjoying a cozy meeting. Honestly, it fits anything with a soft, gentle vibe!

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in January

My Shayla

This trending sound has blown up on TikTok, and now Reels is jumping on board (you’ll even see people commenting “my Shyla” everywhere!).

In this Reels trend, users post pictures or videos that express feelings of heartbreak, frustration, or annoyance towards someone, all set to a clip of someone crying while saying, "My Shayla."

It’s a playful, dramatic way to turn everyday struggles into exaggerated emotional moments, adding some humor to even the most relatable situations.

DtMF trending sound

A great song and an even better trending sound for Instagram Reels, DtMF has been used in 627K reels so far. It started as a go-to sound for family and nostalgic memories but has now evolved into a popular background track for vlogs and everyday moments.

With Instagram pushing longer videos, this sound is a perfect choice to boost your reach and engagement!

peekaboo sound

Right now, this viral sound is dominating Instagram Reels. It’s fast, energetic, and instantly grabs attention. Pair it with short, dynamic clips, and you’ve got a winning formula.

A lot of creators and brands are using this trend for quick transitions, whether it’s getting ready, showcasing a process (like makeup or outfit changes), or highlighting a product in action. If your content involves movement, this is the perfect sound to make it pop!

are you kidding? I need to calm down

This viral Instagram Reels trending sound, is about yelling dramatically that something is unfair, only to quickly pull yourself together, because, well, you’re an adult.

People are using it to joke about relatable struggles, from daily inconveniences to industry frustrations. It’s a fun and easy way to add humor to your content!

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in December

Sailor Song

This trending Instagram audio is perfect for Reels where you want to tell a story or add an emotional touch with a sequence of clips.

You can even use this recent sound as a background soundtrack to enhance the mood of your content, no matter the subject is.

Carrie Bradshaw monologue

Carrie Bradshaw’s monologue as a viral audio for Reels is perfect for aesthetic videos that include storytelling.

Her line, “People that matter are always in your heart,” is a great way to showcase your team or create a collage of photos from your life or brand story. It adds a personal and meaningful touch to your content.

XOXO Gossip Girl + Last Christmas mashup

This trending Instagram audio is a mashup of the last line from the Gossip Girl series, “XoXo, Gossip Girl,” and “Last Christmas” by Ariana Grande.

Many creators and brands use this popular audio to showcase their products, especially in the fashion or beauty industry. It’s a fun and catchy way to highlight your brand’s style and aesthetics.

Merry Christmas everyone mashup

Another viral mashup audio trending on Reels right now for the holiday season starts with a voice saying “Merry Christmas, everyone” and then smoothly transitions into a song.

I’ve seen a lot of Reels using this audio, whether it’s for cooking, decorating Christmas trees, or even dance routines. It’s a perfect opportunity to get creative and share your festive content in a fun and engaging way!

The Holiday trending audio

It’s December, which means it’s time to rewatch “The Holiday” again! That’s why this Instagram audio trends every year during this period...everyone just can’t resist!

Use this viral sound for daily vlogs, hauls showcasing your products (highlighting what gifts they can buy from your brand for Christmas), or decorating the office videos.

It's timeeeeee..

I’m sure you’ve heard this viral sound on Instagram Reels at least once since December started! It's just like those memes where Mariah Carey breaks the ice and starts singing.

The audio begins with “It’s time” and transitions smoothly into “All I Want for Christmas.”

You can use it to capture the excitement of the holiday season or give it a fresh perspective by saying, “It’s time to try our new products.”

We listen and we don't judge

Ever wanted to express something without worrying about judgment? Now’s your chance with this new Reels trend.

The idea is simple: gather a group of people, and each person shares something they’ve done or thought about. Everyone agrees to listen and not pass judgment.

You start each sentence with “We listen and we don’t judge” and end it the same way. You can also do it by yourself, but say things that are relatable to your audience so you'll all vibe to the same actions.

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in November

"It's you" Reels trend

This is one of the top trending sounds on Reels this month. With 34.9K Reels, it’s the perfect opportunity to surprise your clients and make them feel special.

Here’s how it works: record yourself, add the text "Hey, look! There’s our favorite client!" and then point your finger to the camera, just like in this example below.

Of course, feel free to get creative and add your own twist, but be sure to use this current audio for Instagram Reels to make the most impact and become viral.

I have to make an announcement viral sound on Reels

The perfect idea to present your products or services through this popular song on Instagram Reels right now.

If you have an actual announcement to make, even better! This trending sound is the ideal combination of attention-grabbing and engaging, making it the perfect fit for showcasing your news or offerings.

May I have your attention - original sound from "Wicked"

Originally from the "Wicked" movie, this viral sound is gaining popularity among Instagram Reels creators and brands.

It can be used in both humorous and serious contexts, offering a way to express your own emotions or connect with your audience’s feelings, all while boosting your chances of landing on the For You page.

Accidentally flipped the camera

One of the most popular sounds on Reels right now is associated with the "flip the camera" trend.

To participate, make a bold statement in the name of someone else, then flip the camera to reveal a surprising twist or reaction.

For brands, you can use this sound trend by making a fun, bold claim about your product or service and then flipping the camera to reveal you’re the one behind it. It’s a playful way to get involved and engage with your audience!

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in October

Mantra sound

This trending sound on Instagram Reels, with a huge 288K uses, is everywhere on the For You page!

It’s catchy, it’s a vibe, and it grabs attention fast. Try it as a fun background for product highlights, quick tutorials, or even just adding that extra pop to a mood-setting post.

APT Rose and Bruno Mars

The latest Instagram Reels hit, APT by Bruno Mars and ROSE, and it’s blowing up as the top sound on Reels right now. You’ve probably heard it already!

It's the most popular sound on Reels right now and a perfect perfect for adding energy to behind-the-scenes moments, spotlighting offers, showing off fun office dances, or adding flair to GRWM (Get Ready With Me) and OOTD (Outfit of the Day) posts.

And then i ll go and spoil it all..

This viral Instagram Reels trend is easily the funniest one this month! It kicks off with the line, “And then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like…” followed by everyone saying something totally random or hilarious.

Use it to keep things relatable for your audience or give a peek into your company culture with a playful twist!

Wait they don't love you like i love you

This October, the most trending sound on Instagram Reels is definitely this catchy dance! If you’re thinking about jumping in, you’ll be glad to know that both versions are super simple to pick up. Plus, the "Maps" sound has already been featured in 95.9K Reels!

In the first version, you'll bounce down while pointing your fingers and switching to the beat. The second version involves shaking your hips side to side, tapping your hips, and giving a “stop” hand gesture to the audience.

You can join forces with your coworkers for a fun twist or add a catchy line like, “No one will love you more than [your product]!”

Montego sound

This new Reels trending sound start rapidly to grow in Instagram charts. The upbeat rhythm sets a vibrant tone that’s sure to catch attention and keep your audience engaged.

You can use it in cool edits or create playful challenges.

Witches sound

Spooky or not, this trending sound is making a huge splash on the For You page this October! With more than 28K Reels, it’s perfect for capturing that Halloween spirit and adds a playful yet mysterious vibe to your Reels.

Use it for everything from fun costume reveals for Halloween to showcasing products and outfits.

Happy and healthy sound

This viral sound for Instagram Reels, with over 115K Reels, is super easy to use and brings such a chill vibe! It’s perfect for all kinds of content, whether you’re sharing wellness tips, capturing a peaceful moment, or just adding a calming backdrop to your daily routines.

It can really enhance your ideas and create a positive atmosphere, making it a go-to choice for any video you want to make.

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in September

Do you know you have 30 minutes??

If you're asking what audio is trending on Instagram right now, this one is on top reel sound. Here’s how the trend works: It starts with a panicked voice saying, “Do you know you have 30 minutes??" and then cuts to the person showing what they need to do, often with a shocked, scared, or even sassy expression.

You can use it creatively to highlight things like rushing to finish a project (like a Q3 report), completing a task, or even humorous, exaggerated situations like trying not to get angry or resisting an impulse.

Original audio myfebruary14th (people saw this and invented...)

This viral Reels audio trending today is known for two reasons. One side is a cute vibe, perfect for travel videos, bringing all the feels.

The other trend is filming a scenic view with the caption, "People saw this and invented the 9-6 work program."

You can use this trending ig audio both ways to match your vibe, and it's also super popular as background music.

Savannah slow down

Probably one of the most trending audios on Instagram right now is the “Savannah slow down” one.

You can use this sound to tap into those “my brain says yes, my heart says no” moments for your persona. Let’s be real: everyone has something they just can’t let go of, so keep this in mind for your audience when recreating a Reel with this popular audio.

Who got you smiling like that?

"Brooo, who got you smiling like that?" is a simple way to express love and adoration for something, and that's what this current trending Instagram audio is all about.

Tip: Just showcase your products or services with this viral audio and engaging captions to grab attention! See this example.

Accidentally splash water on my phone trend

I think this Instagram Reels trend is perfect for every brand—it's a bit funny and a little delulu, but it really gets you! This viral audio is the most used for this trend.

The story goes like this: you accidentally splash water on your phone while washing your hands, and suddenly, your phone starts ordering clothes or making an appointment for lash extensions. It happens, I swear!

But anyway, this is how you can highlight your brand in a cool way!

Die with a smile- Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars

Honestly, "Die with a Smile" is the best song for Reels — no debate! It gets stuck in your mind like an anthem, which means more views.

I’ve seen this trending sound throughout the Reels FYP in every form. Whether using it to showcase your products or just as background music while doing a tutorial, it works perfectly!

Altego Music original mix

Altego did it again with the best mix of the month for Instagram Reels!

This track is perfect for transitions or to build anticipation during the wait for the drop. Depending on what you want to showcase or relate to, make sure you’re on point with the beat.

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in August

Soft sound Badadabee

The viral "Badadabee" audio on Reels is trending in two main ways. One is showcasing products with a soft, aesthetic touch, and the other is a playful, conversational trend where two people exchange a simple dialogue like:

“Are you coming to the office tomorrow?”

"Yes" - followed by a heartfelt hug.

Both trends are popular, so choose the one that resonates most with your style!

Kiss of Life - Sade

The classic "Kiss of Life" by Sade is top trending on Instagram Reels (again), with over 400K Reels and growing!

Brands and creators are tapping into this timeless sound to spotlight their top products and services, creating content with a main character vibe that’s both elegant and captivating. It's the perfect audio to add a touch of sophistication to your storytelling.

Lalala Gilmore girls - leahsguides

Someone described this popular Instagram sound as “when life starts to sound more like la la la,” and I think that perfectly captures the vibe!

Its cozy audio makes it ideal for creating comforting Reels.

365 x FEMINONOMENON by Adamusic

This trending sound on Instagram has 72.7K Reels, and it’s gaining momentum. Brands and creators are using it to showcase products with bold flair.

MAMUSHI x DROP IT LIKE IT HOT

This viral Reels sound has been used in 44.9K reels and is perfect for brands to showcase eye-catching content.

Use it to highlight products, create smooth transitions, or sync with bold visuals for maximum impact.

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in July

Sunny

This trending insta audio is your go-to for fresh, energetic summer videos.

Perfectly capturing the essence of the season, this viral sound is your ticket to boosting your brand’s visibility and making waves on the For You page. How to use it? Simply overlay the audio on your clips for instant impact!

Apple - Charlie xcx

It’s Brat Girl Summer—the latest trend that’s capturing everyone's attention, sparked by Charli XCX's album of the same name. The viral audio "Apple," has taken Instagram by storm.

Currently, you can leverage this popular sound for Reels by showcasing a fun dance with your coworkers or simply overlaying it on your videos for an instant boost.

I like it

“I Like It” is one of the top sounds on Instagram Reels this week, and it’s a must-use! This versatile track brings a great vibe that fits nearly any content.

While it's currently trending in DIY videos and recipes, let your creativity shine by using this viral Instagram audio in any way that suits your content.

Mamushi

This trending audio has appeared on my For You page so many times that I’ve lost count! While most videos feature lip-syncing, I’ve also seen it used creatively in OOTD clips, make-up videos, and product launches.

It’s truly a catchy sound!

Breezy Summer (Loop)

The most viral Instagram audio on Instagram right now and 100% business approved is "Breezy Summer." Nearly every beauty brand is using it in their Reels!

It's perfect for product videos and adding a fresh, engaging touch to your content.

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in June

"Please, please, please" viral sound by Sabrina Carpenter

She's the IT girl right now, and this is Sabrina Carpenter's latest trending audio.

With 296K reels and counting, this viral sound on Instagram Reels can catapult your video onto everyone's For You page.

Plus, it’s also a popular transition that you can do using this sound. Don't miss out on this trend!

"Birds of a Feather" trending sound by Billie Eilish

This audio is blowing up on Instagram Reels with 424 uses and counting

It's perfect for any content idea you can think of. Forget the fancy edits—just create meaningful content that speaks to your audience using this trending sound.

A summer place

It's giving major summer vibes, hot and sweet.

This popular audio is all over Instagram Reels, from travel adventures to cooking videos. But this captivating sound can expand your audience and grab attention, no matter your industry.

"Wikedest" audio trending

Get ready for the latest Afrobeat trend! Loving these vibes—full of energy and golden vibes.

Every brand should jump on this viral audio while it's hot and fresh on the trend charts. There's no need for complex edits or moves; showcase your products or services with this sound and watch the magic unfold.

"Devil is a lie" viral sound

This trending Instagram Reels audio is seriously empowering and perfect for bold vibes and connecting with others.

It's been a hit with sports and lifestyle/beauty brands, but honestly, anyone can get in on it. No rules—dive in and make it yours!

"girl$" popular audio

Say it louder: "don't need nobody, girls!" This hot sound on Instagram Reels has already been used in 21.4K videos and counting—it's super fresh!

People are having a blast with this audio, sharing memories, fun facts, or simply flaunting their outfits.

Brands can totally join in the fun and share their own unique spin on it, too!

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in May

"It's a about time" audio

Say it louder for the people in the back: "It's about time you fall in love with something that would love you back!"

This sound recently became viral on Instagram Reels, and it's the perfect time to use it and grow your audience. You can use this trending audio to show your products (like in the video below) or anything else that represents your company. You can also lipsync on this viral sound and write a relatable text for your audience.

"Expresso" sound by Sabrina Carpenter

With more than 1.1M Reels, this sound is a massive trend on Instagram right now.

I've seen users and brands use this viral audio to show their work (art, decor, DIYs), outfits, or products – so any form of creativity is allowed to make this trend. It's fresh, summery, and definitely deserves a place on your brand profile.

"Million dollar baby" trending audio

A powerful and empowering trending sound, "Million Dollar Baby" has 556K on reels and still counting.

I've seen brands using this sound doing different transitions on the beats of the sound or UGC videos from creators trying on some products.

"Jump" sound by Tyla

From the MET Gala directly with this banger, Tyla won the Instagram Reels trending spot with this audio.

More than 355K Reels were made on this sound, plus has a viral dance that everyone is trying to do.

"Euphoria" Diss track

You don't need to be updated with the latest pop culture moments between Kendrick Lamar and Drake to use this sound. Also, you don't support one or the other if you're using it. (to make things clear)

It's just trending on Reels right now, and to be honest, it's a vibe. There are two types of users who created Reels on this viral sound:

1. they say what they hate about something (can be a book, a movie, a place) in a funny way, not hatred.

2. post creative templates or edits.

"West Coast" Remix sound

This viral sound is so genuine and aesthetic, perfect for fashion brands, jewelry, or beauty.

The audio now trending has 60.6K Reels and counting.

"Fortnight" audio

Swifties are again on our list of audio trends for Reels. "Fortnight" is heavily used with 193K Reels.

You can use this sound in a vintage, creative way, or as a background sound while doing a voice over.

Trending Instagram audio for Reels in April

Hello sharks trend + "shark tank" audio

Hello sharks, can I ask $1 million to travel the world and send you snaps with my coffee every day? That's it — the dream.

For this trend on Reels, you have to pretend you are at the TV show "Shark Tank" and ask for the most hilarious things. Check this audio and take inspo for your following Reels.

"Gimme more" audio ( Britney transition trend)

Yeah, the queen is back! Now, with new moves. For this Britney transition trend, you have to do these moves (or any cool idea of moves)on the beats and have a massive diva vibe.

This viral sound was used in 356K Reels.

Take my whisky neat

Perfect for transitions, glow-ups, and even aesthetic videos, this audio by Hozier is trending on Instagram now.

One of the most effective ways to leverage your brand on this trending audio is to involve your audience in your journey, showcasing your beginning versus now. Users love transparency and golden stories!

"Back on 79" by Jungle trending audio

This popular Reels song is on my #Fyp all the time! To be honest, it's in my headphones, too. Users are doing everything on this audio: GRWM, product presentations, travel videos, etc., so there are no rules.

And, listen, up! 752K reels were made on this audio, and Jungle ate it and gave us the best viral audio to gain views on Instagram.

"Blue Monday" audio

Blue Monday? It's more like Angry Monday.

In this viral audio trend, you have to find a different POV and start "fighting." Like a debate, but funnier and with dance moves on the beat of the songs.

Tip: Try to make it as relatable as possible with your target audience for more engagement.

"SLAY!" viral audio

On this sound, everyone and everything slays! It's a must to try making a Reel using this viral audio.

This trending audio was used in 303K reels and counting. Now is your chance to use it while it is still trending.

Final Thoughts

Even though it can be quite simple to follow current Instagram Reels audio trends, nailing down your marketing game plan and finding your unique voice are key.

Make use of all the top trending audio on Instagram as much as is suitable for your business; don't do things just because everyone else is doing it.

It's important to stay relevant in this rapid transition of trends and updates in social media, so hopefully, the examples provided will help you earn well-deserved glorious brand awareness.

And remember: These audios and trends are always coming and going so fast. Your creativity and strategy are here to stay! Protect them at all costs.

In the highly captivating world of TikTok, things move fast. Being the birthplace of viral content nowadays, TikTok is the place to check when you want to discover ideas on how to get in front of your target audience.

As a marketer, you can easily get overwhelmed by the great amount of TikTok trends that are born all of a sudden, we know. So, to simplify your research process, we've curated a list of the hottest TikTok trends that you can integrate into your strategy to boost your brand awareness. Let's dive in!

Viral TikTok trends to try

Businesses leveraging TikTok marketing could spice up their strategy with the following trends to capitalize on the hype around a trend, increase brand visibility, and diversify the content you create for social media in terms of themes and concepts.  

TikTok Trends in February 2025

I met my younger self for a coffee

One of the trending TikTok sounds this month is "I met my younger self for a coffee." In this viral trend, you write a story about meeting your younger self in a coffee shop and talking about what’s changed over the years and the conversations you have. Whether emotional or funny, it’s up to you.

Brands can use this trend from the POV of a customer or employee, especially with the rise of employee-generated content. Share a story about growth, change, or memorable moments, and make it personal to connect with your audience.

"Montoya por favor"

This sound is one of the top 3 viral trends on TikTok right now, originating from La Isla de las Tentaciones (Spanish Temptation Island), episode 3, when José Carlos catches Anita with someone new and runs to the beach.

The drama? Iconic. The new TikTok trend is now everywhere, gaining traction among both viewers and brands.

Use the sound to highlight surprising or transformative moments, like customer reactions, product reveals, or before-and-after transformations.

"You're so quiet"

"You're so quiet" is the new version of last month's "You're so funny" trend, and it's quickly gaining popularity on TikTok this week. It highlights moments when you're quiet, whether it’s funny or something more real (you don't like the person, you feel a bad vibe, you are thinking of something completely different)

Brands should step into their audience's shoes and make the content relatable by showcasing those moments.

The reason you have no money

This is one of the latest TikTok trends, showing what causes money to disappear. It could be a picture of yourself or your favorite products, the things that make you spend.

For brands, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase their products or services as the reason people spend their money. Make it fun and relatable, highlighting what makes their offerings irresistible!

What’s your favorite horror scene?

This current TikTok trend shows scenes from movies or daily life that mean something to you, something scarier or sadder than a horror movie.

It could even be a love story that breaks your heart or that moment when your coworker stole a cookie from you. You can twist this however you like. Make sure to use this sound and post it as a carousel.

TikTok Trends in January 2025

“you’re so funny”

Join the latest TikTok trend on this sound by sharing a video/photo with the text “You’re so funny,” then follow it up with a playful response that reveals a quirky or awkward past moment, like: “Thanks, I used to [insert old quirk/trauma].”

As a brand, this viral TikTok trend is a great opportunity to show off your human side. Share something funny or relatable from your brand’s history or behind-the-scenes moments, like a mistake or unexpected event that reflects your  personality.

“Irena Aizen Bunny Art”

One of the most recent TikTok trends, which started just a few days ago, features paintings by artist Irena Aizen, specifically her bunny-themed artwork.

The viral trend on TikTok involves a two-photo carousel set to this sound. The first image includes the text: “How I look at the robber when I tell them to take anything and they take my [insert item].” The second image follows with “Noo mi [thing].”

You can play along by featuring something essential to your brand that would be "devastating" to lose, whether it’s your best-selling product, or an inside joke from your community.

“Are you kidding? That’s unfair”

This trending TikTok sound with 66.7K videos is all about lip-syncing while dramatically yelling that something is unfair, only to quickly compose yourself, because, well, you’re an adult.

You can jump on this trend by applying it to relatable moments that resonate with your audience.

I make the face you make the sound (again)

The funniest TikTok trend right now is actually a comeback of an old favorite: “I make the face, you make the sound.”

The idea is simple: you play along with friends or colleagues, where one person makes an exaggerated or funny face, and the other provides the sound effect to match it.

TikTok Trends in December 2024

Pepe the King Prawn meme

What we love about the most popular TikTok trends is that every month brings a new favorite meme, often accompanied by laughter.

The Pepe the King Prawn meme, combined with the “Like a Prayer” (Choir Version) sound, is a perfect example. Users share stories that capture that meme face. This viral trend on TikTok is commonly posted as a carousel or simple photo on TikTok.

You can share inside stories from your office or team or ask your followers to share stories that resonate with Pepe's face to build a community around laughter.

Emma Roberts meme

This hot trend on TikTok features a photo of Emma Roberts smiling awkwardly. It’s often paired with a layer of text that conveys a POV or a situation where you don’t know what to do, so you just smile and sit still.

Research your audience and use this current TikTok trend to describe their cringe situations in a relatable way.

Happy dance trend

For this recent TikTok trend, the key is moving the camera in a wild and dynamic way while doing dance moves.

Users use this viral trend to capture happy moments when groups meet or express their emotions. The sound associated with it has 900.8K videos.

To help your video get noticed, use a specific hashtag that aligns with your audience or fits the content.

We listen, and we don't judge

Did you ever want to say something and never be judged for it? Now’s your chance with this newest TikTok trend.

The trend works like this: with another person (or more), each person shares things they’ve done or thought about, and no one should judge.

You start every sentence together with “We listen and we don’t judge” and finish it the same way.

Sophia Richie dance trend

The trending video of Sofia Richie dancing has taken TikTok by storm, turning into an actual dance trend.

Now, everyone is using the “Messy” sound, which already has 321.3K videos. Some users are dancing along, while others use the sound as background audio or for lip-syncing.

What an odd thing to say

One of the top 3 viral TikTok trends this month features a phrase from Alice in Wonderland that’s been turned into a popular sound.

To join in, simply use the sound and add text to your video to tell your part of the story. For example: “What’s the oddest thing someone has ever said to you?”

TikTok Trends in November 2024

Chill guy trend

One of the hottest TokTok trends in November is the "Chill Guy." This character has taken over the platform, with users dropping him into all kinds of situations, usually as an adaptable template and a sound, to highlight his effortlessly laid-back attitude.

The humor comes from imagining how being "just a chill guy" could smooth over tense or awkward moments.

For brands, the "Chill Guy" meme is a fantastic way to tap into internet culture because it's a fun, relatable way to connect with your audience and show you're in the loop! PS: make sure you credit the artist.

I like my sootcase

This month's most popular TikTok trend is totally unexpected and a little random, but it’s taking off!

It’s about someone in a suitcase, lip-syncing to a viral sound from when Barron Trump was younger. Yup, that’s it!  The remix version of the sound has racked up over 67K videos, and it’s blowing up for its sheer randomness.

Brands don’t need to go full-on suitcase mode at the office (unless you really want to!), but this sound is a fun opportunity to hop on a trend. Get creative, have a laugh, and think of ways to incorporate the viral sound into your content.

Flip the camera trend

The funniest TikTok trend this month is the "flip the camera." All you need to do is record a video where you make a bold claim on behalf of someone else, like, “People should give their dogs as many biscuits as possible. It’s great for them.”

Then, you flip the camera and act surprised.

For brands, you can join the trend by making a bold statement related to your product or service, then flipping the camera to reveal that it’s actually you behind the claim and join the trend.

Guessing name by voice trend

This viral TikTok challenge is perfect for brands and team building! Here’s how it works: one team member sits on a chair backward, and their task is to guess each team member by just their voice.

It’s a fun and engaging way to showcase your team's personality and bond while also giving a peek into your brand’s culture.

Defying Gravity

After the release of the "Wicked" movie, a new TikTok trend went viral on the For You page. It’s being used in all sorts of creative ways, like pretending to fly or defy gravity while lip-syncing or using the sound in POV and Get Ready With Me videos.

Brands can also use this popular trend on TikTok to promote their products.

TikTok trends in October 2024

Office Ghost trend for Halloween

The best TikTok trend in October for the spooky season is the office ghosts trend.

Get your coworkers together, grab some white sheets, and be ready for a photoshoot. It’s accessible, hilarious, and, honestly, it’s the best idea to show off your team’s Halloween spirit without breaking the bank.

That basically sums me up as a person

This viral TikTok trend is all about capturing the essence of who you (or your brand) are in one memorable line.

Make it unique, try to think of your values or mission, and create a standout statement.

Here’s how it works: post a photo carousel on this song, with the first slide showing a text overlay that reveals something super specific about your brand personality, followed by a second slide that says, “And that basically sums me up as a person.”

In the klerb, we're all fam

This trend very popular on TikTok, featuring a sound clip from the sitcom Broad City, has taken off with over 220.1K videos.

Meaning? “In this club, we’re all family.” Users are highlighting a sense of community, using it to express moments of connection and unity. If you’re posting with this sound, don't forget to lip-sync.

It’s a fantastic way to show your audience how close you feel to them!

Robot staring face

You know that moment when you just don’t know how to react? The Staring Robot trend on TikTok perfectly captures that feeling!

It’s ideal for showcasing relatable moments for your persona. Share a photo of this robot with the Alicia Keys-No One (76.5K videos) sound and add a text overlay describing a situation for the blank face robot expression.

Wait, they don't love you like I love you

The funniest and most popular TikTok trend in October has to be this catchy dance! If you’re considering joining in, you’ll be happy to know that both versions of the TikTok dance are super easy to learn. Also, Maps sound on TikTok has 2M videos.

In the first version, you'll bounce down while pointing your fingers, switching between each beat. The second version involves shaking your hips from side to side, tapping your hips, and giving a “stop” hand signal to the audience.

You can team up with your coworkers for a fun twist or personalize it with a catchy line like, “No one will love you more than X product.”

Suspect trend

This is a viral trend on TikTok and is all over the #fyp. You can make this trend by creating a funny video with a coworker.

How? Take turns pretending to run away from a crime scene while the other shouts, “Suspect is [insert a specific trait that matches your brand values or relates to your products/services].” It’s a playful way to roast each other while highlighting what makes your brand unique.

Plus, if you know your audience well, you can make this video even more relatable by focusing on those quirky traits that resonate with your persona. You can use the #suspecttrend hashtag for virality.

Interpretative dance

For this popular TikTok trend, all you have to do is perform a funny, tribal-inspired dance that playfully tries to convince someone of something.

This trend is perfect for any idea you have, allowing you to showcase your brand in a memorable way on TikTok. Don’t forget to use the trending sound (which has already inspired 38.1K videos) and the #interpretivedance hashtag (with 16.3K posts) to increase your visibility.

TikTok trends in September 2024

I love my other side TikTok trend

TikTok's latest and most popular trend is a carousel that uses this sound and includes a series of captions.

The first slide features the caption, “I love my [nationality] side.

The second slide presents the caption, “But you’re not [nationality]."

The third slide showcases a picture of someone or something that embodies that nationality, such as a work bestie, which can highlight your office culture or a product that represents your country.

Love this trend for celebrating cultural identity and strengthening the universal connection.

Henry Danger meme (Rain on Me sound)

Henry Danger is making a comeback on TikTok, where people are posting viral memes with clips from the series where he looks really sus.

As a brand, you can tap into this current TikTok trend by using similar meme formats and humor to connect with your audience.

You can definitely use this sound, which is often featured in these memes. I’ve noticed it mainly in single posts or carousels, but what matters is what you say rather than the format itself.

Plus, nostalgia from the early 2000s is always a hit with everyone!

Delulu TikTok sound ("you're crazy")

This recent TikTok trend featuring the sound “delulu” by NESYA has gone viral quickly, with over 103.6K videos and counting. It’s currently the number one trending sound in TikTok’s Creative Center in the U.S., and it’s totally approved for business use.

The lyrics include “Haha, you’re crazy,” so lip-sync to this while adding a fun caption!

99 problems

One of the most popular TikTok trends this week is the 99 Problems effect. The trend shows a caption that starts with "99 problems," which then fades away and turns into "0 problems" when the person is with someone they care about or doing something they love.

It’s all about how everything else fades away in those moments of joy. You can jump on this trend by highlighting how your product or service helps make your audience’s problems disappear.

You can use this sound and this effect in CapCut.

Just vote sound

You’ve probably heard this sound by now. TikTok users have even dubbed it a “culturally significant moment.”

It’s trending this week with the soundbite, “Just vote. I know I’m going to be out, so just vote.”

Creators use this iconic line to show moments of self-awareness, making funny videos where they imagine themselves getting “voted out” in different scenarios.

Lip sync to the sound and add overlay text that explains why you’d be voted out—whether it’s for missing a deadline, dropping a ball in a group chat, or even a lighthearted brand moment where you poke fun at industry challenges.

This is Expresso meme

What will TikTok be without funny memes? This hot trend started when a TikToker created a green screen version of a moment from Amelia Dimoldenberg's interview.

In the clip, Dimoldenberg is dancing to Sabrina Carpenter’s song Espresso while she sits in the background, having a side-eye moment.

Now, users are running with it, using the green screen to create hilarious stories.

As a brand, you can join this trend by using the green screen to humorously highlight moments your audience faces or talk about your company culture (ex, you and your work bestie at a meeting).

Symphony trend on TikTok

The symphony dolphin trend is one of the most viral TikTok trends right now. Users post stunning visuals of dolphins set to the song "Symphony" by Zara Larsson.

But what makes it unique is that instead of motivational or positive messages, the captions tend to poke fun at personal struggles, making the trend visually appealing and amusing.

You can hop on this trend by using the sound and dolphin meme, tailoring it to your audience’s pain points—but with a playful, funny twist that resonates with them.

TikTok trends in August 2024

Very demure, very mindful

This TikTok trend is a huge success, becoming massive viral everywhere, and even the most popular brands have used it. It all started with American content creator Jools Lebron (@joolieannie) and this video.

So, what does "demure" mean? It usually describes someone who is reserved, modest, or shy. But with this trend, everyone gets to put their own spin on what "demure" means for them. It’s a great chance for brands to join in and show how they can be "demure" in their company culture, or you can make it fit your buyer persona, just like we did!

This and Yap

“This and Yap” is a popular TikTok trend that’s both aesthetic and relatable, especially for brands that like to share casual office moments. The trend is all about making everyday office interactions, like chatting with coworkers, look fun and engaging.

For example, if you feature something like “coffee and yap” in your video, your brand can easily connect with the many people who work in teams. Showcasing employee moments can be a great way to make your brand more relatable and connect with your audience.

Wide Fingers

No, no, no! This viral trend on TikTok is actually very easy to do. You just need to use a filter, this sound, and find something that characterizes your target audience.

Just find a way to make it relevant to your brand or message, and you’re set to jump on this TikTok trend!

Dopamine Menu Trend

The "Dopamine Menu" trend on TikTok is about showcasing the little things that bring happiness and joy to people.

This trend is perfect for brands to get involved in because every brand has something that can bring happiness to its audience. Whether it’s a special product, a thoughtful service, or a unique experience, now’s the time to share what your brand offers and join in on the fun!

Give Me My Money

This TikTok trend is absolutely hilarious! Here’s how it works: Get a group together, and each person takes turns saying, “just give me my money,” followed by everyone clapping. The twist? When it’s the last person’s turn, nobody claps.

It might not sound like much, but trust me—it’s funnier than it seems. Check out the trend and give it a try!

Bye Bye Bye’ dance trend

And seriously, what is a month of TikTok trends without a dance challenge? This TikTok dance trend started with the new Deadpool movie and is now going viral.

If dancing isn’t your thing, don’t worry—you can still join in by using the sound in your own creative way.

TikTok trends in July 2024

My favorite animal is me

This is one current TikTok trend that totally blew up out of nowhere! "My Favorite Animal is Me" is everywhere on TikTok this month!

Basically, TikTok creators are sharing the moments that push their buttons and turn them into wild animals, using the caption: "My favorite animal is me when [ a situation that makes you lose it]."

Most people are using the song "Work" by Iggy Azalea with this trend. But, if that's not your vibe or it's not brand-safe, you can use this song instead. The key thing is the caption and how much your audience can relate to it.

It doesn't matter if you post it as a video, a carousel, or just a single image. TikTok did it again—coming up with another unique and hot TikTok trend!

Jump in the pool fully dressed or..

Summer vibes and putting yourself out there—that's the perfect way to describe the most popular trend on TikTok this week.

Similar to the game ‘Would You Rather?’, this viral TikTok trend will make you choose between two choices. Here's the deal: you pose a scenario with two options: jumping into a pool or ocean fully clothed or doing something you really don’t want to do.

If you ask me on a deeper level

The “If you asked me on a deeper level” current trend on TikTok is a fantastic way for brands to connect with their audience on a more personal level.

This recent TikTok trend involves a carousel of four images with text overlays that allow you to share deeper insights and emotions about your brand’s values, products, or employers' experiences.

Start with an image introducing a topic related to your brand, with the text “If you asked me about…”. Follow it with an image saying, “I’d say is okay.” The third image should state, “But if you asked me on a deeper level”, and the final image is where you express your true feelings with a longer, heartfelt caption.

It’s a creative way to build a genuine connection with your audience on TikTok!

How many likes for…

One of the top trends on TikTok right now involves users asking their favorite brands for free products or services if their post gets a certain number of likes or comments. It's a fun challenge where brands set a goal, and users rely on their followers to help them reach it.

Some users ask their family or friends to set a number of likes or comments, and if the number is reached, they have to buy that product.

The community spirit is strong as users rally to boost likes and comments on these posts, making it a great way for brands to gain visibility and engagement. This viral trend on TikTok not only increases awareness but also creates a sense of excitement and camaraderie among followers. A win-win.

Brat summer

First: What does BRAT mean? In pop culture, "brat" has come to symbolize a bold and confident persona who embraces both their strengths and insecurities with authenticity.

This viral TikTok trend gained momentum with Charli XCX’s album, which is famously known for its vibrant green cover.

So, how can you join the "brat" recent TikTok trend? The possibilities are endless! You might dive into "brat summer essentials," show off your "brat dance," or join the fun in the comments by dropping a “You’re so brat💚” or “You’re so Julia 💚.”

Show off your style trend

The latest TikTok trend is all about flaunting your unique style and stylish aura. It’s simple yet fun: with a catchy dance move, you showcase your outfits, highlight how diverse they are, or even demonstrate your obsession with a single color.

This viral trend on TikTok is a fantastic way for the fashion industry to jump in and make a splash!

How can you find TikTok trends?

Trends may come and go, but it's essential to consistently seek out new ones to keep your content fresh and engaging.

Leveraging TikTok trends effectively can significantly boost your brand awareness and audience engagement over time.

Instead of being chronically online, which can be challenging, there are simpler methods to discover new TikTok trends.

• TikTok Creative Center

The Trend Discovery feature within TikTok's Creative Center is a helpful tool for identifying trends and staying updated.

First, you have to select the location. By selecting your target country, you can view a curated list of the platform's newest and most popular trends. Then, you can start searching through popular hashtags, viral audio and videos, and top creators' content.

For more inspiration, you can engage with the AI-powered Creative Assistant by simply pressing the “Show me what’s trending on TikTok” button.

• Browsing the “Explore” Page on TikTok

On the “Explore” page, you’ll find the most trending videos of the moment. You can select different categories, such as “Fashion,” “Beauty,” and “Food & Drink.” Click on each category to see the trends that are currently making waves in that industry.

As you look through the page, you'll notice certain styles or themes that keep showing up. These are trends you can use in your own videos.

While you are searching for new TikTok trends, don’t forget to have fun, be creative, and always try new things.

Final thoughts

Now that you’re caught up with the current trends on TikTok, all you have to do is put your inspiration and imagination to work.

Test the platform, implement some of the latest TikTok trends into your strategy for your new campaign, and monitor the changes you notice.

All these tips & tricks will help you adjust, adapt, and overcome any challenge that comes your way when it comes to your brand's TikTok campaign.

Ten to fifteen years ago, social media marketing was a brand new strategy where you could make a splash simply by having a social media presence.

Nowadays, when customers will be wary about working with a business that doesn’t have a social media presence, the impact of social media marketing is vastly different.

Because of this, many business owners and marketers are asking themselves, how effective is social media marketing in 2025? Brands don’t want to waste time and resources on a strategy that isn’t going to impact their bottom line.

To help alleviate those fears, we’re going to help you understand how social media marketing can still be an effective marketing strategy—as long as you properly measure your performance to understand your strategy’s impact.

Measure the effectiveness of your social media marketing efforts!

Get in-depth social media performance data and optimization insights with Socialinsider

Start your 14-days FREE trial

Why measuring social media effectiveness is crucial?

If you’re going to determine how effective social media marketing is for your business, you need to take one crucial step—measuring your social media performance.

Keeping tabs on your marketing analytics gives you the full picture of the impact of your strategy and a clear answer to your question.

Here are a few other reasons why measuring the effectiveness of your social media presence is so critical.

It helps you align social media goals with business objectives

Social media marketing plays an important role in generating brand awareness, sales, and customer loyalty, all of which are potential business objectives. By focusing your strategy on the same social media goals that align with your business objectives, you can improve your strategy’s effectiveness and the impact it makes on your brand.

You can identify what works (and what doesn’t)

Continuing with our goal of social media engagement as an example, tracking your analytics to gauge effectiveness of your content will show you whether your strategy is working. And if it’s not, it gives you the opportunity to make changes and adapt so that it does work.

Optimize your budget allocation based on performance

When you measure your performance and you see what’s working, you can put more of your marketing budget behind creating and promoting more of it.

Optimizing your budget allocation like this also helps optimize and improve your overall return on investment (ROI), giving you even more money to spend towards what’s working.

It keeps you competitive and relevant in fast-paced, ever changing markets

Measuring your brand’s social  presence helps you consistently adjust your approach so you stay competitive and relevant even as trends come and go.

But this extends further beyond than just the digital world. For example, just this year, McDonald’s finally caved to the social media pressure that’s been asking for snack wraps to reappear on its menu.

By listening to your customers and understanding what they want, you can appeal to that with your online content and your business offerings.

Core metrics to evaluate your social media effectiveness

To measure how effective social media marketing is for your business, there are a few key metrics to keep in mind. We’ll walk you through what each metric is, what it means, and how it pertains to your strategy’s effectiveness.

Plus, we’ll show you how you can measure each of these core metrics for your own social media reporting needs.

Brand awareness metrics

Brand awareness refers to how well people know about your brand and its products or services. There are a few different metrics you can measure on social media that can help you gauge your audience’s awareness.

Reach

Reach refers to the number of people that your content reaches on social media. The more people you reach, the more likely it is that those people know about your business and could recall it if they find themselves in need of your product or service.

You can find your reach by using a social media analytics tool like Socialinsider. Create an account, connect your social media platforms, then head to your main dashboard.

Click on each individual social media platform to view the reach of your content on that platform. For example, this chart below shows Instagram reach.

Take a look at each of the sections of this dashboard to gauge your reach: a line graph showing reach over time, a number sharing your total post reach within your specified time range, a bar chart showing reach based on post type, and more.

Impressions

Whereas reach tells you how many individual people have seen your content, impressions measure the total number of times your content was seen.

People may see your posts more than once for a number of reasons: it appeared multiple times in their feed, they sought it out to view it again, or friends shared it with them.

You can also view your impressions within Socialinsider by clicking on the Impressions tab in your left sidebar.

Similar to your reach dashboard, you have different graphs and interpretations of the data to help you understand how many times your content is being viewed.

It’s also a good idea to compare your impressions to your reach as it gives you an average number of times that your content was viewed by each person.

For example, if a recent post reached 750 people, but got 1,000 impressions, you’d divide 1,000/750 to see that your post was seen an average of 1.33 times per person.

Video views

If video content is a big part of your social media strategy, you’ll want to measure video views. If these numbers are low, it’s an indication that your videos aren’t very effective.

Since creating videos is one of the more time and resource-intensive types of content, you really want them to make an impact.

You can check out your video views within your Socialinsider dashboard by scrolling down in the Engagement tab until you see the following graph.

If you’re not satisfied with your video views, you may want to pivot the type of content you’re creating. Test different video ideas and styles until you start reaching a larger audience.

Followers and follower growth

Follower count gives you a clear cut baseline of the number of people that are aware of your brand on any given platform. And as you grow your followers, you can see visual proof of your brand awareness growing as well

Monitoring follower growth also helps you see if your strategy is working and getting you in front of the right audience. As long as you’re consistently seeing positive growth in your follower count, you’re doing something right. But if it starts to stagnate or drop, you might need to make some changes.

Remember that you can keep tabs on these metrics in the Audience tab of your Socialinsider dashboard.

You can see your total follower count, how many followers you’ve gotten in a specific time period, and a graph showcasing growth over time.

Mentions

Mentions tell you how many people are talking about your brand online, giving you another good indicator of brand awareness. Conduct regular searches on each of your online platforms for your brand name to make sure you don’t miss any mentions.

Track the total number of mentions you get over time, but also be sure to respond to anyone talking about your brand online to keep the conversation going and provide good customer service.

Engagement metrics

Engagement refers to the interactions social media users had with your content gathered on each platform.

Engagement is one of the most important indicators of social media effectiveness, as you want to build a loyal online community, and keeping them engaged with your content is a great way to do that.

Keep an eye on these engagement metrics so you know how well your content is performing with your target audience.

Engagement and engagement rate

Engagement tells you how many different interactions your content has received. This might refer to likes or reactions, comments, shares, saves, or any other type of interaction someone can make with your social media posts.

Your engagement rate tells you how many engagements you’re getting in comparison to your follower count or the number of people who have viewed your content.

Find this data in the Engagement tab of Socialinsider. You can scroll through this dashboard to see tons of information surrounding your profile’s engagement, like total number of interactions, engagement by post type, likes versus comments, and more.

If you’re seeing a relatively low engagement rate by reach, this means that your content doesn’t have the impact you want it to when people see it, in which case a strategy revamp is in order.

Comments

Comments are a big indicator of effectiveness. While anyone can scroll and double-tap photos or videos to show they like it, leaving a comment takes time and brain power. So, you want to track the number of comments you receive on your posts.

You can see this by scrolling down in the Engagement tab. Watch your total comments over time, total comments in your specific time period, and average comments per post.

Saves/shares

Saves are an Instagram-specific metric, as users can save your posts to different collections to refer back to later. They’re private, but are great indicators that your content is resonating with your audience.

Shares can happen on any platform and refer to users sending your post to one of their friends so they can view it too.

Both engagement metrics are clear markers of effectiveness, so you’ll want to watch these and aim to increase them over time.

Again, you can scroll down in the Engagement tab of your Socialinsider dashboard to find these metrics.

Conversion metrics

Although engagement is important for effectiveness, conversion metrics let you know if your social media strategy is actually impacting your business’s bottom line.

It’s important to understand that you shouldn’t put all of your focus on conversions. In many cases, social media marketing is meant to engage and build an audience, with conversions being a nice byproduct.

However, you still want to see leads and sales come from your social media efforts. So, we measure these metrics.

Click-through rate (CTR)

Your click-through rate refers to the number of clicks you get from your social media content to your website or landing pages. This will look different on each social media platform.

For example, Instagram doesn’t let you add links to individual posts, but you get a profile link that you can use strategically. Take advantage of link-in-bio tools with tracking capabilities to monitor your click-through rate.

However, on a platform like LinkedIn, where you can put links in your post captions or comments, you’ll want to monitor your LinkedIn analytics while also setting up UTM tracking so you can monitor clicks in your website’s Google Analytics.

Leads generated from social media

Leads are potential customers who have taken some kind of action indicating interest in your business. This might be filling out a form on your website, signing up for your newsletter, or requesting a demo.

By using UTM tracking parameters, you can monitor lead acquisition through your Google Analytics, getting a clear idea of how many of these new leads were generated directly from social media.

Sales from social media

Similarly, you can set up UTM tracking to monitor how many sales on your website occurred from people landing on your website from a social media platform.

However, ecommerce brands can also set up shopping catalogs on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, making direct sales from social media even easier to track.

Return on investment (ROI)

To track ROI, you first need to have an understanding of how much you’re spending on your marketing. Then, you can compare it to how much revenue you’ve generated thanks to your social media efforts.

The ROI formula is: Net Profit / Total Cost of Investment x 100.

Like we mentioned, though, when it comes to social media marketing, actual profit isn’t the only measure of effectiveness or success.

Many brands don’t plan their social media strategy around generating revenue at all, instead using it as a way to build brand awareness or community. But if you can get the best of both worlds, that’s even better.

Customer retention metrics

Finally, you’ll want to look at how well social media is helping you to retain customers, keeping them happy and returning for more purchases.

The following metrics are good KPIs to track for your business as a whole. You’ll need to rely on a CRM (customer relationship management tool) to help you track these in relation to customers who initially came from social media.

Customer lifetime value (CLV)

Your customer lifetime value (CLV) tells you the total revenue your company can expect to generate from each customer throughout their lifetime. If you sell $25 candles and your CLV is only $25, this means people come and buy one candle and never make another purchase with your business.

This tells you that your business isn’t doing a very good job of getting customers to come back. Social media marketing can be a great way to improve your CLV, by engaging customers, promoting new products, and enticing them to make another purchase.

You can use your CRM to look at how many customers who initially came from social media have made return purchases, giving you an idea of how effective your strategy is at customer retention.

Churn rate

Your churn rate refers to the percentage of customers who stop doing business with you over a certain period of time.

This is easier for brands with some kind of subscription model to track. You’ll divide the number of customers who cancelled their subscription during a set time frame by the total number of customers your brand had at the start of that period.

The hope is that you’ve brought in enough customers to cancel out those that may have left your business, and then some.

The social media marketing effectiveness framework

If you want to maximize your social media marketing effectiveness, you need a solid foundation. This framework provides a structured approach to measuring, optimizing, and maximizing social media success.

Structure a data-driven social media strategy

The first thing you need to tackle is your strategy. Even before measuring your social media performance, you should be using competitive benchmarking tools (like Socialinsider) to get an idea of how you can stack up to your competitors.

Then, focus on setting clear business objectives, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), and using analytics tools to guide decision-making. A data-driven approach ensures that every post and campaign contributes to tangible business outcomes.

Use a custom formula for measuring social media ROI

However, many social media marketing goals aren’t monetary, making it more difficult to calculate an exact ROI.

In those cases, you need to look at more than just monetary investment and data to find your answer.

So think of it like this. If engagement is important to your business, how can you tell if the time and resources you’ve put into your social media strategy is getting the same output in interactions from your audience?

Instead of assigning a monetary value to engagement, something that’s nearly impossible to do and almost always inaccurate if you try, you instead need to look at something else that’s valuable.

For example, what is the sentiment from that engagement? Are people reacting positively to your brand and its content? Audience sentiment can be a powerful thing for your business, improving or diminishing your brand’s reputation.

So reworking your strategy to ensure you’re seeing positive sentiment from your target audience would be the key here—and an example of a positive ROI.

Strike a balance between paid, organic, and earned media

A successful strategy blends organic reach, paid amplification, and earned credibility to drive sustainable growth.

• Organic media that you generate naturally builds brand trust and long-term engagement
• Paid media that you’ve put some ad budget behind expands reach and drives conversions quickly
• Earned media leverages word-of-mouth marketing through UGC, PR, and influencer mentions

A step-by-step guide to measuring social media performance

Now that you know which metrics to track, let’s talk about how to measure your social media performance as a whole.

Step 1: Set SMART goals based on business objectives

The first step in measuring your social media performance is setting goals or objectives that matter most to your business. What, exactly, are you hoping to achieve through your social media marketing efforts?

Do you want to:

• Increase brand awareness
• Boost engagement
• Generate leads
• Drive website traffic
• Improve sales and conversions

Choose one or two objectives that are most important to your brand. If you’re a newer company, you might want to focus on building awareness and sales through your social media efforts. But as you grow, you may want to switch to boosting engagement and building an online community.

Decide what matters most to your business, then set SMART goals around those objectives. SMART stands for:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-Bound

Essentially, this means you want to set goals that have a specific, measurable outcome and that you want to accomplish within a set time frame.

So if you’re hoping to increase brand awareness with your social media presence, you might set SMART goals like:

• Grow to 1,000 Instagram followers in the first three months on the platform
• Increase TikTok reach to 10,000 people per month by the end of Q3

With your SMART goals, you’ve given yourself a specific metric to monitor, and a specific period of time you want to improve that metric.

As long as you’re realistic with your goal (for example, if you’ve just created an Instagram account, reaching a million followers in a week simply isn’t going to happen), monitoring that growth will help tell you how effective your strategy is.

Step 2: Choose the right KPIs for your brand

Once you’ve set your social media goals, you need to choose the right KPIs (key performance indicators) or metrics to measure.

Sometimes your goals will include the metric right inside (i.e., follower growth, reach, sales). Other times, you’ll have to pick metrics that most closely resemble what you’re hoping to achieve.

We’ve already walked you through the metrics that pertain to each main goal.

Step 3: Select the best tools for tracking performance

Next, decide which tools you’ll need to enlist to help you track your performance. A few to consider include:

• Socialinsider for monitoring your social media analytics;
• Google Analytics for measuring your website traffic;
• Linktree for creating a trackable bio link;
• Zoho CRM for monitoring customer relationship with your business.

Find the best stack of performance monitoring tools and get them connected to your platforms so you can quickly get started.

Step 4: Create a performance dashboard

Once you’ve selected a social media analytics tool, you’ll want to get your performance dashboard set up. Having a dashboard that showcases all of your most important metrics at a glance makes gauging your strategy’s effectiveness quick and easy.

Step 5: Analyze data & adjust strategy based on insights

Keep an eye on your performance so you know when it’s time to make strategy adjustments. However, give yourself some time before pivoting.

For example, if you’re hoping to increase your social media reach over the next three months, give yourself a few weeks of monitoring before you start to make changes.

It’s important to understand that your strategy adjustments won’t make a difference overnight. You need to give yourself time to see if you’re making an impact before you switch tactics.

How to improve social media marketing effectiveness?

Now that you know how to measure your performance and gauge effectiveness, let’s talk about how to make improvements if you’re not happy with your current results. This takes us back to the main question at hand: is social media marketing effective?

Our answer is yes—but you have to test, measure, and execute different strategies to figure out what’s going to be the most effective for your business.

So let’s cover a few actionable tactics for improving your strategy’s effectiveness.

Create platform-specific content

Your social media strategy can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. While you can cross-post some content (i.e., videos that you create for TikTok are perfect to post on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts), most platforms require their own individualized strategies.

Your TikTok video isn’t going to have the same impact on X/Twitter. Your short anecdotes on X/Twitter won’t appeal to your audience on Facebook.

By creating platform-specific content based on what performs best on each social media network, you’re able to get better results and more engagement.

Leverage AI and predictive analytics

Using AI and predictive analytics can help you organize your content into pillars or categories. You can then look at those categories to see how each one is performing.

One category performing better than another? Create more of that content and watch to see if it impacts your overall results.

For example, U.S. retail brands are talking about exclusive offers & promotions, seasonal & themed campaigns, and product showcases over on TikTok.

Additionally, you can use Socialinsider’s AI tools to create your own content pillars, automatically categorizing your content and breaking down your performance analytics into those categories. Use this data to your advantage to make actionable changes to your content strategy.

Take advantage of community-driven marketing and UGC

UGC stands for user-generated content, and this plus community-driven marketing tactics are great ways to boost your strategy’s impact.

Internet users feel that UGC creates a more authentic connection with a brand, so incorporating that into your content plan can help you foster better relationships.

More than that, fostering a brand community can also help customers feel more connected to your business. 77% of consumers say they desire access to brand communities, as they want direct brand interaction to feel better about their purchases.

Sharing UGC is one way to start interacting with your community. Look around for real customers who are sharing photos and videos of your products online, then ask if you can reshare them.

Not only does this help you build a stronger relationship with your existing customers who have created that content, it helps you reach an even wider audience.

Employ micro-influencers and social proof

Although UGC has a bigger impact than influencer marketing as many social media users are getting bored with seeing endless influencer content, there are still indicators that tell us that working with smaller, micro-influencers has a similar effect as UGC.

Micro-influencers have less than 100K followers, but typically have hyper-engaged audiences.

So even if you work with someone with 20K followers, you’re likely to reach just as many people as you would working with an influencer with 150K followers—but those people will be much more engaged with the influencer you’ve partnered with.

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon that states that people are more likely to work with your business if they see others doing so first.

Partnering with influencers gives you some of that social proof, increasing the chances that those influencers’ followers will become more interested in your product or service.

At the end of the day, brands can still make an average of $5.78 for every $1 spent on influencer marketing. So investing in influencer marketing is still worth it.

Boost performance with social media advertising

Maximize your ROI with paid social media strategies. Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising delivers an average ROI of 200%, meaning businesses earn $2 for every $1 spent. More than that, Facebook ads have an average conversion rate of 9.21%.

Social media and digital advertising tactics can play a major role in your social media marketing effectiveness. Test different digital ads platforms (i.e., Facebook vs. TikTok, or social media vs. search engine) to find the best performance for your business.

Integrate social media strategies into your sales processes

Make sure your sales and marketing departments talk to each other.

Your marketers should know how your sales team works and vice versa. While this is important for all companies, this is especially crucial for B2B or service-based companies who rely on the sales team to close every lead the marketing team brings in.

Integrating social strategies into your sales process can help boost conversion rates even more. Things like creating a social media product catalog for direct social selling or hosting a live shopping event on TikTok can have a big impact.

Just to show how effective this strategy can be, let’s look at a real-life example. TikTok Shop hosted a Black Friday event in the U.S. that included more than 30K live-selling sessions, generating a total of more than $100 million in sales.

Social media is for building connections, but it can also be for making sales. By pulling your strategies together, you can vastly increase effectiveness.

Common mistakes that hurt social media effectiveness (and how to fix them)

As you work to improve your social media effectiveness, you want to avoid common pitfalls as well that can hinder your growth. Keep these mistakes in mind to make sure you’re not falling victim to them in your strategy.

Overlooking audience insights & trends

Your audience isn’t going to remain stagnant year after year. New trends pop up and product/service needs change over time.

Continue to monitor audience insights by using benchmarking tools, social listening tactics, and direct customer feedback so you stay ahead of the curve.

Relying too much on vanity metrics

Vanity metrics are metrics that may look good, but don’t necessarily mean anything. Some examples of vanity metrics are:

• Follower count
• Video views
• Free trial signups

If you have a large follower count or a video goes viral and reaches millions of people or you see an influx of free trial subscriptions, that looks great on the surface. But if those people aren’t engaging with your brand or becoming paying customers, those metrics mean nothing.

We still recommend tracking these KPIs, but keep in mind that you need to focus more on metrics like engagement and conversions that actually have an impact on your business.

Ignoring personalization & AI recommendations

Incorporating personalization into your social media strategy is a key method of increasing engagement with your audience. And AI recommendations can be a huge part of that. Don’t ignore AI tools that are meant to help improve your processes and your strategy.

Case studies: brands winning at social media marketing (real-world examples)

Want to see some amazing social media marketing in action? Here are a couple of examples that prove social media’s effectiveness in 2025.

Canva

The graphic design tool Canva does a great job using its visual nature to increase reach and engagement on Instagram.

If we go into a little analysis of Canva's Instagram performance over the past three months, we'll see that its engagement numbers have been improving, signaling a potential shift in strategy, which proved to be successful.

The brand has discovered that Reels and carousel posts are its sweet spot, so it creates way more of that than any other type of content. In fact, within the last three months, just three posts were solo images.

One of the ways that Canva boosts its reach and engagement is by partnering with content creators.

Take this post, for example, where a creator uses Canva to build a presentation, videoing herself so that Canva can share the progress on its Instagram.

Notion

Notion makes a great example of a brand that does a great job of balancing fun and professionalism in its social media strategy, for which we can see evidence in this post.

Now, let's quickly see how this type of communication approach translates into numbers.

As we can see, right around the same time that the post was shared, we saw a major spike in engagement, which indicates this type of messaging resonates with the brand's audience.

An important lesson here is that even for a B2B company, the brand still knows how to have fun with its content. This is important if you want to get people to engage with your content. Ditch that stuffy formality and learn how to let loose on social media.

Final thoughts

How effective is social media marketing in 2025? Well, it depends on your strategy. But if you incorporate our tips for measuring your performance and improving effectiveness, you should be able to make a tangible impact with your social media strategy. Just make sure you have the help of Socialinsider’s analytics dashboard first.

If you’re a business or even a creator, I bet one of your social media goals for Instagram is to grow followers. However, using black hat techniques or purchasing fake followers isn’t the way to go — it’ll only hurt your social media marketing in the long run.

So what’s the alternative? 13 tried-and-tested strategies that will teach you how to organically grow your Instagram.

Plus, we will also share examples for each strategy to inspire your Instagram marketing efforts.

Let’s get started.

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‌#1. Have a deep understanding of your audience’s needs and preferences

If your audience craves educational reels, but your content leans heavily on humor, you might struggle to grow your following. This is why it’s crucial to understand your audience’s needs and preferences.

We recommend using Instagram stories to gather feedback from your community. Features like polls and questions make gathering feedback easier and more engaging.

For example, you can share a poll asking your audience what type of content they prefer—educational tips, behind-the-scenes insights, industry news, or entertaining skits.

You can also use the question sticker to ask, “What topics do you want to learn more about?” This allows your followers to share their thoughts directly, giving you valuable insights into their interests.

For example, Sephora directly asked their audience about their content preferences and what they wanted to see on the brand’s page.

Beyond direct engagement, social listening is another powerful tool. Pay attention to comments, DMs, and discussions within your niche to identify common themes and pain points.

Based on these insights, you can create content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to follow your page.

#2. Show off your professionalism

What’s the first thing you do before following a page on Instagram? You check their profile. Within seconds, you decide whether to hit that Follow button or move on. And obviously, your brand’s audience does the same.

Here are two ways to influence their decision to follow you and, hence, grow your Instagram organically.

Optimize your profile

Everything from your Instagram profile picture to your bio matters. You need to maintain a consistent brand identity everywhere.

For example, if you’re using your logo as the profile picture on other social platforms, stick to the same format on Instagram. The same goes for your username.

Your bio can be a great way to make your profile discoverable. Add keywords related to your niche, industry, products, or services.

Have a consistent visually branded aesthetic

Imagine landing on a brand’s page and one post is bright and minimal, another is dark and cluttered, and the fonts are all over the place. Feels unprofessional, right?

Having a consistent, visually branded aesthetic helps your audience instantly recognize your content, makes your brand more memorable, and aids in growing Instagram followers organically.

While you may not want to stick to the same color or font, use variations that seem similar.

#3. Create diversified content

Focusing on different content formats is one of the sure-shot answers to the question – how to organically grow Instagram followers?

Not everyone in your audience will have the same learning style. For example, some may choose to consume Reels, while some may want to swipe quickly with an Instagram carousel.

A mix of formats also keeps your page fresh and followers excited for what’s next.

According to our Instagram benchmarks study, the current posting pattern of brands includes the following mix:

• 10 images per month (50% of their content);
• 4 carousels per month (20% of their content);
• 6 Reels per month (30% of their content).

Robyn Nissim, founder of Social Proof Agency, recommends brands to create memorable content across different formats.

Focus on creating a mix of content that provides value to audience members that’s so good they’ll want to save and share it.

#4. Leverage Instagram SEO

In 2024, 46.8 million people in the U.S. made purchases on Instagram.

But if your brand isn’t discoverable, how will people find you, follow you, or engage with your shoppable posts?

That’s where Instagram SEO comes in.

Adriana Sandru, digital creative strategist, recommends using SEO in combination with other strategies.

Prioritizing value over promotion, leveraging user-generated content, and smartly using SEO principles in captions will boost discoverability, while consistency and trend adaptation keep the strategy fresh.

For example, when I searched for “skincare Instagram” on Google, multiple brands appeared, many of which I could explore and follow. Why? Because they strategically included the keyword “skincare” in their bios, posts, captions, and even usernames.

The same applies to Instagram’s search bar. When users type in a keyword related to a niche, Instagram ranks profiles and content based on relevance.

So, how do you make your page discoverable? Here are two SEO tips.

• Use relevant keywords in your captions. For example, if you’re creating a post on “travel hacks” enter that keyword on Instagram. See other suggested keyword phrases that you may want to add to your existing list.

• Carefully select your hashtags. When you use a hashtag on a public Instagram post, that post becomes visible on the results page for that hashtag. Because hashtags help categorize content and make it easier to discover, choosing the right ones can help you reach your target audience.

#5. Experiment with Trial Reels

Reels are a staple in every social media manager’s content calendar.

Sophie Hay, founder and social strategist at Twin Palm Social, says the same.

We all know the Instagram algorithm loves Reels - and that the algorithm tends to showcase these to people who don't already follow you. The more Reels you create (and the better they are) the more likely you are to appear as a suggest post or in the Explore tab.

But how do you constantly improvise your Reels? Instagram Trial Reels can be your go-to option.

Before you think, “Ah, but this feature is still new,” hear what Grace Andrews, brand and editorial director at FlightStory, has to say.

When a new feature drops, be among the first to leverage it. Having your ear to the ground is non-negotiable.

What exactly is Trial Reels, though? It’s a content-testing feature that allows you to share a Reel with a select group of non-followers to gauge their reaction. This Reel will not appear on your profile or in your followers’ feeds.

If the Reel does well, you can, however, upgrade it for your followers and your profile.

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, has been talking a lot about Trial Reels in his own content, and he mentions:

Trial Reels allow you to bypass the entire connected ranking system and just go straight to the unconnected recommendations, so you don't risk bothering people who followed you with too much content.

While you can use this feature to improvise your content and see what resonates most with your audience, it’s also a great way to spark organic growth on Instagram.

Pro-tip: Don’t compare your Trial Reels to your normal Reels. Instead, use them to compare their performance against different Trial Reels. Find which type of content helps you organically gain followers. Prioritize that content moving forward.

‌ ‌#6. Be consistent

Remember the classic tale of the hare and the tortoise? The fast-moving hare was expected to win, yet the slow and steady tortoise triumphed. Why? Because consistency beats short bursts of effort.

The same lesson applies to life. And even Instagram marketing.

People will only remember your brand if your posts and Reels keep coming up consistently. Take what Sophie Evans, social media manager at KERV Capital, says:

For me, and what is becoming more apparent in today’s digital landscape, is that consistency beats virality every time! By showing up consistently, repetition is building recognition, and recognition builds community!

According to our data, brands post an average of 5 times per week on Instagram.

While you may want to start slow, aim to post at least 2-3 pieces of quality content every week. This will signal the social algorithms that your account is a regularly updated, valuable, and relevant resource throughout time.

TIP: One way to ensure consistency is through a content calendar - that helps you plan posts in advance and ensure you have a steady flow of content.

Another smart tactic is to resort to content repurposing. Here's an example of how we do it here at Socialinsider.

#7. Create strategic collaborations

One of the most common answers to how to gain Instagram followers organically is collaborations. There’s only so much you can do on your own. By partnering with the right creators and brands, you can create a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Here’s what Sophie Hay says about collaborations:

Don't sleep on collaborative posts. If you are working with a content creator, brand partner or business make sure to join forces on a collab post.

Not only does this automatically showcase your content to a new (and potentially much bigger) audience, but it shows your brand affiliation with other accounts in your area of expertise. A win for reach AND brand.

For example, you can collaborate with an influencer in your niche with a dedicated audience. This way, you can attract more followers and build trust in your brand. The influencer can also benefit from the partnership and get some incentives.

Look at how Fabletics partnered with a wellness and fashion micro-influencer for this post. They cater to a similar audience, and the post feels like a natural addition to their existing content.

But what kind of brands and creators should you collaborate with? Katie McKeever, social media, and communications consultant, shares her opinion.

Collaborating on content on Instagram can be a significant driver of followers for brands. I've seen it time and time again.

But the key is to collaborate strategically. You want to collaborate with accounts that are bigger than you and THEN you need to make sure that the bigger account posts the content and invites your brand to the collaboration.

‌‌We also recommend collaborating with brands that complement your product/service but are not direct competitors to aid with Instagram organic growth.

For example, look at how Casper and Bare Necessities collaborated to provide similar products for the giveaway.

#8. Host challenges to generate UGC

Ever heard of the saying “People trust people”? That’s why UGC is so powerful and it can help you grow organic Instagram followers.

When real customers share experiences with your brand, whether through reviews, photos, or videos, it creates social proof. Potential followers are more likely to trust your brand and hit the Follow button.

But how do you get people to create UGC for your brand? One simple way is to host challenges or contests.

My favorite example of a brand that did this well is Gymshark. Gymshark’s 66-Day Challenge helped the brand generate massive user-generated content (UGC) while building a loyal community.

The challenge encourages participants to commit to a fitness goal for 66 days (the time it takes to form a habit) while documenting their journey on social media.

By using branded hashtags like #Gymshark66, participants share progress photos, workout videos, and motivational posts, creating a flood of authentic content. This not only showcases Gymshark’s activewear in action but also inspires others to join the movement.

The #Gymshark66 now has over 1.1M posts on Instagram. This UGC helped Gymshark reach a wider audience and get more people to follow the brand.

Pro-tip: Don’t let your UGC remain passive. Actively share them on your feed and website, motivating others to participate for a chance to be featured.

#9. Run a content series to drive continuous curiosity

I often come across a hilarious Reel, laugh, and keep scrolling without even checking the page behind it. The same can happen to your content. Your Reels might go viral, but those views won’t necessarily grow your Instagram followers.

One way to turn those views into Instagram followers is by creating a content series. When people know there’s more to come, they’ll be eager for the next post or Reel, making them more likely to hit the Follow button to stay updated.

Andrea Halal, business and marketing consultant, talks about building a content series like a TV show:

Have a story or a "TV show" your audience can follow. A TV show has an overall theme, and your posts (images or videos) are there to tell your stories.

Treat each post as an episode that contributes to the whole storyline of your show. That way you can get your audience hooked organically, as they have the natural instinct to follow what you're doing-especially if they resonate with your story.

A great example of how to grow an Instagram account using this social media strategy comes from Duolingo. Instead of relying on one-off viral videos, Duolingo built a recurring content series featuring its mascot, Duo the Owl, in hilarious and trending scenarios.

They also recently launched a bold social media campaign announcing the death of this mascot. This campaign generated a series of posts. Eventually, Duo "returned," with the brand framing the entire stunt as a playful test that fans had passed.

#10. Engage with other accounts or niche communities

I have often seen brands comment on other brands’ and creators’ posts. I even check out their profiles sometimes and give them a follow.

Why does this strategy work for growing your Instagram?

• You become visible to your target audience without overly promoting yourself.
• By leaving thoughtful comments, you position your brand as an active, knowledgeable player in your niche.
• You spark curiosity with well-placed comments, leading users to check out your page and follow.

This also shows that you are not on Instagram only to get people to check out your product or service. You also invest time in engaging with your community and niche.

While you’re engaging with other accounts, Mary Isokariari (founder and CEO of Socially Curious Agency) suggests looking at the comments to see what kind of content is getting more engagement. She says:

Organic content is all about fostering authentic relationships. This includes actively reading comments to gather feedback on what’s working and what isn’t.

#11. Focus on storytelling and being authentic

When questioning various industry experts about a key social media trend in 2025, most of them mentioned authenticity, and for good reason. One recent survey suggested that Gen Z highly values authenticity in social media. With Instagram being Gen Z’s most used application, you cannot ignore what this demographic wants.

To showcase this authenticity, Sophie Evans recommends focusing on stories:

First and foremost, brands need to prioritize storytelling over selling. People connect with people, not products! The brands that are growing organically are those that make their audience feel something.

These stories could be about your struggles, what your brand stands for, the challenges you have overcome, etc.

One brand that is exceptional at using this strategy to grow on Instagram is Dieux. They are vocal about the values they stand for. For example, they stand up for the plastic problem the beauty industry faces and how they are tackling it.

Here are three other ways to create authentic content and grow your Instagram audience:

• Use real customer stories. Feature user-generated content, testimonials, and success stories to build credibility and trust.
• Put up raw, unfiltered content. Not every post needs to be polished. If you are still wary of this strategy, use Stories to publish this content.
• Show behind-the-scenes. Give followers a look at your daily operations, product creation, or office culture to make them feel part of your brand.

Miruna Vocheci, social media manager at Socialinsider, advocates this strategy and says:

People connect with trustworthy insights and raw, unpolished content that gives them a true glimpse behind the curtain.

#12. Tap into relevant trends

A powerful advice on how to grow your Instagram followers? Tap into trending topics, memes, or audio. By jumping on these trends, you can achieve virality and get more people to click on that Follow button.

This also shows your followers that you are up-to-date with content that matters on social media.

For example, Ryanair, a European airline, often uses trending memes and topics to create relatable and humorous content. Here’s an example.

With this, Ryanair keeps its audience entertained and proves that even “boring” industries can thrive on social media with the right strategy.

To find these trends and grow followers on Instagram, you can:

• Scroll through Instagram Reels to spot recurring audio, formats, or challenges that are gaining traction. Trending sounds often have an upward arrow next to them.
• Many influencers are quick to adopt trends. Watching what they post can give you clues on what’s gaining momentum.
• See what similar brands are posting.
• Follow @creators on Instagram and social media brands like Socialinsider to stay updated with the latest content and developments.

#13. Track relevant metrics and make data-based optimization decisions

Grace Andrews, marketing and brand director at FLIGHTSTORY, says:

The best brands treat Instagram as a playground for experimentation, constantly refining their approach based on what resonates. When something works, double down.

And we agree. You can’t rely on one viral Reel or carousel to keep getting you more followers. You need to optimize your strategies consistently.

When interested in ranking on Instagram, both for accounts that follow a brand (connected reach) and also for accounts that don’t follow it yet (unconnected reach), marketers should pay attention to the following metrics and optimize their content strategy based on the insights gathered from the analysis on these 3 metrics:

• Watch time
• Likes
• Shares

You can use native analytics to get insights into likes, shares, and followers generated.

Your metrics are key. Instagram isn't hiding what gets you followers. If you go to the insights under any piece of content, there is a line that tells you how many followers you gained because of that specific post. Learn from this.

What made someone who wasn't following your brand want to follow you after seeing this particular post? Optimize for watchability (if it's a Reel), likeability, and shareability. Katie McKiever

Or you can track everything in one place using social media analytics tools like Socialinsider.

We believe an effective social media analysis should have both a micro (post-level) and a macro perspective. Beyond quantitative data it’s important to also consider more qualitative analysis points, such as the best-performing content pillars.

You can find the content pillars you could prioritize (the ones getting the most engagement) and the types you need to optimize or eliminate (the ones not achieving the desired results).

Final thoughts

Now that you know the best ways to grow your Instagram followers, it’s time to implement these strategies. Make sure you consistently create top-notch content and analyze your growth to keep optimizing your strategies.

Instead of investing hours and weeks in getting the analysis done, having a social media analytics tool like Socialinsider makes your work easier. Analyze content pillars, track performance, and get custom reports all under one roof.

Gear up your account for success by opting for a free trial of Socialinsider.

Looking to drive more traffic to your ecommerce store or raise awareness for your SaaS product? Every business has unique goals for social media marketing—whether it's growing an audience or boosting conversions.

In this guide, we’ll share 15 social media strategy examples from real brands to show how you can achieve your goals. Whatever goal you have in mind, we have a social media strategy example for that.

Let’s jump right in.

Why does effective social media marketing need a blend of several strategies?

Social media goals are often interconnected, and focusing on just one can limit overall success.

For example, a brand solely aiming to grow its follower count might attract a large audience but struggle with low engagement if those followers aren’t genuinely interested. Conversely, focusing only on engagement without expanding reach can lead to stagnant growth.

Using a mix of social media strategies for marketing, such as targeted ads to reach new users, storytelling to build emotional connections, and interactive content to boost engagement, ensures a balanced approach.

With this strategic social media marketing approach, you can not only attract a larger audience but also keep them active and interested.

Let’s go through the top 15 strategies for social media marketing to get you inspired.

#1. Leverage multi-platform and cross-channel marketing

Imagine you were only active on TikTok. Would you have gone into an anxious spiral with the news of TikTok ban in the U.S.? Probably. Putting all your eggs in one basket when it comes to social media is playing a dangerous game.

With the future of social media seeing new platforms on the rise, your brand needs to maintain an active presence wherever your audience is.

But the question that pops up is — how do small social media teams maintain a multi-platform social media presence? Won’t it take a lot of time and resources?

Cross-posting is your answer to all these problems. Instead of creating new content for Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, you can share similar content on multiple social media platforms.

Example: Nike

One brand that is great at social media branding strategies like this is Nike. Their cross-posting is focused on platforms that priortize similar content types.

For example, focusing on short-form videos on video-based platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.

Look at their YouTube Shorts and TikTok feeds, and you’ll find a lot of similar content.

Nike focuses on short-form videos that dominate TikTok and Shorts while prioritizing high-quality visuals and storytelling for Instagram. This ensures maximum audience engagement.

#2. Implement social media SEO to maximize your brand’s visibility

SEO isn’t a best practice just when it comes to content marketing. Leveraging it for your social media posts as well can help increase the reach of your overall profile as well as individual posts.

Take this statistic from a recent Forbes survey — 24% of people primarily use social media to search for information. Another survey said that almost 40% of young people in the U.S. use TikTok or Instagram to find places for lunch instead of Maps or Google Search.

For example, when I search for “Chicago restaurants” on Instagram, I get many roundup posts related to it. Among this content, I also found many restaurant profiles that I can further check out.

But how do you make sure your content/profile pops up in relevant searches? There are three ways:

• Use relevant keywords in your bio.
• Add keyword-rich descriptions to your caption.
• Use ALT text for creatives.
• Use hashtags strategically.

With social media SEO, you can also ensure that your profiles appear whenever someone searches for your brand on search engines like Google.

Example: Amex

American Express’ #AmexTravel is a hashtag social media campaign designed to engage travelers, promote exclusive travel perks, and position Amex as a premium lifestyle brand.

Through this hashtag, they promote cardholder benefits such as luxury stays, VIP upgrades, and other unique experiences.

When travelers and influencers create content using the hashtag, American Express often reshares these posts on Instagram, X, and Facebook, boosting social proof.

The hashtag now has over 19 million posts on Instagram.

With social media SEO, you can also ensure that your profiles appear whenever someone searches for your brand on search engines like Google.

#3. Integrate zero-click content into your posting strategy

Social media platforms prioritize keeping people engaged within their platforms. This is why algorithms tend to favor posts without external links (zero-click content).

It also benefits the audience as they don’t need to switch platforms and interrupt their scrolling.

While creating zero-click content, ensure it captures attention and communicates value instantly. If it doesn’t do that, it won’t succeed.

Example: Socialinsider

We at Socialinisder try to provide as much value as we can to our social media followers without having them take too many steps to find information that might be precious to them.

Let's take a look at how we transformed the takeaways from the article related to social media predictions for 2025 based on data into a zero-click piece of content for LinkedIn.

Here are some other best practices we implemented to make this zero-click content more successful:

• Start with a hook: To grab attention, we communicated that our predictions were based on solid data.
• Keep it concise and valuable: We provided the main findings from our data instead of overwhelming the audience with a lot of information.
• Use eye-catching visuals: Most social platforms prioritize visual content. So, we incorporated memes to enhance visual appeal and stop the scroll.
• Incorporate carousel posts: We used carousels to break down complex information into digestible, swipeable slides.
• Try to boost engagement: Instead of leaving them with just content, we included a clear call-to-action, such as asking a question or inviting users to share their opinions in the comments.

#4. Use short-form and interactive video content

When we interviewed social media experts for an in-depth blog on social media trends, one trend that surfaced was short-form video.

Today’s audience loves short-form content, and statistics say the same.

• Instagram users spend 50% of their time watching Reels.
• When users interact with brands on TikTok, they mostly engage with short-form videos.
• YouTube Shorts collectively average over 70 billion daily views.

This may be a big reason why platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are seeing an increase in engagement year over year.

If you are thinking of picking a platform to start, our research says it should be TikTok.

You can even focus on interactive videos, such as live videos. They are a great marketing tool since they give you the opportunity to connect with your audiences on a deeper level. Think about it.

Wouldn’t you like it if you could get the chance to ask people from your favorite brands questions in real time?

Example: Semrush

The perfect example of a brand that uses this social media marketing strategy is Semrush.

Their approach to video marketing focuses on education, industry trends, and direct interaction with their users.

Also, when leveraging Facebook live videos, the brand also featured SEO experts, digital marketers, and industry leaders who provide real-time insights and actionable strategies for businesses and marketers.

#5. Make use of AI-driven personalization and automation

AI is making inroads everywhere. Even many strategies for effective social media marketing now include AI. It can handle all your routine tasks while you work on important things like generating content and building a successful social media strategy.

Think about this. 80% of millennials prefer to use social media for customer service over traditional methods like phone, web, or online chat. Instead of having someone answer routine questions over Instagram DM, or Facebook Messenger, why not use chatbots and AI assistants to handle FAQs?

Example: KLM Airlines

Here is how KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has strategically integrated an AI chatbot into their Facebook messages to quickly resolve common queries.

We will use this same example for an AI-driven social media analysis using Socialinsider. Through our AI content pillars feature, you can get insights into the content themes that KLM leverages across its social media channels.

How does it help? You can use the insights to discover the top-performing content pillars and prioritize them moving forward. You can even dig deep into the pillars not performing well and optimize or remove them.

Let’s analyze it for KLM.

According to this, the brand can focus its Instagram strategy around travel inspiration and prioritize TikTok as it’s their best-performing channel.

For Instagram specifically, a good content optimization idea might be to leverage more employee spotlights, given that engagement has been generated with only 2 posts belonging to this content pillar in the past 6 months.

#6. Optimize for search voices through conversational content

Whether you’re a beauty brand or a SaaS brand, you get a lot of questions your way. “How to use X feature?” “Why should we pick your brand?” “Which of your products is best suited for me?” and the list continues.

Instead of answering these questions individually, you can create social media content targeting FAQs. This way, you let your audience know that they are valuable to you and you’re listening to them.

Additionally, crafting content in a conversational tone helps optimize for voice search, as people tend to use natural, question-based language when speaking to voice assistants.

But how do you gather these questions in the first place? We recommend reaching out to people on your team who regularly communicate with customers. This could be your customer support team, digging through the questions your social media team receives on DMs, etc.

You can also leverage tools like social listening platforms or Q&A sites like Quora and Reddit to understand what your audience is asking online.

Once you’ve identified the questions, consider creating a variety of content formats, such as short explainer videos, carousel posts, or even bite-sized reels that directly address these queries.

Example: Adobe

Adobe is the best example for this. The brand's social media accounts oftently integrates tips and tricks coming from FAQS to offer helpful information for its community, being proactive in coming with solutions for its customer's and audience's potential struggles and problems.

#7. Create your own private social communities

A private community on social media promotes a sense of exclusivity and belonging. When you’re part of a brand’s private group, you gain access to valuable insights and content that are reserved just for members. This makes the experience feel unique and personalized.

This also creates a loyal customer base where people feel more comfortable sharing feedback, asking questions, and engaging in meaningful conversations.

Plus, when people feel like they’re part of something special, they’re more likely to stick around and even promote your brand to others. They’ll share their positive experiences and recommend your products, which is way more convincing than traditional ads.

Example: Peloton

Want to know how to leverage the power of a community? Take Peloton’s example. Peloton is an exercise equipment and media company. One of their social media marketing strategies is to leverage a private community where they try to bring immersive and challenging workouts into people’s lives.

The company tried to build a “cult” following of devoted fitness enthusiasts. One solution they adopted was to build a private Facebook group for Peloton members. This group has now grown to over 480K members.

This private Facebook group lets users share workout experiences, celebrate milestones, and offer support to each other.

It fosters a sense of belonging, motivating members to stay engaged with the brand and its products. What’s more? It provides Peloton with direct feedback and insights, helping them focus on tailor-made workouts and offerings.

#8. Leverage AI-generated and augmented reality (AR) experiences

What if you could see how a piece of furniture would look in your living room? Or how a lipstick shade would make you look all glam? This is now possible with AR-powered filters and lenses on social media.

Over 1 billion people use AR features on social media, and conversion rates increase by 90% for consumers engaging with AR compared to those who don’t.

Whether it’s TikTok where you can add overlays and interactive elements to your video, or Pinterest where you can use their “Try-on” feature, most social platforms are now promoting the usage of AR.

Example: Fenty Beauty

Here’s an example of Fenty Beauty has integrated an AR filter, allowing users to find their foundation shade.

How did this help Fenty Beauty? The feature helps them promote their vast range of foundation shades, and it removes friction from the purchase. Instead of having to go to a physical store to find the right shade, users can find it from the comfort of their homes.

Not only that, once a user finds their shade, they can directly add the product to their cart, making the buying process much quicker.

Leveraging AR also strengthens Fenty Beauty’s reputation as a tech-forward beauty brand.

#9. Create hyper-personalized ads

Imagine you’re scrolling through Instagram, and you see an ad that feels super relevant. It’s for a pair of sneakers in your favorite color, exactly the style you’ve been looking at on a few shopping sites recently. The ad says, “Just for you—20% off on your favorite sneakers! Only today!”

You didn’t search for these sneakers on Instagram. But the ad is spot-on. It feels less like an ad and more like a personalized recommendation from a friend who knows your preferences. That’s what hyper-personalized ads can do.

These ads are relevant because they take data into consideration, like behavioral data (searches, clicks, purchase history), demographic data (age, gender, location), and psychographic data (user interests, lifestyle).

Social media makes this possible. For example, Facebook’s dynamic ads allow brands to retarget users with the exact products they viewed on their website, including personalized product descriptions and pricing.

One type of social media advertising strategies that’s gaining popularity is interactive ads. These types of ads engage users by encouraging them to take action, such as swiping, tapping, answering a poll, or playing a mini-game.

They go beyond passive viewing, creating two-way communication.

Example: AppLovin

For example, AppLovin helps its users create interactive ads with AI advancements. When Unico created top-performing playable ads for its game “Brain Test”, they boosted install volume by 230%.

These interactive ads are being used by hundreds of businesses today, and they’re a big reason why Unico grew to revenue of $1.37 billion, a 44% growth rate from a year prior.

#10. Collaborate with influencers

Think influencer marketing isn’t as effective anymore? We believe otherwise. The market size of influencer marketing is only growing. That, too, with a CAGR of 33.11%.

This shows that influencer marketing is one of the most successful social media strategies.

While influencer marketing is growing, the trend of partnering with celebrities and macro influencers may be shifting.

Brands are collaborating more with micro and nano influencers. The main reason? These influencers often have close-knit niche audiences, which results in a higher engagement rate than celebrities.

People also find these influencers more genuine and trustworthy, leading to an uptick in conversions.

Also, influencer marketing can also be done through different approaches, such as co-creation or account takeovers.

One interesting trend I discovered recently was brands collaborating with virtual influencers. These virtual influencers are digital characters designed to look and behave like real people on social media. They are entirely computer-generated, with their appearances, personalities, and lifestyles crafted by creative teams or artificial intelligence.

Example: Samsung

Samsung is the best strategy example for this trend. During the Galaxy S22 launch campaign titled “The Samsung Metaverse Selfie: A Live eCommerce Experience”, they featured a virtual influencer called Zero. The live shopping experience was co-hosted by TikTok creator Liam Kalevi.

The event utilized real-time rendering technology to integrate Zero into the live stream, creating an interactive experience that bridged the virtual and physical worlds.

The result? A 794% increase in sales compared to the previous year’s phone launch. What’s more? The campaign also garnered attention from major publications, including AdWeek, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, and The Drum.

#11. Leverage social impact marketing

91% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that supports social or environmental issues. Think about it. If the prices and products from two brands are quite similar, but one is very vocal about the causes you support, wouldn’t you side with that brand?

With increasing competition in almost every niche, this could be a factor where you stand out.

Cause marketing campaigns typically involve donating a portion of sales to a cause, creating awareness campaigns, or organizing events to support a social issue.

Example: Patagonia

A good example of a brand that does cause marketing well is Patagonia. The brand consistently shares content highlighting its commitment to environmental causes, reinforcing its brand values, and resonating with eco-conscious consumers.

For example, in this post, the brand shares how they donate 1% of each sale to environmental non-profits. And how it is followed by investing in urgent environmental fights as well.

Not only this, if you check their Instagram bio, you’ll find a clear representation of what their brand stands for.

All of this has a direct impact on customer retention and even sales.

For example, one year after Patagonia urged consumers to buy less, sales surged by nearly one-third, reaching $543 million.

The following year, the company saw an additional 6% growth in revenue, bringing it to $575 million. This proves that well-executed cause marketing could be one of the best social media sales strategies.

No wonder Patagonia’s CEO, Rose Marcario, said, “Any time that we do something good for the environment, we make more money.”

#12. Partner with other brands

Can 1 + 1 be greater than 2? With a well-executed brand collaboration, yes. Brand collaborations can be one of the best social media initiatives because:

• You can expand your reach by tapping into your partner brand’s audience.
• Produce ambitious and creative marketing campaigns that otherwise would have been beyond your marketing budget.
• Increase credibility by partnering with a trusted and respected brand.

The different types of content you can create with brand partnerships are co-branded product collaborations, social media challenges, content swaps or takeovers, and giveaways or contests.

Example: Chipotle and elf cosmetics

e.l.f. Cosmetics and Chipotle collaborated on a limited-edition makeup collection inspired by Chipotle’s menu. The collection featured an eyeshadow palette with shades resembling ingredients like guacamole and beans, a hot sauce-inspired lip gloss, and an avocado-shaped makeup sponge set.

In response, Chipotle even introduced a special burrito bowl designed by e.l.f. The partnership resonated with Gen Z and Millennials, generating massive social media buzz, especially on TikTok and Instagram.

The result? The collection’s limited availability created urgency, leading to a quick sellout.

#13. Ask for your community’s feedback

77% of customers view brands more favorably if they proactively seek and apply their feedback.

Asking for your community’s feedback isn’t just about engagement. It’s about building a two-way relationship.

When brands use polls, questions, and open-ended prompts, they create an interactive experience that boosts key engagement metrics like comments, shares, and likes—signals that social media algorithms favor.

Community feedback can provide direct insights into what your audience likes, dislikes, or wants more of. This can help guide future content, product development, or strategies for social media marketing in a way that resonates with your audience.

Example: Canva

For example, Canva uses polls to gain insights into how university students utilize its platform, helping the brand better understand their needs and refine its features accordingly.

For example, after learning that “Presentations” was the most utilized functionality, they could focus on targeting this feature when creating content for universities.

Not only that, but Canva also mixes it up with opinion-based polls. For example, “What’s your go-to design style?” This encourages community participation and keeps the brand at the forefront of the audience’s minds.

#14. Host contests, challenges, and giveaways

Everyone loves winning, especially the contests held by their favorite brands. Contests and giveaways help you engage your audience and generate buzz around your brand.

These contests receive 3.5 times more likes and 64 times more comments than regular posts.

And what’s more? The same research says that the brands that host these contests grow 70% faster on Instagram.

This isn’t surprising when you consider the reasons behind it. These contests often involve minimal requirements, like tagging friends, sharing posts, or following the brand’s account to enter. This naturally leads to an increase in followers, which grows the brand's social media presence.

Instead of running the same like/comment/share contests, we suggest adding a fun spin to it where audience engagement is more active and beneficial.

Before you launch your contest or giveaway, here are three quick suggestions.

• Set clear goals and rules: Define what you want to achieve (e.g., brand awareness, engagement, lead generation) and outline the entry requirements, deadlines, and winner selection process.
• Know your audience: The contest and reward should align with your brand and audience interests.
• Make participating simple and engaging: Keep the entry process easy and exciting, especially for a giveaway. The fewer steps required, the higher the participation.

Example: Booking.com

For example, look at how Booking.com invited people to share their travel videos and win $500 if the brand decides to use it.

This resulted in over 1000 videos on TikTok and over 25K posts on Instagram with the #TravelGenius.

This contest worked well for two reasons:

• Instead of just posting one or two entries, they featured contestants every week. This increased awareness about their contest and invited more participation.
• They used the campaign to highlight trending destinations, seasonal travel ideas, and hidden gems. This aligns with Booking.com’s broader marketing efforts to drive bookings.

#15. Integrate UGC into your content

Different brands have different approaches to social media. But one thing common among all popular brands is UGC. Think of your favorite brands, from all sorts of industries. Be it Apple, GoPro, or Glossier, their feed is filled with user-generated content.

Instead of brands talking about themselves, people like consuming content that is created by real people. A reason why people find UGC more authentic, relatable, and powerful.

In fact, UGC (33%) ranked first among content types that generated the most customer trust, beating professionally shot content (24%) and even influencer-generated content (18%).

It also works great as social proof, encouraging more people to trust your brand and buy your products.

To get more people to create UGC for your brand, here are four things you can do:

• Create a branded hashtag – Encourage users to post content using a unique hashtag. Example: Nike’s #JustDoIt moments.
• Feature customer content – Reshare top-performing user posts on your own social media pages.
• Run UGC contests – Offer prizes for the best customer-created content, boosting participation.
• Engage & reward creators – Acknowledge and appreciate users who create great content for your brand.

Example: GoPro

Would you believe it if I told you that GoPro’s three most popular TikTok videos are all UGC? Take a look at this video generating 90.6M views, 11.7M likes, and over 113K likes.

If you look at the GoPro app, you will see how easy GoPro has made it for users to edit the content they shoot and upload it to social media directly from the app. This reduces the friction of saving the content to the phone’s camera roll and then uploading it to social media.

They also incentivize UGC by hosting challenges that reward creators with gear, exposure, and cash.

You’d be surprised to know that today, the brand manages to post 4X times more than its competitors, all because of UGC.In fact, more than 50% of GoPro’s video content, 40% of its imagery on GoPro.com, and 80% of its social media photo content is all UGC-sourced.

Final thoughts

Now that you know the different marketing strategies for social media and its corresponding examples, it’s time to put that inspiration to use.

If you are looking for a social media tool that makes tracking your strategy performance easy, get started with your free trial of Socialinsider.

In the warp-speed world of TikTok marketing, a solid TikTok competitor analysis isn’t a gimmick – it’s a non-negotiable part of your strategy.

After all, how can you claim the top spot if you don’t know what your competitor's weakest points are - to then take advantage of them and position your brand as the superior choice?

Tapping into data and learning from your rivals’ wins and misses is your golden ticket to a successful strategy, gaining valuable insights into how to boost engagement and maximize ROI.

Let's explore together the steps for running a top-notch TikTok competitive analysis and give your strategy a revamp!

What is a TikTok competitor analysis?

A TikTok competition analysis is a full examination of your competitors’ social media presence, covering everything from content pillars, trending keywords and go-to hashtags, to content styles, audience size, and so much more.

Just like a social media audit of your own brand, keeping an eye on your competitors’ activity on TikTok isn’t a one-and-done task – it’s something you should do regularly if you want to stay ahead of the curve and truly make a difference.

A well-executed TikTok competitor analysis should give you all the insights you need to break down your competitor’s strategies, dive deep into their engagement and other key performance metrics, analyze their SEO approach and understand how they leverage influencer marketing.

Get detailed TikTok performance data!

Spy on your competitor's strategies and KPIs!

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Why run a TikTok competitive analysis?

The first step in any competitor analysis is discovering your "why."

Are you trying to understand where your competitors stand in the market and what makes them different from you? Do you need real-time competitive data for TikTok to set accurate performance benchmarks?

Or maybe you're looking for fresh content ideas or content gaps, as well as ways to boost your engagement by learning from their strategies? Perhaps all of the above?

Let’s have a look at the main reasons why a TikTok analysis of your competitors just makes sense.

Understanding your competitors’ position in the market

Remember that old saying “what you don’t know, can’t hurt you”? Well, what you don’t know or understand about your competitors’ position in your industry can definitely hurt your strategy and make it harder for you to grow.

TikTok may still be relatively new, but that doesn’t mean brands on this platform are simply “winging it” anymore. Every brand with a solid presence on TikTok is most likely following a clear social strategy.

That is why it’s important to perform a TIkTok competitive analysis and take a look at specific KPIs that help you see the bigger picture.

Is there a specific type of content driving all their engagement? Have they cracked the code on how to grow their community faster?

These answers can help you reevaluate your strategy.

Setting performance benchmarks

No matter how in-depth you go, no social media content analysis of your own brand will ever truly be complete without performance benchmarks. Think of them as your measuring stick – they help put your raw numbers into perspective.

Let’s say, for instance, that your TikTok engagement rate suddenly spikes. Before you celebrate and call it a day, take a step back and see how it compares to industry standards. Are you ahead of the game, or is this just average for your niche? Benchmarks give you the full picture and help you understand where you really stand.

Comparing metrics against both your competitors and industry standards is the recipe for a successful TikTok competitive analysis.

Speaking of social media benchmarks, we recently launched our annual report, and the results are in: TikTok is leading yet again! With its impressive 2.50% engagement rate, it continues to outperform every other social media platform.

Our data also shows that TikTok dominates the social media scene in shares and impressions, which makes it an ideal choice for brands looking to maximize their visibility and engagement.

So, what does it all mean for you? It means that you can integrate these numbers into your TikTok performance report for competitors and see how your brand and your competitors measure up to the current industry standards.

Exploring new content ideas

A TikTok competitive analysis should be more than a collection of data. Sometimes, spotting a post on a competitor’s social media grid can spark a great idea for your own brand’s content.

After all, social media managers aren’t machines, able to just churn out fresh ideas on demand. In fact, coming up with new content consistently is one of the biggest challenges in social media marketing.

That’s why we all need a little inspiration now and then. Sometimes, the best place to find it is by looking at what’s already working for others in your industry.

Getting an engagement boost

Don’t get me wrong, simply performing a TikTok competitive analysis won’t magically get you more engagement.

However, this type of social media measurement can help you easily spot your competitors’ highest-performing content – those posts that get the most love, spark meaningful conversations and are instantly shareable.

Noticing what your competitors aren’t doing gives you a chance to stand out. Whether it’s a unique content format or a niche topic, filling these content gaps can lead the way to more engagement.

How to do a TikTok competitive analysis

Step 1: Identifying your TikTok competitors

The first step to a successful TikTok competitor analysis is knowing exactly who to analyze – your true competitors. The key is to focus your attention on those that are on your level or performing slightly better.

To have a full picture for competitive intelligence, it pays to look beyond just your direct competitors. Notice how brands outside your niche can still influence your audience’s buying decisions.

These are the brands your potential customers are engaging with, getting inspired by, and even comparing you to – whether you realize it or not.

Direct vs indirect competitors

Your direct competitors are brands or businesses in the same niche as you, directly competing with you for attention, engagement, and potential customers.

Indirect competitors, on the other hand, are brands that don’t directly compete with your brand but might overlap with your niche and shape consumer shopping habits– even if their focus is slightly different.

Say you are Walmart, a big brand in the retail industry. Your direct competitors would be other major retailers that post similar content about sales, product finds, shopping hauls, and seasonal promotions, such as BestBuy or Target.

Your indirect competitors might include grocery stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, home organization brands like IKEA, or beauty retailers like Sephora and ULTA.

How to find TikTok competitors

If you manage to find the right competitors to compare yourself to, everything else falls into place. There a few easy ways in which you can discover your competitors, including:

• Niche-specific keywords and hashtags. For example, if you’re a electronics retail brand like Best Buy, you could use TikTok search to explore hashtags like #TechDeals, #GadgetReview, #TechUnboxing, or #TechHaul and find competitors who are posting content similar to yours.
  
• TikTok suggested accounts. Whenever you find yourself on one of your competitor’s pages, check the Suggested Accounts section to discover other relevant brands that could qualify as your competition.
  
• Trending content. Explore your For You Page with a competitor-focused mindset. If you see any brands constantly popping up in your niche, they might be worth checking out and adding to your competitors list.
  
• Influencer collaborations. Identify key influencers in your niche and have a look at their sponsored content on TikTok to find which brands they’re working with – there you may find some new competitors.

Step 2: Tracking essential TikTok metrics

Once you’ve created a list of your TikTok metrics, the next important step is knowing what metrics to track.

Not all numbers tell the full story, so it’s important to zero in on the ones that truly align with your brand’s goals and help you grow.

Here’s a quick list of key TikTok KPIs for competitors we suggest tracking:

Engagement and engagement rate

TikTok has a reputation for its buzzing, high-energy vibe, where people don’t just watch content, they are actively engaging with it, to the point of making posts go viral overnight.

With that in mind, it’s easy to see why engagement is a key metric to track, especially when you’re looking at competitive performance data for TikTok.

Monitoring engagement helps show you how much people are resonating with the content, what posts are sparking conversations, and what content feels instantly shareable. High engagement on TikTok is a crucial factor in how often the algorithm pushes your videos to new viewers.

In a TikTok performance analysis, if your competitors score higher engagement, that might be a sign that they know their audience better, and are able to create content that aligns with their interests.

Video performance: views, video length, shares, saves

In social media marketing, video is king, and nowhere is that more obvious than on TikTok. So including video performance in your TikTok reports is essential for having a complete picture of your competitive landscape.

Sure, views may be the go-to metric for visibility and potential virality, but there’s more to the story.

Paying attention to how long your competitors’ videos are, as well as how often they’re shared and saved, can provide valuable insights into what’s really keeping audiences hooked.

Post types: video vs carousel

TikTok is definitely a video-first platform, but in recent times, they’ve been expanding into more static content like carousels.

While some brands passed on this new format, others have embraced it and are already mastering the art of engaging carousel posts.

When you’re diving into a TikTok competitive analysis, make sure to see which post format is getting the most engagement from your competitors – and maybe try it for yourself and see what works for your audience?

Follower growth rate

If we had to describe TikTok in two words, it would definitely be “warp-speed.” This platform is where you can see your social media metrics grow really fast.

For example, if one of your posts goes viral, your audience could easily multiply overnight.

So, when analyzing your competitors on TikTok, it’s best to focus on their follower growth rate rather than just the total follower count, to have a better idea of how quickly their audience is expanding.

And if you correlate this with other metrics like engagement or views, you might also find out why.

Content pillars

Any brand’s strategy on TikTok is usually built on a few content pillars. These are key categories that reflect a brand’s values, goals, and main audience interests.

For instance, a beauty brand might focus on a few main themes, such as tutorials, product reviews and behind-the-scenes content.

Analyzing your TikTok competitors’ content to understand which content pillars are working best for them can give you the opportunity to explore new themes for your own brand, or simply double down on what’s working already.

Best-performing TikToks

Taking a look at your competitors’ best posts can tell you a lot about their strategy. These are the posts that really clicked with their audience, went viral, and helped them grow their community. Which begs some questions: Was it the catchy music? The attention-grabbing hook? The perfect video length? Or maybe the topic itself?

Finding patterns in your competitors’ top-performing content is key for understanding what works for them, and learning from their wins.

Likes

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this metric – likes are the most basic but also the most important ways of showing appreciation for online content, and a powerful indicator of how well that content is received.

In the grand scheme of things, they may not weigh as much as shares or comments, but they are still major drivers of engagement, and a must-have in any TikTok performance evaluation.

Comments

Comments are a more meaningful and nuanced way of interacting with online content. So, when analyzing your competitors on TikTok, get a close look at their comments.

Are people asking questions? Tagging friends? Sharing opinions? How responsive are your competitors in the comment sections? Are they missing key opportunities to build connections?

Influencers & brands collabs

Influencer collabs might not be the first thing that comes to mind when creating TikTok performance reports, but these partnerships speak volumes about your competitors’ approach to TikTok marketing: who they’re working with, what kind of content they’re pushing, and how they’re reaching new audiences.

Paying attention to your competitors’ collabs is also a great opportunity to discover fresh creators who could be a perfect fit for your brand.

How to accurately track these metrics

Socialinsider makes it easy by giving you access to all these key metrics in one place. A complete picture of your competitors’ engagement, video performance, content pillars, top posts and influencer collabs within a single dashboard.

From historical posts data to video performance trends over time, you can eliminate the guesswork using this tool for a TikTok competitive analysis.

Step 3: Analyzing your competitor’s content strategy

In a TikTok competitive analysis, it’s best to start with the big picture, then slowly zoom in the details.

At a macro level, you can start identifying your competitors' top-performing content pillars, aka the topics they consistently post about.

Doing this can help you see what resonates with their audience, and find content gaps that your brand can fill.

Once that’s done, you can slowly pivot to micro-level details by analyzing individual posts and social media campaigns, and seeing which are the ideal content format for each pillar.

Here are a few areas that might help focus your analysis:

• Video formats: Are they sharing tutorials, behind-the-scenes clips, challenges, or storytelling-style videos?
• Audience engagement: How do they interact with their followers? What are their social media personas? Do they reply to comments, duet videos, or encourage user-generated content?
• Editing styles & trends: What kind of transitions, effects, or sounds do they use? Is their editing style more on the authentic or overly-produced side?
• Hashtags & trends: Are they hopping on TikTok trends, viral hashtags, and challenges to maximize their reach?

Step 4: Benchmarking your performance against competitors

To have an even clearer understanding of how you stack up to your competitors, it pays off to do a head-to-head TikTok performance comparison using Socialinsider’s Benchmarking feature.

Here’s how to do it in a few simple steps:

1. Set up your project – Create a new project dedicated to your TikTok competitor analysis
2. Add profiles – Connect your TikTok account and add your closest competitors.
3. Get benchmarks – Navigate to the Benchmark section from the sidebar and select TikTok
4. Choose your key metrics – Use the drawer menu on the right to pick the metrics that matter most to you.

Each brand has its strengths and weaknesses, and here is where you can see most clearly.

Taking Target vs. Walmart as an example, and analyzing their TikTok posts from the last 6 months, I’ve noticed that Target is a clear leader in engagement, followed closely by Walmart. But why? What’s the difference in their approach?

The answer might lie in how the type of content they share... While both brands share content pillars based around deals, shopping hauls, and seasonal finds, Target leans more into trendy, aesthetic content, while Walmart focuses on practicality and affordability.

Here are some examples.

From Target:

From Walmart:

Step 5: Developing a winning TikTok strategy based on competitor insights

At the end of the day, all the competitor insights you collect serve one big purpose: helping you create a strong, data-backed TikTok strategy that keeps your brand growing. This is the last of the 5 steps of a TikTok competitive analysis.

So, how do you take your lessons and turn them into action points? Here are a few social media best practices to keep in mind:

• Take inspiration, don’t imitate. There’s a fine line between learning from your competitors and outright copying them. “Steal” their best ideas, but also make them your own.
  
• Figure out what makes their content click. Whether it’s their tone of voice, the content pillars, some eye-catching visuals, the time of posting or anything else – it’s up to you to find this crucial piece of the puzzle.
  
• Play around with content formats & editing styles. TikTok is a playground where creativity can run wild, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different video styles, storytelling techniques, and editing tricks.
  
• Jump on trends, but do it strategically. Hashtags and TikTok challenges can give your content a visibility boost, but only if you choose the ones that make sense for your brand.

Advanced techniques for TikTok competitor analysis

The key to analyzing competition on any platform is to always stay one step ahead. To stay ahead of the curve, especially on TikTok, you will sometimes need to dig deep into your arsenal and take out the most advanced TikTok analysis tools you have on hand. Here’s what we suggest.

Dig deeper with AI & market insights

AI isn’t just great for brainstorming captions or generating unique visuals – it can also help you analyze competitors on TikTok and their content in a way that goes beyond a surface level.

With tools like Socialinsider’s Strategy Assistant (custom GPT),  you can tap into the power of AI-powered TikTok data analysis.

For instance, you can export your competitor's TikTok posts from the Socialinsider app and play with our Strategy Assistant to uncover patterns, strengths, and content gaps between brands.

Track emerging competitors & industry trends

If you want to get deeper competitive insights, find new competitors as soon as they pop up and be up to date on all the market trends, you need to see the bigger picture, and get industry-wide content trends.

One way to do this is by analyzing content pillars at an industry level. For example, in Socialinsider’s Benchmarks section, you can see the top content pillars for all brands in your project. In this case, I added retail brands Target and Walmart and studied their activity over the past 6 months.

Final thoughts

At its core, any analysis on social media is about gaining clarity—understanding who you’re up against, what’s working for them, and to carve out your own unique space in the industry.

Here’s a quick rundown of steps to keep in mind when analyzing competitors on TikTok:

• Find your competitors – both direct and indirect, so you know who’s influencing your audience, and who you should compare yourself to.
• Track key TikTok metrics – engagement, reach, content performance, and more to get the full picture.
• Analyze their content strategy – notice what’s resonating with their audience, what trends they’re using, and what content gaps you can fill out
• Benchmark your performance – compare your results to industry standards and adjust accordingly.

So, are you ready to press “play” on your TikTok competitor analysis with Socialinsider?

A/B testing is your shortcut to data-driven decisions. It’s like having a cheat code to learn what your audience actually loves so you can stop relying on hunches and start scaling what works.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to run A/B tests, optimize creatives and targeting, save budget, and adapt your social media marketing strategy for maximum impact. Let’s dive in.

What is A/B testing on social media?

Social media A/B testing is an optimization strategy for comparing two different versions of social media content (organic and paid) to see which one performs better than the other.

By showing your audience both variants and analyzing the results, you can make data-driven decisions that save time and maximize your budget.

You can test almost every element of your campaign, including captions, headlines, images, videos, CTAs, audience segments, and even post timings.

For example, you might test whether a bold, eye-catching visual outperforms a sleek, minimalist design or whether snappy one-liners drive more engagement than in-depth storytelling.

When you A/B test, you create two versions of the same post:

Version A: The original or control version of the post that was initially designed

Version B: Modified or variation version of the post, which is the same as Version A but with only one element changed.

As your audience interacts with each version, their engagement is measured to determine which variant drives better results, whether it’s more clicks, conversions, or overall ROI.

By fine-tuning your content, targeting, and timing, you’re not just guessing anymore. You’re making smarter, data-backed decisions that turn casual scrollers into loyal customers.

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Why do A/B testing on social media?

A/B testing is more than just a marketing experiment. It provides the data you need to make smarter decisions, directly leading to higher engagement, increased conversions, and more successful campaigns.

By testing different social media content types, you can uncover what connects with your audience.

Here’s why you should make A/B testing a core part of your social media strategy.

Boost engagement

Not all social media content is the same. While some posts grab attention instantly, others get lost in the feed and are never seen again. A/B testing in social media helps you identify which kind of posts spark the most engagement.

Improved content strategy

A/B testing can also help you determine the best performing content formats that drive engagement and identify the right content pillars for social media. That way, you can continuously optimize your social media strategy with every A/B test you conduct and double down on what works best for your brand.

For example, if Reels drive the highest engagement on your Instagram page, it’s a clear sign to prioritize them in your content plan. However, comparing analytics of all the Reels against carousels or image posts can be tricky with Instagram’s limited in-built tools.

Socialinsider is a social media analytics tool that can help you deep dive into campaign metrics, analyze top-performing post types, and access detailed analytics to refine your content strategy.  With insights into the best formats for each category, you can make smarter, data-backed decisions.

Increase conversion rates

Getting engagement is a good start, but the real goal is almost always conversions. A/B testing for social media ads lets you test elements like CTAs, ad creatives, and landing pages to find the most effective mix that leads to more clicks, sales, or sign-ups.

Enhance targeting

Refine your targeting by testing different audience segments with varied demographics, interests, and behaviors. Show each audience segment the same version to see which segment responds the best.

The goal is to make sure your content reaches the right audience at the right time while giving you the right result within your budget.

For example, a B2B SaaS brand can use the same LinkedIn ad for both mid-level managers and C-level executives to determine which segment engages better and is more likely to convert.

Maximize ad spend efficiency

The biggest advantage of A/B testing on social media? It can optimize your ad spend and improve social media return on investment.

Instead of risking your entire budget on uncertain campaigns, A/B testing allows you to test different variations on a smaller scale first.

Allocate a small portion of the budget to test variations, identify the top performing content, and scale the winners.

This ensures your budget goes toward the most effective ads, reducing wasted spending and improving cost per acquisition (CPA) and cost per click (CPC).

When is social media A/B testing needed?

When launching a new social media campaign

So, when to conduct social media experiments? Well, before kickstarting a new campaign would be ideal. Try to test different taglines, creatives, and calls to action (CTAs) to make sure only the best-performing version reaches your target audience.

Let’s take a look at an example of how to implement social media A/B testing effectively.

A brand launching a new SaaS project management tool can run an A/B test focusing on two different types of messaging to analyze which one performs better.

Version A: Focuses on team collaboration and highlights features like real-time updates, user comments, and shared dashboards.

Version B: Focuses on the time-saving benefits of the tool and highlights features like automation and AI task management.

The brand can analyze CTR and sign-ups for both versions to determine which messaging performs well with the target audience. Then, allocate the budget accordingly for a successful campaign launch.

When running paid social media ads

Paid advertising can be costly, especially when dealing with poorly performing ads that only drain your budget. If your CTR is low or CPC is high, you can run A/B tests for social media ads and experiment with different ad elements to optimize your ad budgets.

For example, a brand with CRM software can improve the efficiency of its low-performing ads by testing different images while keeping the core product positioning the same for all versions.

Version A:

• Headline: Struggling to track leads? Our CRM simplifies your sales pipeline
• Image: A screenshot of the CRM dashboard
• CTA: Get a personalized demo
  

Version B:

• Headline: Struggling to track leads? Our CRM simplifies your sales pipeline
• Image: An illustration that lists the main features of the CRM software
• CTA: Get a personalized demo

Both versions use the same headline and CTA to isolate the impact of the images. After running the test, the brand can analyze engagement metrics and CPC to determine which image works better. The winning version can then be scaled, ensuring the ad budget is spent efficiently.

When adjusting to algorithm changes

As a social media marketer, you’ll often feel like you’re playing a game where the rules keep changing. Just when you’ve figured out what works and your engagement is soaring, the platform updates its algorithm. Before you know it, your engagement rate takes a nose dive, and your leads start to dry up.

Social media platforms frequently update their algorithms, and if you don’t respond to the changes quickly, it can impact post visibility and engagement. A/B testing social media content can help you determine what performs best under the new algorithm.

For example, let’s say a marketing automation company notices a sharp drop in engagement on LinkedIn after the platform’s new algorithm update. To adapt, they run an A/B test to compare two different content strategies:

• Version A: Focused on thought leadership posts where company leaders share insights on the future of AI in marketing.

• Version B: Focused on case study-driven posts highlighting customer success stories and ROI improvements.

By analyzing engagement, shares, reach, and click-through rates, the company can pivot its content strategy to stay relevant and visible on the platform.

When seeking validation for a new idea or strategy

Before committing to a large-scale campaign, you can test the new campaign idea on a smaller scale to make sure the idea is effective.

Running a controlled experiment and testing different elements of the campaign can help you gain real insights into audience behavior. It can also allow you to fine-tune messaging, formats, and creatives before scaling up, maximizing your campaign’s impact.

For example, a cybersecurity company planning a webinar series on security breaches can A/B test two content formats:

• Version A: A short, engaging video clip of an expert discussing a trending cybersecurity threat.

• Version B: A carousel post breaking down key takeaways from recent security breaches.

By analyzing engagement and audience interest levels, the company can validate the topic’s appeal and refine its approach before investing heavily in the campaign.

What social media elements can you A/B test?

Visuals

The right visuals make people stop scrolling and notice your brand. The wrong ones? They get lost in the social media void.

You should A/B test different visual styles, elements, and formats to identify what really drives the best results.

• Compare images vs videos: Test if static images or videos generate more engagement for your brand. While, on average, video content often outperforms images on social media, it may not be the case for every audience segment.

• Carousels vs. single image posts: Split text carousels and single image posts with similar branding and copy to compare their engagement levels.

• Test different image styles: Instead of just building one set of social media templates and sticking to it until the end of time, experiment with different color schemes. Test bright vs dark colors and text overlay vs no text to see what sticks.

• Experiment with different thumbnail covers: For video content, the first impression matters. Test different cover images like bold text vs no text, and close up shots vs wide frames to find out what grabs the attention and drives more views. A strong and engaging thumbnail can improve engagement, click-through rates, and video watch time.

For example, all the best-performing videos on Canva’s YouTube channel have the exact same thumbnail style.

Copy and text

Your messaging style can also directly impact engagement and conversions.

So, what to test on social media when it comes to text formats? Experiment with different copy styles, such as short vs long captions, and refine the content to determine what captures your audience’s attention.

• Captions: While some audiences prefer quick, to-the-point captions, others engage more with detailed storytelling. Test short vs long captions to identify what drives better results.

• Headlines: Compare statement-based headlines (‘The best CRM for startups’) against question-based ones (‘Struggling to scale your sales team?’).

• CTAs: Experiment with different CTAs like ‘Shop Now’ vs ‘Learn More’ vs ‘Get Started.’

Audience targeting for ads

You could be putting out the best content on your social media channels, but if your content isn’t reaching the right audience, then all that time, effort, and money will eventually go down the drain giving you zero results.

Audience targeting isn’t just about getting more views. It’s about getting the right eyeballs. By A/B testing social media ads audiences, you can stop wasting your marketing budget on the wrong crowd and start investing in those who actually engage, convert, and bring in revenue.

Here are a few ways to test different audience segments to maximize social media ROI.

• Compare demographics: Testing different age groups, genders, and geographic locations.

• Lookalike vs custom audiences: Use the same content to target lookalike and custom audiences separately to see which generates better engagement and conversions.

• Cold vs warm audiences: Check how new users (cold traffic) respond differently than retargeted users (warm traffic).

Ad components and strategies

When running paid social media ads, experimenting with different elements can help you uncover audience insights and optimize user experiences. It also minimizes the risk of pouring money into ad campaigns that might flop.

Take a look at the different ways to experiment with A/B testing ads.

• Ad creatives: Compare different design styles like product-focused images vs lifestyle imagery.

• Ad placements: Test whether ads perform better in Stories, Feeds, or Reels.

• Bidding strategies: Try both automated and manual bidding to optimize CPC

Landing pages

While powerful social media content can get you high views and even clicks, it's ultimately the landing page experience that determines whether those clicks will turn into conversions. A poor landing page can easily lead to wasted ad spend, high bounce rates, and loss of potential customers.

A/B testing different elements of the landing page can help you ensure you’re providing the best possible user experience.

• Direct product pages vs lead capture forms: Some users make a purchase immediately, others need more nurturing. A/B testing a landing page that leads directly to a product purchase versus one that collects email leads for follow-ups (such as offering a free guide or discount) can help determine which approach works best for different audience segments.

• Video-heavy landing page vs text-heavy page: While product demo videos can boost engagement, they may also slow down page load times. On the other hand, a well-structured, text-based page with screenshots of the product might provide detailed information more efficiently. A/B testing both formats can help determine whether a demo video increases conversions or if a concise, text-driven approach is more effective for your audience.

How to conduct A/B testing on social media?

Step 1: Define the goal

Decide what you want to improve through the A/B test, whether it's engagement, CTR, or conversions. Having a specific goal ensures that you measure the right metrics and make data-backed decisions that are focused on those metrics.

Step 2: Choose the variable you want to test

Before you run the test, determine exactly what parameters you will be testing to achieve your testing goals. For instance, if your goal is to increase engagement, you can test different types of images and videos to see which sticks well with your target audience.

Here are some common A/B testing variables you can consider to optimize performance:

• Visual elements: Compare images versus videos, carousels versus single images, and different thumbnail selections to determine which format captures more attention.

• Creative elements: Experiment with different caption styles, CTAs, and copy lengths to see what gets better results.

• Audience segments: Test variations in targeting by comparing different demographics, interests, and engagement levels, such as new users versus retargeted users.

• Posting strategy: Analyze how posting at different times of the day and on different days of the week impacts reach and social media engagement. Additionally, test varying hashtag strategies to identify which combinations drive the most visibility.

Step 3: Create two variations

Now, create two variations of the same social media post and make sure to only change one element.

For example, if you want to test CTAs, then only change the CTA in the modified version and keep everything else the same as the original. Even the platform, post time, and audience targeting should stay the same.

Step 4: Set up the test

Most social media platforms have built-in A/B testing tools that make it easy to set up the test and analyze results.

• Facebook: Facebook Ads Manager has a dedicated A/B testing tool that allows brands to test different ad variations, including headlines, placements, creatives, audiences, and CTAs. After the A/B test run, the tool automatically provides reports comparing the performance insights of the two ads.

• Instagram: Since Instagram advertising is also managed through Facebook, you can use Facebook Ads Manager to run A/B tests on Instagram as well.

• X (formerly Twitter): X Ads Manager supports A/B testing but only for creative assets, such as images, videos, text, and CTAs.

• LinkedIn: LinkedIn's Campaign Manager lets businesses run A/B tests by experimenting with different audiences, placements, and creatives to optimize the performance of B2B marketing campaigns.
  

Keep in mind that budget and test duration are just as important when setting up the test.

• Budget: Split the budget evenly between the variations. Remember, this is only a test social media campaign, so your budget should be much lower than the actual campaign budget.

• Test duration: Run the A/B tests for at least one week (two would be better) to collect enough data and account for day-to-day fluctuations in reach.

Step 5: Run the test

Run both variations simultaneously to ensure they’re tested under the same conditions. Don’t make any mid-test tweaks, just focus on data collection.

Be patient with the results. If there’s no clear winner after a week, extend the test for another week. Some insights take time to surface, and rushing could mean missing valuable trends.

Step 6: Analyze the results

Once your test has collected enough data, compare the results based on the predefined goals.

• If one version outperforms the other significantly, you have a clear winner.
• If you find the results inconclusive, retest with a larger sample size or longer duration. You can also refine or change your variable.

To analyze results, you can use built-in tools on social media platforms or AI-driven analytics tools like Socialinsider, which offer manual tagging and content pillar analysis for simplified content comparison.

You can set up custom tags on Socialinsider for your A/B test posts to directly compare their performance and analyze social media metrics such as likes, comments, impressions, and follower growth.

Step 7: Draw conclusions

Analyze broader patterns across all tests instead of viewing them in isolation. The goal is to identify patterns for what works for your audience and build a successful social media content strategy.

• What type of visuals work best for engagement?
• Which CTA drives the highest conversion rates?
• Does posting at a certain time generate more reach?
• Which audience segment engages more with your content?

Step 8: Implement findings

Use the social media insights from your A/B test to refine future campaigns. If the modified version performed better, apply that approach consistently while continuing to experiment with new variables.

• If videos have outperformed static images in your A/B tests, incorporate more videos in your content strategies.
• Use messaging style and CTAs that have driven higher conversions.
• Schedule posts based on the peak engagement times of your A/B test campaigns.
• Allocate more of your budget for audience segments that have the highest engagement rate.

Remember that A/B testing is an ongoing process. What works today for your brand may not work six months down the road. So make sure to continue A/B testing and optimize your social media content regularly.

Social media A/B testing best practices

Set a clear goal

Every experiment should have a clear purpose and goal. Are you testing a new ad creative to boost leads or comparing different captions to see which one drives more conversions?

Every experiment should have a clear purpose and goal when it comes to social media A/B testing. Are you testing different creatives on social media to boost leads or comparing different captions to see which one drives more conversions?

Your A/B testing goals should be:

• Specific: Pinpoint exactly what you're measuring
• Measurable: Use quantifiable metrics like impressions, CTR, and conversions
• Time-bound: Set a testing period to evaluate results effectively.

By linking each test to a goal, you ensure your results are actionable. Also, tracking these numbers over time can help you refine your strategy and get smarter with every experiment.

Test only one variable at a time

To understand the impact of every change you are making in the modified version, only test one variable at a time. Changing multiple variables in a single modified version will only make it difficult for you to understand which exact element caused the difference in performance in the test.

Use a large enough sample size

Here’s a simple rule of thumb for conducting A/B tests: If you don’t perform the tests on enough people, you won’t get reliable or accurate results.

For example, let's say you run an A/B test for a week with two different copies. While the original version reaches 150 people and gets 5 leads, the modified version reaches 100 people and gets 4 leads.

On the surface, it might seem like the original version performed better, but that’s only because the audience reach for both versions wasn’t big enough to draw meaningful insights.

Keep the testing period long enough

Test duration is a crucial factor when it comes to determining the reliability of the test results. You need to run your test long enough to get data that is statistically significant data.

As mentioned before, you should at least run the test for a week or a full business cycle to account for any variations in user behavior.

If, at the end of the week, you still don’t have differentiating results, consider running the campaign for another week.

Maintain audience consistency

To get consistent results, you need to show both versions to similar audience segments. If one version is shown to a highly engaged audience while the other version only reaches a less relevant audience, your test results will be skewed.

Make sure to use the same demographics, interests, and user behaviors for both variations. Also, both versions should run at the same time to avoid factors like time of day from affecting the overall engagement levels.

Final thoughts

A/B testing for social media isn’t just a tool. It's a strategic way to cut through the noise. By experimenting with different social media content types, you can turn hunches into data-backed strategies and consistently deliver impactful results.

Social media marketing isn’t just about posting content—it’s about building a strategy, staying on top of trends, running experiments, and proving ROI. But the real challenge? Convincing potential clients that you’re the right person for the job.

That’s where a solid social media marketing proposal comes in. A well-structured proposal doesn’t just outline what you’ll do; it shows why your approach works, how it drives results, and why the client should choose you over everyone else.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly how to write a winning social media proposal, including what to include, how to structure it, and tips to make it stand out.

What is a social media proposal?

A social media strategy proposal is a document that outlines the strategy, scope of work, deliverables, and pricing for a social media marketing project. It is basically your go-to resources for pitching your expertise to potential clients and demonstrating how your approach can help them achieve their goals.

A strong marketing proposal includes details about your strategy, execution timelines, key performance indicators (KPIs), and the value you bring to the table. It’s more than just a breakdown of services—it’s a persuasive document that convinces the client that you’re the right choice.

The best proposals are tailored to each client’s specific needs, addressing their pain points, goals, and industry challenges.

Instead of a generic outline, a winning social media services proposal speaks directly to their business, showcasing your understanding and strategic thinking.

If you're wondering how to create a proposal that stands out, ensuring it aligns with the client’s objectives and delivers measurable results is key.

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‌When is a social media marketing proposal needed?

A social media strategy proposal is essential in several scenarios, including:

• When a business needs a new strategy to improve engagement, increase brand awareness, or drive conversions.
• When an existing social media collaboration is extended, requiring additional services or a shift in approach.
• When a company wants to integrate more segments into its social media marketing, such as influencer partnerships, paid ads, or community management.
• When a brand is looking for a structured, professional approach to social media and requests a social media proposal example to assess potential service providers.

A well-crafted proposal ensures alignment between client expectations and deliverables, establishing a successful partnership.

What to include in a social media proposal?

A social media strategy proposal combines analytical insights and creative execution. The analytical section presents data-driven insights, while the creative part outlines the strategic approach for a social media marketing campaign, ensuring alignment on goals, budget, and deliverables.

Below is a breakdown of key elements that should be included in a social media plan proposal to make it comprehensive and compelling.

Cover page

The cover page should be clean, professional, and branded with your company’s logo and the client’s name. It sets the first impression, making the proposal look polished and well-structured. Key details to include:

• Proposal title (e.g., “Social Media Strategy Proposal for [Client Name]”);
• Your agency or company name;
• Date of submission;
• Client’s name and contact information;
• Your contact details.

Executive summary

The executive summary is a high-level overview of the proposal, summarizing the client’s challenges and how your strategy will address them. This section should include:

• Identification of the client’s pain points and struggles with social media;
• An outline of the proposed social media strategy;
• Expected results and impact on the client’s business goals.

Current social media performance audit and strategy results

This part of the social media management proposal provides a social media analysis or a social media audit presenting the client’s current social media impact, highlighting weaknesses and areas for improvement, which are more easy to identify in the context of a competitive analysis.

Adding competitive insights to the analysis will help get a more complex understanding of the market by comparing the client’s performance to industry benchmarks.

Elements to cover:

• Review of social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, etc.)
• Engagement levels, audience growth trends, and past campaign data;
• Insights into why current efforts may not be yielding the desired results;
• Strengths and weaknesses compared to competitors.

Business objectives and social media goals of the proposed strategy

To create a successful social media strategy proposal, it's crucial to align the social media goals with the client’s business objectives. These goals should be:

• SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
• Directly correlated to broader marketing and sales efforts
• Focused on brand awareness, engagement, lead generation, or conversions.

Target audience and social media personas

Clearly defining the target audience ensures that the social media strategy is tailored to the right demographics.

Social media targeting done right is directly proportional to setting business goals and is invaluable for the forecast to be successful. In some cases, the challenges of reaching new audiences can be the very reason why a new strategy is needed and the basis for a social media plan proposal.

This section should:

• Identification of key audience segments;
• An outline of social media personas (age, location, interests, behaviors);
• Highlighted preferred content types for different audience segments as a result of a social media analysis focused on their preferences, behaviors, and engagement patterns.

Strategy description (macro-level overview)

This section provides an overview of the proposed strategy, ensuring it aligns with the client’s goals. Instead of listing tactics, present a broader strategic vision, such as:

• Increasing brand visibility through influencer collaborations
• Enhancing engagement with interactive content
• Driving conversions with retargeting campaigns

The proposal should outline platform-specific strategies, balancing organic and paid social media content to maximize social media reach and ensure alignment with audience preferences and business objectives.

The strategy will define recommended platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok, with content themes tailored for each.

For example, here's a sneak peek of how Booking.com divides its content pillars and balances content across TikTok and Instagram.

Socialinsider can be used as the go-to tool for tracking content pillars across channels to ensure the strategy is data-driven. It provides insights into high-performing social media content, audience engagement trends, and competitor benchmarks.

Using these insights, the proposal can help refine content strategies, optimize engagement tactics, and improve overall social media ROI through data-backed decisions.

This phase will also describe how different engagement initiatives, such as AR filters, contests, and interactive challenges, will be incorporated to boost audience interaction.

A structured timeline will map out campaign launch dates and budgets, ensuring a clear execution plan.

Content planning will also include a suggested posting frequency and distribution schedule to maintain audience consistency while driving measurable engagement.

KPIs analysis & results evaluation

Tracking the right KPIs is essential for measuring the success of a social media campaign. Therefore, the proposal should cover what performance data will be covered to evaluate the success of the social strategy proposed.

Depending on the focus of the plan, different metrics will hold varying levels of importance.

The most relevant KPIs should be aligned with platform-specific goals and divided according to the marketing funnel.

Top of the funnel (awareness & reach)

• Follower Growth – Tracks the increase in followers over time, reflecting brand awareness and audience expansion.
• Engagement Rate – Measures interaction level (likes, comments, shares) on posts, indicating how actively the audience is engaging with the content.
• Reach & Impressions – Measures how many users see the content and how often it appears in their feeds, helping assess brand visibility and content effectiveness.

Middle of the funnel (consideration & actions)

• Click-Through Rate (CTR) – The percentage of users who click on a link after seeing a post or ad. This metric indicates how compelling the content is and whether it encourages users to take action.

Bottom of the funnel (conversions & revenue)

• Sales – Tracks direct purchases, lead form submissions, or other conversion actions attributed to social media efforts.
• Return on investment (ROI) – Compares the revenue generated from social media campaigns against the total cost spent, providing a clear measure of profitability.

By continuously evaluating these KPIs, social media strategies can be refined to improve performance, optimize budget allocation, and maximize overall business impact.

Case studies & testimonials

Including social media case studies and client testimonials helps establish credibility and demonstrate past success. This section should showcase how previous clients benefited from the proposed strategies and what measurable results were achieved.

What to include in case studies:

• Client background: Briefly introduce the business, industry, and challenges they faced before implementing the strategy.
• Strategy implemented: Outline the approach taken, key tactics used, and platforms leveraged.
• Results achieved: Present quantifiable metrics (e.g., increased engagement by 50%, generated $10,000 in sales, or improved follower growth by 30%).
• Client testimonial: A direct quote from the client validating the impact of the strategy.

Contract & Terms of Service (TOS)

To ensure transparency and prevent misunderstandings, the contract and terms of service section should outline the agreement's legal and operational details. This section should include:

• Scope of work: A clear breakdown of services offered, including content creation, ad management, engagement strategies, and reporting.
• Payment terms: Details on pricing, invoicing schedules, late payment policies, and refund clauses.
• Confidentiality & ownership: Specify who owns the content created and how confidential client data will be handled.
• Performance expectations: Define responsibilities, expected timelines, and deliverables.
• Termination clause: Conditions under which either party can end the agreement and any applicable penalties or notice periods.

Next steps

To streamline the onboarding process, provide clear action steps for the client to proceed.

• Sign the contract: Offer a link or document for electronic signature.
• Schedule a kickoff meeting: Provide a link to book a call or meeting for further discussions.
• Initial deliverables & timeline confirmation: Outline the first steps after contract approval, such as account audits, content calendar creation, or ad setup.

A strong closing section reinforces urgency, ensuring the client knows exactly how to move forward with confidence.

How to write a social media proposal?

Crafting a compelling marketing proposal requires research, strategic planning, and a results-driven approach. This step-by-step guide will help you create an effective proposal that secures client approval and sets the foundation for a successful collaboration.

Step 1: Research & understand the client’s needs

Before drafting the proposal, gather essential insights to tailor your strategy to the client’s specific needs. Consider the following:

• Industry and target audience: Understand their market position and ideal customer demographics.
• Current social media presence: Analyze existing platforms, engagement levels, and performance trends.
• Competitor analysis: Benchmark the client’s performance against competitors and identify gaps or opportunities.
• Market trends: Stay updated on relevant social media trends that could influence the client’s strategy.

Step 2: Write a strong cover page

The cover page should be visually appealing and include essential details:

• Proposal title (e.g., “Social Media Growth Strategy for [Client Name]”)
• Company name & logo
• Date of submission
• Client’s name & contact details
• Your contact information

Step 3: Craft an engaging executive summary

The executive summary should highlight the client’s key pain points and explain how your strategy will improve their social media presence. It should be concise, engaging, and persuasive.

Example:
“With a strategic approach to TikTok and influencer marketing, our team will help [Client Name] increase brand visibility and drive meaningful engagement.”

Step 4: Use a performance analysis as the change justification

Provide a performance analysis to support the need for a new or improved strategy. This should include:

• Strengths & weaknesses: Identify what’s working and where there’s room for improvement.
• Key performance metrics: Evaluate social media engagement, follower growth, and reach.
• Competitor comparison: Highlight how competitors are performing in comparison.

Example: In terms of engagement rate, both Burger King and KFC have values below the platform’s average, while Wendy’s boasts an engagement rate more than double the industry benchmark. This suggests that Burger King and KFC could improve their performance by replicating more of Wendy’s Instagram strategies.

Step 5: State the goals & objectives

Clearly define the social media goals, ensuring they are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).

Example goals:

• Increase Instagram engagement by 50% in 6 months.
• Reach 20% more people through organic and paid strategies within 6 months.
• Improve brand awareness by 30 percent (which can be measured through follower growth) through influencer collaborations in the first month.

Step 6: Present your social media plan

Platforms usage

• Define which platforms will be used and why (e.g., Instagram for engagement, LinkedIn for thought leadership, TikTok for virality).

Content strategy & pillars

• Establish key content pillars (e.g., educational, promotional, community-driven).
• Define content formats (videos, carousels, reels, live sessions, etc.).

Social media campaign proposals

Each campaign should have a clear timeline, budget, and set KPIs.

Example:

• Valentine’s Day Campaign (Mid-Jan – Mid-Feb) – Targeted at increasing seasonal sales through UGC contests and influencer collaborations.

Content planning & posting frequency

• Define how often content will be posted on each platform (e.g., Instagram: 5 posts/week, LinkedIn: 3 posts/week).
• Detail planned content types (e.g., giveaways, interactive Q&As, influencer partnerships).

Step 7: Measurement & evaluation

To ensure the strategy’s effectiveness, outline how performance will be tracked.

Micro-level analysis (campaign-specific evaluation)

• Evaluate individual campaigns (e.g., Valentine’s Day campaign impact on sales and engagement).

Macro-level analysis (overall strategy assessment)

Conduct quarterly evaluations to measure long-term progress.

KPIs should be continuously monitored, with adjustments made based on data insights.

Step 8: Provide testimonials

Showcasing past success builds trust and credibility.

Include:

• Client testimonials: Quotes from satisfied customers.
• Before-and-after metrics: Demonstrate impact (e.g., “Increased engagement by 50% in 3 months”).
• Screenshots of results: Data visualizations of engagement, reach, or conversions.

Step 9: Provide next steps

Make it easy for the client to move forward by clearly outlining the next steps.

Call-to-Action (CTA):

• Sign the contract: Provide a digital contract for approval.
• Schedule a kickoff meeting: Share a booking link.
• Confirm initial deliverables & timeline: Outline when the first set of actions will take place.

By presenting a structured and compelling social media proposal, you increase the likelihood of securing a successful partnership and delivering tangible results.

BONUS: Social media proposal template

To help you simplify the creation of your social media proposal, we've put together a template and an example with all the steps required.

Final thoughts

Tailoring your proposal to the client’s specific needs, clearly outlining objectives, and showcasing past successes, can help you establish trust and increase the likelihood of winning the project.

The key to a successful proposal for social media marketing lies in thorough research, strategic planning, and data-backed recommendations. Ensure your approach is results-driven, integrates organic and paid strategies, and aligns with the client’s goals.

With a compelling proposal, you’re not just offering social media services—you’re presenting a solution that drives engagement, builds brand loyalty, and delivers measurable business impact. Now, use this guide to craft proposals that stand out and convert prospects into long-term clients.

Who doesn’t love the thrill of winning? Giveaways are a great social media strategy to capitalize on that feeling while boosting your engagement and growing your brand’s presence.

If you want to make social media content for your giveaway stand out and deliver real results, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll explore 10 creative social media giveaway ideas that will help you captivate your audience and elevate your brand.

What are social media giveaways and contests?

Though a social media giveaway may look similar to a social media contest, there’s a difference between them.

What are social media giveaways?

A social media giveaway is all about chance. Brands invite followers to take simple actions – like sharing a post, tagging friends, or following an account – to enter a prize draw. Since the winner is chosen randomly, everyone who participates has an equal shot at winning.

This approach is perfect for brands looking to increase engagement, grow their follower base, or introduce a new product to a wide audience. The few steps required to enter social media giveaways often attract a large number of participants, boosting visibility and reach.

What are social media contests?

A contest, on the other hand, adds an element of skill or creativity. Instead of random selection, participants are asked to complete a specific task, such as submitting a photo, crafting a clever caption, or joining a challenge.

The winner is then chosen based on the quality, originality, or relevance of their entry – this is pretty much how to run a social media contest.

In a social media contest's case, the competitive idea behind it not only engages participants on a deeper level but also gives you high-quality user-generated content.

Creative contest ideas can help brands build a more engaged social media community, highlight creative fans, and foster stronger connections by showcasing talent and storytelling.

Why are social media giveaways and contests a good content idea?

Social media giveaways and brand contests aren’t just fun for your audience – they’re also powerful tools for elevating your brand presence, engagement, and loyalty.

Increase brand awareness

When people tag friends, share your social media giveaway post, or use branded hashtags to enter your giveaway, your brand naturally reaches new audiences. It’s an easy way to get in front of fresh eyes without feeling too pushy.

Plus, this kind of organic word-of-mouth exposure often feels more genuine and trustworthy – this way, a social media contest or a giveaway would work better than traditional ads.

Attract new followers

Be that a giveaway or a contest, brands usually ask participants to follow their page as part of the entry process, which can quickly grow their social media following.

Among the most common and workable giveaway ideas is teaming up with influencers or partners to tap into their audiences, too. While some new followers might join just for the prize, great content can turn them into long-term fans.

Boost engagement and interactions

Giveaways are a great way to spark likes, comments, shares, and tags – basically, all the actions that social media algorithms love. More engagement for your social media giveaway post means more visibility without extra investments.

Generate UGC (user-generated-content)

Contest ideas that encourage followers to create and share their own photos, videos, or stories featuring your brand can lead to awesome, authentic content.

Not only does this build trust with your audience, but it also gives you fresh material to share on your own social media accounts.

Strengthen customer loyalty

Offering your followers a chance to win is a simple but effective way to show you appreciate them. We all love to feel valued, and a giveaway can make your audience feel seen and rewarded.

When you nurture that sense of connection, you’re more likely to build a loyal community that keeps coming back.

Social media giveaway ideas for B2B brands

Social media giveaways are a great way for B2B brands to engage with potential clients and boost brand awareness. Here are some great giveaway ideas and contest examples to help you get started.

#1. User-generated contest

How it works: Ask followers to share creative photos or videos featuring your product or a related theme – one of the most fascinating interactive giveaway ideas.

Entry method: Participants tag your brand, use a specific hashtag, and share their content.

Expected results: Such contest ideas for social media create authentic content and help you build a stronger connection with your audience.

Best platform: Instagram is great for visual content, but you can also use platforms like Twitter or TikTok depending on your targeted social media personas.

Example: The TikTok from Zoom is a great take on a UGC contest. By inviting users to share their stories with #ZoomStorytime, Zoom encourages authentic engagement and real user experiences to be shared.

And the promise of being featured on the official account adds an element of excitement and recognition to such types of social media challenges, motivating more users to join in.

With over 5.3 million views, the #ZoomStorytime contest reached an impressive level of brand awareness, while the engagement generated (112 shares and more than 14K likes) indicates the appeal of this content type to Zoom’s audience.

#2. Solve & win (tech trivia & puzzle)

How it works: Engage your audience with a trivia question or puzzle related to your industry or products. Participants who solve the puzzle correctly have the chance to win a prize.

Entry method: The more interactive giveaway ideas are, the better. Ask followers to answer the trivia or puzzle in the comments or via a direct message. You could also ask them to tag others who might know the answer.

Expected results: This type of giveaway encourages learning, making it fun for participants while educating them about your brand or industry. It can also straighten engagement and attract followers interested in your expertise.

Best platform: LinkedIn and Twitter are great for trivia and puzzles due to their professional networks and quick responses. Instagram will also work well for this kind of a giveaway.

Example: Hootsuite’s giveaway for branded work-from-home shirts encouraged followers to comment with their top takeaway from the Social Media Career report. This created interaction and promoted the launch of a new report.

#3. Beta access giveaway

How it works: Offer exclusive early access to your upcoming feature, or package to a select group of followers. This kind of giveaway ideas for social media builds excitement and gives users the chance to be the first to try new product implementation (and allows you to fix the bugs in early stages).

Entry method: Ask participants to follow your account, tag others who would benefit from the product, and comment why they’d like to be part of the beta test. You could also encourage them to sign up through a landing page.

Expected results: Such a giveaway generates buzz around your product launch, increases sign-ups, and helps gather invaluable feedback from early users.

Best platform: LinkedIn is great for software in general and other tech products, while TikTok can help share visuals of the new product.

Example: Nothing used TikTok to promote their Nothing OS 3.0 beta access giveaway, inviting Phone (2a) users to join the Open Beta program for early access. The post created excitement by offering an exclusive sneak peek of new features, building anticipation among users eager to try it out before the official launch.

Nothing’s beta access giveaway drove impressive engagement, exceeding 2,600 shares and 1K comments. The 4,000 saves show genuine interest, while the engagement rate by views of 9.68% highlights excitement around the beta program.

#4. Reward a loyal customer

How it works: Celebrate your most dedicated customers with an exclusive giveaway. It’s a great way to boost loyalty and show appreciation.

Entry method: Here’s how to do a social media giveaway like that – just encourage followers to share a post or story showing how they use your product, using a branded hashtag and following your account.

Expected results: This strategy fosters brand loyalty, sparks excitement, and fills your feed with genuine user-generated content (a win-win!)

Best platform: Instagram works best for a visual-driven contest with branded hashtags.

Example: The Zappy Awards is Zapier’s annual contest that celebrates businesses and individuals using their automation creatively.

In a recent TikTok post, Zapier encouraged followers to nominate a friend or apply themselves for the chance to be recognized and win $5,000 and a story on Zapier blog.

Overall a great way to highlight customer success stories (and build a sense of community by inviting peer nominations).

#5. Collaboration giveaway

How it works: Team up with influencers, creators, or other brands to host your social media campaign. Collaboration expands your reach by tapping into each partner’s audience and adds extra excitement to the prize pool.

Entry method: Typically, participants need to follow both accounts, like the giveaway post, and tag a friend in the comments.

Expected results: Collaboration giveaway post ideas help grow your follower count, increase engagement, and introduce your brand to new, relevant audiences. Plus, partnering with trusted names can boost your brand’s credibility.

Best platform: Instagram is ideal for collab giveaways, thanks to its tagging and sharing features.

Example: The collaboration between Whiskers, a custom printing service, and Canva encouraged people to design wrapping paper using Canva and then print it through Whiskers. Participants could save 15% on their orders with the code in the caption.

It’s a fun way to inspire creativity while offering a sweet deal on custom-printed products – this is how to do social media giveaways and sales to merge two different audiences.

Exceeding 12K in reach and 13K in impressions generated, this post was exposed to a significant number of potential followers, indicating its effectiveness in expanding both brand's visibility. The engagement rate by reach (4.86%) and by impressions (4.42%) show that this social media post resonated well with the audience who interacted with it.

#6. Refer & win

How it works: Reward your followers for your brand to friends or colleagues. And here comes the contest part – the more friends you tag, the higher your chances of winning.

Entry method: Participants can share a unique referral link, tag friends in comments, or fill out a referral form. You can reward the top referrers or pick a random winner at the end of your giveaway.

Expected results: This approach boosts brand visibility and brings in new followers and leads through trusted recommendations.

Best platform: Ideal for Instagram and Facebook (for tagging) and LinkedIn or email (for professional referrals).

Example: Venmo's referral program is an effective giveaway that rewards users for referring friends, with both the referrer and the friend earning $5 each.

To qualify, the referred friend must make a payment of at least $5 within 14 days of clicking the referral link – nice and simple.

By keeping the giveaway announcement in Instagram Stories highlights, Venmo ensures ongoing visibility, encouraging engagement without a sense of urgency.

#7. Tech bundle giveaway

How it works: Put together a bundle of useful tech tools or software relevant to your audience. This could include a mix of products or services that your company offers or other industry-related items.

Entry method: Have participants like the post, follow your account, tag colleagues, and comment on which tool in the bundle would benefit their business the most.

Expected results: This can drive higher engagement and attract leads who are interested in technology solutions or hardware, showcasing your company as a helpful resource.

Best platform: LinkedIn is ideal for a professional tech giveaway, as it allows you to reach business owners and decision-makers. TikTok is also great for visually showcasing the bundle and increasing interaction.

Example: The #SmallBizSuccess challenge by QuickBooks is among excellent social media giveaway examples because it speaks directly to business owners and professionals who can benefit from the prize.

A $10k tech bundle is a valuable incentive for entrepreneurs and small businesses looking to improve their operations.

QuickBooks engages its target audience, encouraging participants to duet or stitch the contest video describing what they would do if they won the prize, which is a great way to boost brand visibility, too.

This giveaway ranks as the brand's highest-performing post in the past year, generating over 17M views, more than 8K likes, and 425 shares, showing its effectiveness in generating brand visibility.

#8. Holiday- themed giveaways

How it works: Celebrate holidays or special occasions with a themed giveaway or a contest that ties into the season. Offer festive or season-specific prizes to align with the holiday spirit, no matter the holiday.

Entry method: Encourage followers to like, share, and comment on your post or share holiday-themed content using a branded hashtag. You could also ask participants to share their own holiday stories or photos – this is how to do a giveaway on social media while getting UGC.

Expected results: This kind of activity rides the wave of seasonal vibes, sparks more social media interactions, and keeps your brand in the mix during key events and celebrations.

Best platform: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are perfect for holiday giveaways, especially if you want to share visuals or run hashtag challenges.

Example: Notion's back-to-school giveaway idea is a smart, themed campaign that targets students by aligning with the seasonal vibe.

By encouraging participants to share their favorite Notion setup, Notion boosts social media engagement and generates valuable UGC (over 50 posts as of writing).

The use of specific hashtags amplifies brand visibility, while the choice of themed back-to-school gift boxes adds value to the audience. This approach blends user creativity with organic brand promotion.

Notion’s giveaway garnered solid discovery and interest, driving more than 53K views, and an average engagement rate by views of 12.24%.

The high number of saves (505) indicates strong content value and relevance, while 75 shares helped extend social media reach beyond the initial audience.

With a minute-long video and strategic use of hashtags, the campaign effectively captured attention and encouraged interaction.

#9. Product giveaway

How it works: Give away one of your key products or services. This giveaway idea lets you showcase what your brand offers while attracting potential clients.

Entry method: Ask people to like the social media giveaway post, follow your account, tag 2-3 friends, and comment on why they’d love to win.

Expected results: Expect increased brand visibility, more followers, and engagement from those who could benefit from your product.

Best platform: TikTok and Instagram can help with wider visibility and engagement.

#. A “complete the story” contest

How it works: Share the beginning of a story and invite your followers to get creative by completing it. The story could tie into your brand, industry trends, or even a seasonal theme – whatever aligns best with your goals.

Entry method: One of the most successful social media contest ideas for that is to post the story prompt on Instagram and ask followers to complete it in the comments. You could also encourage them to share their own posts or stories using a branded hashtag. The winner can be chosen based on creativity or randomly picked.

Expected results: This type of a contest taps into trends or seasonal excitement, sparks interest, and strengthens the connection with your brand.

Best platform: Instagram’s a go-to choice for such a contest, thanks to its visual nature and massive reach. But TikTok is another great place to create hype and interact with your audience in a playful way.

Example: A fun contest example comes from ClickUp. Their HRs rewrite popular songs with a corporate twist, sing them, and these videos get millions of views.

Now, the HR team is inviting the audience to come up with a song idea for their next video, share it in the comment section, and the best creator will be invited to San Diego to film with them.

This generated tons of funny, creative comments (hence engagement) as well as tons of ideas for future social media content.

What type of social media contests work best?

Seasonal/holiday-themed contests

Aligning your contest with holidays or seasons makes it timely and joyful. Whether it’s a Valentine’s Day giveaway, a summer photo challenge, or a winter-themed contest, people are more likely to participate when it fits the mood of the moment.

Think about how your brand can tap into the spirit of the season to add that extra spark of excitement – there are plenty of seasonal contests examples.

UGC-focused contests

Nothing beats the authenticity of user-generated content. Ask followers to share their own creative photos, videos, or stories during your social media contest or giveaway – and you’re not only getting content that resonates with your audience but also allowing them to showcase their talent and have fun.

It's a great way to build community while boosting engagement – everyone loves to be seen!

Exclusive opportunities

It’s fun to feel like an insider, so why not give your followers a sneak peek of something exciting?

Whether it's early access to a new product feature, an invite to a private event, or a behind-the-scenes look, such types of social media challenges make people feel special. It builds anticipation long before your official launch.

Loyalty rewards

Rewarding your most loyal followers is a smart way to express gratitude. Run a contest that targets those who’ve supported your brand for a while, whether it’s through engagement or past purchases. It’s a fantastic way to keep your community happy and invested in your brand.

Interactive concepts

Make your contests a little more dynamic! Interactive giveaway ideas like quizzes, polls, and “choose your own” challenges keep followers engaged.

You could run a fun quiz related to your brand, set up a poll to let your audience vote on a new product feature, or create a story where they choose what happens next.

The more involved your followers feel, the more likely they are to share, comment, and stick around for what’s next.

7 steps to run a social media giveaway

Set goals

Whether you want to increase brand awareness, boost interactions, or drive traffic. to your website, your giveaway’s structure will depend on your goal.

For example, if you want to grow your follower base, a "follow to win" mechanic could be ideal.

Establish the budget and select prizes

Determine what you’re willing to invest in the giveaway and choose prizes that resonate with your audience. The better the prize, the more likely people will want to enter.

Set up the giveaway rules

Clearly outline how people can participate, eligibility requirements, and the winner selection process. Make sure these rules are easily accessible.

Choose the platform and the mechanism

Pick a platform that aligns with your audience and type of content – if your target audience is Gen Z, TikTok is ideal for hashtag challenges.

Here's an example of how Booking.com used the hashtag challenge #TravelGenius, to encourage UGC on TikTok, offering $500 to the creators whose videos were selected to be featured on the brand's official account.

And, as a matter of fact, according to our data, TikTok registers the highest engagement rate when it comes to social media challenges, making it a powerful platform for your giveaway ideas.

Note: Understanding your audience lets you work on social media contest ideas that really click and get people excited to engage.

Set a schedule

Plan out when to launch your giveaway, how long it will run, and when to announce the winner. Make sure to include enough time for participants to enter, but not too much that excitement dwindles.

Start your giveaway or contest

Kick off the giveaway with an announcement across multiple platforms to create anticipation. Don’t forget to use time-sensitive features like Instagram Stories to promote it even more.

Track the impact using analytics

After your social media campaign ends, analyze its performance. Look at social media metrics such as likes, comments, shares, and new followers to determine if you met your goals.

TIP: Once you've got your giveaway set up, Socialinsider can help you track its performance. And the best part is that you can even analyze your competitor's posts and gain giveaway ideas and inspiration from them.

Here's how to make the most of it.

Tracking specific campaigns or giveaway posts

Option 1: tracking specific campaigns

First things first, you have to add the profiles within Socialinsider, go to the Posts section, create an auto-tag, and assign it to a certain content pillar.

For example, if you're running a giveaway like Booking.com and its #TravelGenius challenge, set up a custom content pillar specifically for this campaign.

You can track it at a single contest level to analyze the performance of this challenge and how it impacts engagement. This way, you can focus on exactly how the hashtag is performing.

Option 2: Tracking the general contest & giveaway content pillar

Alternatively, if your giveaway is part of a broader campaign, create a general content pillar to analyze how giveaways, in general, contribute to your strategy over time.

Monitoring yor competitors' content strategies

Use Socialinsider to check how competitors are handling similar campaigns and what contest ideas for social media they implement.

Add their profiles and dive into their content pillars to see how often they run similar social media challenges.

You can also take a closer look at individual posts to see what types of content are driving the most interactions, then apply those insights to fine-tune your own strategy.

With Socialinsider, you can not only track the success of your giveaway but also stay ahead by monitoring examples of contests and learning from your competitors’ successful tactics.

Best industries to run a giveaway on social media

Running a social media giveaway can work wonders across a variety of industries, especially when you target the right audience.

However, for some business segments, giveaways can really make a difference when it comes to increasing brand visibility and engagement.

• Fashion & apparel

Types of social media challenges featuring trendy clothing or accessories engage fashion lovers and create excitement around new collections.

• Airlines

Perfect for giveaways involving flight tickets, vacation packages, or travel-related gear.

• Beauty & cosmetics

Makeup kits, skincare products, and beauty tools can captivate beauty enthusiasts, leading to massive engagement on social media.

• FMCG food

Such social media contests ideas are great for sharing branded food items, snacks, or cooking products that catch consumers' attention.

• Health & fitness

Wellness products, gym memberships, or health supplements resonate with health-conscious followers.

• Technology & software

Gadgets, apps, and software access attract tech enthusiasts and industry professionals.

• E-commerce

Retail brands can use a giveaway to showcase popular products and boost customer loyalty.

• Travel

Travel gear, hotel vouchers, and destination experiences are always a hit among wanderlusters.

• Parenting & childcare

Parenting essentials or educational products help build connections with families on social media.

• Pet care & products

A pet-related items giveaway, from toys to food, engage animal lovers and pet owners.

• Jewelry

High-quality jewelry and accessories make great giveaway prizes for your stylish audience.

• Photography & videography

Offering cameras, lenses, or editing software attracts photographers and creators looking for new gear – if your contest can give it for free, they are likely to partake.

Final thoughts

A well-executed social media giveaway isn’t just about quick engagement, but your chance to create real connections with your audience. The best giveaways and social media contests feel natural, offering true value while aligning with your brand’s goals.

Get creative! Tie your giveaway to a trending topic, collaborate with a surprising partner, or try an entry method like a “caption this” challenge. The goal is to keep things fresh and fun while avoiding a “salesy” vibe on your social media accounts.

And remember, the giveaway doesn’t end when you announce the winner. It’s best to repurpose user-generated content, and keep the momentum going.

With the right approach, your next creative contest ideas could be a real win for your brand!

FAQs on social media giveaway ideas

Are social media giveaways effective?

Absolutely! When done right, your giveaway and contest ideas for social media can spark interest, get people involved, make them feel connected to your brand, and grow your follower base. They also help you gather authentic content from your followers, which boosts your marketing organically.

How do you make a giveaway interesting?

Offer prizes that your audience genuinely wants, and choose entry methods that encourage interaction – think social media challenges, trivia, or storytelling prompts.

Tap into your inventive side and unleash your ideas. Keep your brand’s personality front and center, and consider tying the giveaway to a seasonal theme or trending topic.

Adding an element of surprise or exclusivity (like a limited-time offer or early access) can also make your giveaway irresistible.

If there’s one event each year that turns the marketing and advertising world on its head, it’s the Super Bowl. As brands gear up for the Big Game, they develop new media strategies to make them stand out from the crowd and propel them to viral stardom.

Super Bowl social media campaigns are a key part of this cultural phenomenon, and they are the driver behind an annual boom in follower growth, engagement, impressions and mentions.

That’s not just due to the quality of the content, but also to the fact that the audience is much more tuned to all advertising channels, including social media and TV.

So let’s see what brands won the Big Game in 2024 on social media, shall we?

What is the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States, which marks the end of that year’s NFL playing season. It is by far considered to be the largest sporting event of the year in the U.S.

The Big Game, as it is known, is a huge money-maker, bringing in millions of dollars to the NFL each year and generating buzz (and sales) for all the brands involved.

Just consider this: according to Statista, companies are paying around $8 millions for a 30-second TV ad slot in 2025. Good thing social media ads are far cheaper.

How does social media shape the Super Bowl experience?

Leveraging instant connectivity and a massively inflated audience, social media manages to influence just every aspect of the Super Bowl advertising and viewing experience, before, during and after the Big Game has ended.

At this point in time, the Super Bowl and social media have become tightly intertwined, shaping and showing how fans engage with the game, its commercials, and the much-anticipated halftime show.

For the Super Bowl, social media acts as an amplifier, increasing the reach and impact of brand campaigns and commercials and massively boosting brand awareness and engagement.

What’s more, the Super Bowl provides marketers with a unique opportunity to generate social media growth, both in terms of engagement and audience growth.

This big influx of data helps them understand audience preferences, measure the effectiveness of their campaigns, and brainstorm ideas for future strategies.

Main strategies in Super Bowl social media marketing

There isn’t a fixed playbook for how brands should market themselves during the Super Bowl. However, as social media’s role in this sporting event has expanded in recent years, a few common strategies have emerged:

Building up pre-game hype

When it comes to the Super Bowl, some brands choose to forgo the element of surprise and release their commercials early, ahead of the Big Game. At first, that might seem unwise.

Why would a brand invest so much time, effort and capital into an ad that will be old news by the day of the game? Why would they risk ruining the hype around their brand-new Super Bowl?

Well, turns out there is some merit to releasing ads early. Essentially, this strategy gives brands the opportunity (and time) to generate more buzz around their product, build brand awareness and, if they play their cards right, even increase their social media fanbase.

Moreover, prereleasing ads early also helps draw attention to the brand, singling it out from the rest, so the audience will hopefully be looking out for that specific commercial during the actual game.

Some brands choose to release their full-length commercials early, others choose to share short teasers ahead of time, and some create a series of Super Bowl social media posts that they share regularly in the days leading up to the Big Game.

Developing side-picking content and creatives

Brands taking part in the Super Bowl-centered social scene capitalized on the rivalry aspect of the game by crafting side-picking content—interactive posts that encouraged fans to declare their allegiance to a team, commercial, or even a brand-backed campaign.

Taking inspiration from viral content like this post from Doritos. Brands used polls, dueling hashtags, and split-screen visuals to fuel-friendly fan competition.

Inciting conversations through prediction invitations

A major trend in Super Bowl 2025 social media marketing was leveraging audience predictions to spark engagement before, during, and after the game. Brands turned to interactive content like polls and live Q&A sessions—to get users involved in forecasting game results.

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok saw brands encourage fans to predict final scores, MVP selections, and unexpected game moments using branded hashtags.

Companies like Budweiser and DraftKings amplified these campaigns by offering prizes, exclusive merch, or discounts for correct guesses, turning casual viewers into active brand participants.

Highlighting iconic moments of the current edition on the spot

Super Bowl 2025 brands mastered the art of real-time marketing by capturing and amplifying iconic game moments as they happened. Memes, quick-turnaround video edits, and witty social media reactions allowed brands to stay relevant and engage audiences in the heat of the moment.

For example, brands like Bud Light and Doritos quickly reacted to unexpected halftime show moments, creating shareable GIFs and engaging commentary that spread across Instagram.

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Stories became hubs for live reactions, behind-the-scenes exclusives, and instant brand tie-ins with the game’s biggest moments.

Brands could stay at the forefront of Super Bowl conversations by participating in them and shaping them, using content that tapped into the real-time emotions of viewers.

Presenting Super Bowl players’ stories

Super Bowl 2025 wasn’t just about the game—it was about the personal journeys, triumphs, and emotions of the players who took the field. Brands and media outlets leveraged these compelling narratives to create deeper connections with fans, making the event more than just a competition.

For instance, Philadelphia Eagles’ running back Saquon Barkley celebrated his first Super Bowl win with his fiancée, Anna Congdon, and their son, Saquon Jr. Their emotional on-field moment quickly went viral, sparking heartfelt conversations on social media.

Another standout story was rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean, who made history by returning an interception for a touchdown on his 22nd birthday. His performance became one of the most talked-about moments of the game, with fans and brands celebrating his achievement across various platforms.

Brands leveraged the Super Bowl to craft compelling narratives extending beyond the game by highlighting players' personal achievements and emotional triumphs.

Showcasing post-game highlights

Super Bowl social media campaigns certainly don’t end with the final whistle of the Big Game. In fact, a significant part of the Super Bowl content is shared in the hours and days following the game.

Brands leverage the post-game buzz to share highlights from the game, giving people the chance to revisit moments they might have missed during the live airing of the commercial.

Even if that's not the case, sharing highlights (or more often, memes) from the big event is an ingenious way to continue building engagement around Super Bowl social media ads and cultivating the sense of community among sports enthusiasts and brand fans alike.

Super Bowl social media data: Top-performing brands ranked

I think it’s become pretty clear by now that the Super Bowl is more than a battle of football teams, it’s also a battle of brands, and a fierce one at that!

So, we figured this would be an awesome opportunity to take a peek at the data and let it show us which brands made the biggest splash in the Super Bowl-related social media scene in 2025.

For this Super Bowl social media analysis, we picked the 5 best-performing participating brands with a strong presence on social media, based on key performance metrics such as engagement, impressions, and post volum.

They are:

• DrafKings
• Fan Duel
• Bud Light
• elf cosmetics
• Doritos

Top brands by engagement - Super Bowl 2025

Turns out the brand that ended up benefiting the most from the Super Bowl buzz is DraftKings, an American sports betting company.

For them, the Super Bowl is the busiest time of the year, and they attract a lively community of sports enthusiasts, which likely explains the high level of engagement.

Notable engagement was also spark by brands like Fan Duel (actually one of DrafKing's competitors) and Bud Light, showcasing how important is for, especially for brands belonging to an industry closed to the Super Bowl universe  to leverage the momentum of the Big Game.

Also, as expected, TikTok is the most engaging platform for most brands in this social media analysis.

Top brands by audience growth - Super Bowl 2025

By taking part in the Super Bowl phenomenon, some brands walked away with something (slightly) more long-lasting than engagement.

They saw a major boost in audience growth, meaning new people are now following them as a result of their Super Bowl campaign.

At the top of this list, we find e.l.f. Cosmetics and DraftKings, for which TikTok was the major growth engine.

Top brands by impressions - Super Bowl 2025

One of the social media metrics that always gets inflated during this time of year is impressions. That’s due to the large number of people tuning into the Super Bowl - both on TV and on social media.

A lot of brands are seeking impressions because it equates to increased brand awareness.

This year, the winner in the category is Draftking, which scored more 12M impressions across TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. One again, TikTok had a hight impact on the brand's success.

Most active brands during Super Bowl

Draft Kings seems to be a double winner, as it also ranked first as the most active brand at the Super Bowl, based on posts volume.

As we mentioned before, the Super Bowl is a busy time for sports betting companies like Draft Kings, so it makes sense that they would be posting more.

Although they don't come close to Draft Kings' level of posting activity, Fan Diel and and Doritos were also active on social media during the Super Bowl and in the days leading up to the event.

Lessons learned from Super Bowl social media content

If we were to sum up the Super Bowl social media experience in a few words, we'd say it was as spectacular as we expected.

As per usual, brands continued to partner up with top-rated celebrities to try to capture the spotlight, and for most of them, this strategy paid off.

Many brands saw spikes of engagement, audience growth, impressions and mentions, and these will mostly likely translate to sales in the days, weeks and months to come.

What's also worth mentioning is that a lot of Super Bowl social media activity took place on TikTok and Instagram - video-first or video-heavy channels.

Several brands, such as Doritos and elf cosmetics, focused their efforts on just a couple of video content channels, which generated a high number of engagement and impressions.

Methodology

For this Super Bowl Brands Performance Study, we analyzed social media posts between January 11 - February 11 2025 across three social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, ) to identify top-performing brands that participated in this event.

We extracted cross-channel data on brands engagement, audience growth, impressions and post volume using Socialinsider’s Brands Benchmarks feature.

For social media managers, figuring out the right posting frequency is still an ongoing challenge. Post too often, and engagement drops. Post too little, and you risk being forgotten. Every platform has different algorithms and audience behaviors, so there’s no one-size-fits-all effective social media strategy.

But digging into social media benchmarks indicating how brands are handling social media marketing these days and getting insights about their approaches and performance certainly offers a great starting point in identifying what to try and what to avoid.

This platform-wise guide will help you determine how often to post on social media and improve your social media marketing game. Let’s dive in!

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How often should brands post on social media?

Finding the right posting frequency on social media is an essential part of any effective social media strategy.

As discovered when digging into the data for our 2025 social media benchmarks study, brands follow these posting patterns for different social platforms:

• TikTok: 15 posts per month;
• Instagram: 20 posts per month;
• Facebook: 47 posts per month;
• Twitter: 50 posts per month.

These numbers provide a guideline, but ultimately, the best frequency for your brand depends on audience behavior and industry.

If you were wondering how often a business should post on social media, we'd advise you to use these benchmarks as a starting point and adjust based on performance analytics.

How often to post on TikTok?

TikTok’s fast-paced algorithm rewards both consistent and creative social media content. Brands post an average of two times per week, adding up to around 8 posts per month.

However, the key isn’t just frequency—it’s about posting high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your audience.

Unlike other platforms, TikTok prioritizes content discovery over follower-based distribution. This means that even if you don’t post daily, well-optimized content can still reach a massive audience.

Testing different content formats and analyzing performance metrics is essential to fine-tune your social media posting calendar for TikTok.

With TikTok carousels outperforming videos, brands should incorporate this format into their TikTok marketing strategy.

Carousels encourage users to spend more time engaging with a post, which signals positive performance to TikTok’s algorithm.

Maintaining an optimal TikTok posting frequency while leveraging a mix of carousels, trending sounds, and engaging storytelling can help maximize reach, putting your brand on the map.

Thus, discovering social media best practices and adjusting your strategy based on your analytics' insights is your train ticket to social media success.

How often to post on Instagram?

When determining your social media posting frequency, it's essential to strike a balance between consistency and engagement. Based on industry data, brands typically post an average of five times per week on Instagram.

According to our Instagram benchmarks study, brands ensure content diversity by following this strategy:

• 10 images per month (50% of their content)
• 4 carousels per month (20%)
• 6 Reels per month (30%)

While brands maintain a mix of content types, carousels emerge as the best-performing format, driving higher engagement than standalone images or Reels.

However, if you're wondering how often you should post Reels on Instagram, the data suggests posting around six Reels per month to maintain visibility and engagement.

How often to post on Facebook?

Finding the right Facebook posting frequency for your Facebook marketing strategy is vital for maintaining audience engagement while avoiding content fatigue.

Based on data, brands post at least 7 times per week, which translates to at least 30 posts per month.

Of course, in the case of brands investing heavily in holiday campaigns such as Black Friday, Valentine's Day, or Christmas, this number can significantly increase, reaching up to 47 per month during busy seasons.

While consistency is important, how often should you post on Facebook depends on your audience’s preferences and content performance. Over-posting can reduce engagement, while under-posting can make your brand less visible in the feed.

One of the top-performing content types on Facebook is albums. Instead of relying heavily on single-image posts, brands should leverage more albums and showcase multiple visuals in one post, encouraging users to interact more.

Including a mix of albums, videos, and engaging text-based posts in your Facebook posting frequency strategy can help boost organic reach and engagement.

To get a satisfying answer to your question about how often to post on Facebook, use this posts per week benchmark as a starting point and analyze engagement trends to refine your strategy over time.

How often to post on Twitter/X?

When it comes to posting on social media, Twitter/X demands a higher frequency due to its fast-moving feed.

Based on data, brands post an average of 10+ times per week, translating to at least 50 posts per month.

The platform thrives on real-time engagement, so how often should you post on social media—especially on Twitter/X—depends on your ability to stay relevant and interact with trending topics.

Unlike other platforms, multiple daily posts won’t overwhelm your audience; instead, they increase visibility and engagement.

For brands, a well-structured posting frequency should include a mix of tweets, retweets, replies, and multimedia content like images, videos, and polls.

Maintaining a consistent posting strategy while engaging in conversations can help maximize reach and brand awareness on Twitter/X.

Tips for an effective posting strategy

Crafting a successful social media posting strategy is not just about how often you post but also about what you post, when you post, and how well you engage with your audience.

While many brands struggle with finding the right balance between posting frequency and content quality, a well-planned approach can maximize engagement and improve overall brand presence.

A solid social media strategy should include:

• Understanding your audience's behavior;
• Testing and adjusting based on data;
• Maintaining consistency;
• Creating high-quality content;
• Repurposing successful content;
• Analyzing competitors' posting strategies.

Below, we break down each of these elements with actionable insights and recommendations.

Know your audience

Understanding who your audience is and how they consume content is the first step to building an effective social media posting calendar. Each audience behaves differently depending on their demographics, interests, and online habits.

How to identify your target audience

• Create buyer personas: Define their age, location, interests, job roles, and preferred social media platforms.

• Analyze audience insights: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X offer audience insights that reveal follower demographics and engagement patterns.

• Track competitors’ audiences: Tools like Socialinsider can help analyze competitors’ audience behavior.

Audience behavior and posting frequency

The best social media posting frequency depends on your industry and audience preferences. For example:

• A B2B brand may find higher engagement during weekday mornings, as professionals scroll through LinkedIn and Twitter/X during work hours.

• A travel brand may experience higher engagement in the second half of the week, when people start planning weekend trips.

Key takeaway: Analyzing your audience’s habits allows you to post at optimal times, improving engagement without overposting.

Test and adjust

There is no universal answer to how often should you post on social media—every brand and audience is different. The best way to determine the right frequency is through continuous testing and refinement.

How to test your posting frequency

• Start with social media benchmarks: Use industry data as a reference for how many posts per week perform best.

• Experiment with different frequencies: Post more or less frequently for a few weeks and compare engagement levels.

• Analyze performance metrics: Track likes, shares, comments, and click-through rates to see if increasing or decreasing your posts impacts engagement.

• Adjust your strategy: If engagement drops, you may be posting too frequently. If reach is low, you may not be posting enough.

Be consistent

Consistency is key to maintaining brand presence and engagement on social media. Sporadic posting can cause your audience to forget about your brand, while frequent and predictable posting builds trust.

How to maintain consistency

• Use a social media posting calendar: Plan posts in advance to ensure content is published regularly.

• Schedule posts ahead of time: Use social media scheduling tools to automate posting.

• Stick to a content schedule: Whether you post daily, three times a week, or weekly, make sure to follow a structured plan.

Create high-quality content

Posting frequently isn’t enough if your content isn’t valuable. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn prioritize content that generates meaningful interactions.

High-quality content builds brand credibility, encourages audience engagement, and strengthens relationships with potential customers.

Elements of high-quality content

• Educational: Provides actionable tips, in-depth guides, or industry insights that help the audience solve problems.

• Entertaining: Incorporates humor, storytelling, or compelling narratives that captivate viewers.

• Inspirational: Shares success stories, motivational content, or aspirational ideas that resonate with audiences.

• Interactive: Encourages participation through polls, quizzes, challenges, or Q&A sessions.

Best practices for creating high-quality content

• Prioritize originality: Avoid copying competitors and focus on unique perspectives.

• Use eye-catching visuals: High-quality images, infographics, and videos improve engagement.

• Optimize for each platform: A LinkedIn audience may prefer thought-leadership posts, while Instagram users engage more with short-form video content.

• Ensure consistency in tone and messaging: Maintain a unified brand voice across all posts.

• Encourage audience participation: Invite users to comment, share, or react to your content to increase engagement.

Repurpose high-performing content

Repurposing content is a powerful way to boost reach with minimal effort and accelerate organic social media growth.

Instead of constantly creating new content, you can adapt and optimize your best-performing posts for different platforms, ensuring they reach a wider audience while maintaining consistency.

Strategies for approaching content repurposing

• Convert a blog article into an Instagram carousel or LinkedIn post.
• Turn a webinar into short-form videos for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
• Compile user-generated content into a Facebook album or Instagram Story highlights.

Spy on your competitors’ posting strategies

Analyzing your competitors' social media posting frequency can provide valuable social media insights into what works in your industry.

Key questions to ask:

• How often are they posting? Are they posting more or less than your brand?

• What content types perform best for them? Are carousels, videos, or text posts driving the most engagement?

• When do they post? Are there specific time slots that get higher engagement?

Using Socialinsider for competitive analysis

With Socialinsider’s Benchmarks feature, you can:

• Track how often competitors post per day, week, or month.
• Compare engagement rates and see if higher posting frequency leads to better results.
• Identify top-performing content formats.
• Analyze how competitors segment their strategy based on content pillars.

Step 1: Adding competitors to Socialinsider

• Log into Socialinsider.
• Navigate to the Benchmarks section.
• Enter competitor social media handles and select the platforms you want to track.

Step 2: Analyze posting frequency

• Check how many posts per week or month competitors publish.
• Compare their frequency with yours to identify gaps.

Step 3: Examine engagement metrics

• Review likes, shares, comments, and saves.
• Identify which posts receive the highest engagement.

Step 4: Identify top-performing content formats

• Analyze whether images, carousels, videos, or text posts perform best.
• Adjust your content mix accordingly.

Step 5: Dive into content pillars analysis

• Discover what are your competitor's best performing content pillars.
• Check if there are content pillar overlays to identify the most engaging themes at an industry level.

Final thoughts

An effective social media posting strategy isn’t just about how often you should post on social media—it’s about strategic consistency, content quality, audience engagement, and data-driven adjustments.

Using tools like Socialinsider allows brands to refine their social media posting calendar, analyze competitors, and optimize their posting frequency on social media for better engagement and visibility.

With the right balance of strategy, testing, and analysis, your brand can post smarter, not just more often, leading to stronger audience connections and long-term success.