Let's be honest: most social media advice is garbage. You've probably heard "post consistently" and "engage with your audience" a million times. But when you're running a business, you need strategies that actually drive results—not just likes and follows.
After managing social media campaigns for dozens of businesses, we've identified five strategies that consistently deliver real business results. No fluff, just actionable tactics you can implement this week.
Strategy 1: Lead with Value, Not Sales
The biggest mistake businesses make on social media is treating it like a billboard. Nobody logs into Instagram to see ads. They want to be entertained, educated, or inspired.
Here's the 80/20 rule for social media content:
- 80% value-driven content – Tips, insights, behind-the-scenes, entertainment
- 20% promotional content – Products, services, offers
When you consistently provide value, your promotional posts actually get attention because you've built trust and goodwill with your audience.
"People don't buy from companies. They buy from people they know, like, and trust." – How social media actually works
Strategy 2: Use Video (Even If You're Camera Shy)
Video content gets 1200% more shares than text and images combined. If you're not using video, you're leaving massive engagement on the table.
But here's the good news: you don't need to be on camera. Try these video formats:
- Screen recordings – Show tutorials, walkthroughs, or demonstrations
- Text-based videos – Animated text with music (great for tips/lists)
- B-roll with voiceover – Stock footage with your narration
- Behind-the-scenes – Your workspace, your process, your team
- User-generated content – Customer testimonials and reviews
Start with short-form content (Reels, TikToks, Shorts) which typically perform better for reach and discovery.
Strategy 3: Build a Content Repurposing System
Creating content takes time. Smart marketers maximize every piece of content by repurposing it across platforms.
Here's how to turn one piece of content into seven:
- Record a video about a topic
- Extract the audio for a podcast episode
- Transcribe and edit into a blog post
- Pull key quotes for Twitter/X posts
- Create carousel graphics for Instagram/LinkedIn
- Cut into short clips for Reels/TikTok
- Turn into an email newsletter
This system means you're always creating content without burning out.
Strategy 4: Engage Strategically (Not Randomly)
"Engage with your audience" is vague advice. Here's how to do it strategically:
The 15-Minute Power Engagement
Spend 15 minutes daily on this routine:
- 5 minutes – Reply to every comment on your posts
- 5 minutes – Comment meaningfully on posts from ideal customers
- 5 minutes – Engage with industry leaders and complementary businesses
The key is "meaningful" engagement. Generic comments like "Great post! 🔥" do nothing. Instead, add value, ask questions, or share your perspective.
Strategy 5: Use Social Proof Everywhere
Social proof is the most powerful conversion tool you have. Potential customers trust other customers more than they trust you.
Types of social proof to incorporate:
- Customer testimonials – Video testimonials are gold
- Case studies – Before/after results with numbers
- User-generated content – Repost customer photos and reviews
- Social mentions – Share when customers tag you
- Numbers – "Helped 500+ businesses" or "4.9 star rating"
Make social proof a regular part of your content calendar—at least 2-3 posts per week should include some form of proof.
The Bottom Line
Social media success isn't about being everywhere or posting constantly. It's about being strategic, providing genuine value, and building relationships that convert into business.
Start with one platform, master these five strategies, and then expand. Trying to do everything at once is a recipe for burnout and mediocre results.
Need help developing a social media strategy that actually drives results for your business? Get in touch with our team for a free consultation.
