Are you tired of meticulously crafting posts only to check back the next day and see just 3 likes; One from that loyal liker, one from the business owner’s aunt, and one from a random bot? You’re putting in the time and effort: posting twice a day, using hashtags, sharing behind-the-scenes content with real faces. But no matter what you do, your social media engagement is stuck at 100–200 views and those same 3 likes.
You know you’ve got great information to share – info that could really help people. If only the right people could see it. You also know posting alone doesn’t guarantee engagement. So, what are you doing wrong?
In this blog, we’re revealing the 7 fastest ways to increase social media engagement in 2025. (And time-wasting advice you should ignore.) Let’s talk about what really moves the needle now.
Track Social Media Engagement Metrics That Matter
Social media marketing isn’t just throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks. (O.K., sometimes it is. But listen, as carb lovers, we vote to not waste the pasta.) You shouldn’t waste your best material by throwing it out into the void without a strategic plan. You’re already tracking your performance, but now it’s time to start tracking the right social media engagement metrics.
Hint: It’s not just how many likes your post gets. Pay attention to these key metrics when strategizing your best content:
- Saves
- Shares
- Comments
- Clicks
- DMs
Track your engagement rate using this equation:
Engagement Rate = (Interactions ÷ Reach) x 100
[Source: HubSpot & Hootsuite 2025 Social Trends]
Once you know what type of content is performing well, you can work backward. Find out why it’s working. Is it the subject matter that resonates with your audience? Post more on that topic. Is it the format (ex: Reels) that your audience prefers? Make more Reels. Then, go back and track your metrics again to test your hypothesis.
If you’re a creator with a fear of Microsoft Excel, don’t worry. Meta Business Suite, Sprout Social and Later are a few of our favorite tools to help you track your engagement rate easily, and keep Excel (mostly) out of your life.
Spark Social Media Engagement Through Meaningful Interactions
Would you want to read what you posted? Chances are, if you don’t even care about what you’re saying, neither will your audience. If you treat social media like a chore you just have to get done, the authenticity won’t be there – and your audience won’t have a reason to stick around.
Hint: Content should be a conversation starter.
Before posting each piece of content, ask yourself, “Does this spark a conversation?” Then try this:
- Add “Tag someone who …” to the caption.
- Fill in the blank with a description of someone who would find that post funny or useful, etc.
- Use relatable industry humor.
- Inside jokes carry a ton of connection power. Think about when you share an inside joke with a friend – you both feel seen. Your audience will feel seen, too.
- Share honest takes, or light controversy.
- There’s a lot of noise on the internet. Your vibe attracts your people. Stand out by being real, and you’ll find them. Hint: Don’t use ChatGPT without editing!
- Utilize polls, sliders, or “vote with an emoji.”
- Make your audience feel heard while gathering valuable insight into who they are. Copywriters love using questions in headlines because it’s human nature to read the whole thing! This helps to stop that scroll.
Don’t add CTAs like “Order Today!” to every post. Sometimes connecting with your audience is the CTA. Put some thought into your content, and it will happen naturally.
Format = Function
How do you decide which content type to use? Social media manager influencers will scream at the top of their lungs, “Post more Reels!!” because Reels tend to get the highest reach. But, as we know, reach doesn’t equal social media engagement. Vary your formats to reach different segments of your audience and avoid scroll fatigue. Use a mix of short-form, visual, reactive and interactive styles.
Hint: Use this chart as a guide:
| Format | Best For | Why It Works |
| Reels / Short-Form Video | Entertainment, reach, storytelling | Prioritized in most algorithms, great for grabbing attention |
| Carousels | Education, saves, deep dives | Slide-through = more time on post, high save/share value |
| Stories | Quick engagement, feedback loops | Ideal for behind-the-scenes, polls, DMs, Q&As |
| Static Posts | Quotes, announcements, product highlights | Still strong for visuals or punchy messaging |
| GIFs | Humor, reactions, casual moments | Light lift, emotionally expressive, great for relatability |
| Live Video | Real-time interaction, Q&A, launches | High-touch and high-engagement if you have the audience |
| Polls & Stickers (Stories) | Fast feedback | Quick to interact with, helps build audience familiarity |
Remember to use the same core content across various formats to maximize visibility. If the joke lands on Reels, reuse the core topic in a carousel, but change the delivery to match the audience. Maybe it’s not a joke this time, but a guide. Get creative!
Quality Over Quantity (Frequency)
Tell me if you’ve read this headline: “How I Gained 30,000 new followers in 3 Months By Posting 5 Times a day!”
I rolled my eyes so hard they touched my hairline.
This advice is misleading, and we’re here to clear it up. You can post garbage 5 times per day and get absolutely nowhere. Posting just 3 times per a week with intention is way more impactful than daily content that doesn’t land.
Hint: Post during times when your audience is more active.
Use content pillars to stay consistent and help flesh out your ideas. Here are the pillars to remember:
- Educational
- Share an easy tip or hack that will help your audience in their day-to-day lives.
- Promotional
- This is when you’re selling your services or products.
- Relatable
- These are memes, jokes, or filming yourself talking about your opinion. Get personal or entertaining here. (When in doubt, chicken out.)
- Behind-the-scenes
- Your audience wants to see YOU! This is where you show off your skills. Make the cappuccino on camera. Spy on the office banter. Make it fun, and/or make it impressive.
Remember to build empty space into your content calendars to make room for trends that pop up and ideas that evolve. But only jump on trends that resonate with your brand! (A funeral home probably shouldn’t do the newest TikTok dance trend.)
Social Media Engagement Doesn’t Stop at Publish
Do you like hearing someone yap on and on about themselves without coming up for air? Nah. So don’t skip engagement. Engagement is a two-way street. Social media is meant to be, well, social, after all!
Treat social media engagement like a virtual networking event – building connections should feel natural. Make engagement part of your SOP by planning time each day to check on and reply to DMs and comments. It only takes about 15 minutes of engagement a day to see real impact!
Hint: Save time by using branded response templates. Just be sure they’re written in your brand voice and sound human.
Repurpose + Test with Intention
Are you struggling to understand what topics you should post about on social media? Great news: You don’t have to reinvent the wheel on every piece of content you make. We bet you already have plenty of juicy content available – you just haven’t used it to its full potential yet.
Hint: Remember the 3 Rs – Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle
If you have an FAQ section on your website that drives a lot of visits, try turning each question into a post to reach a new audience. That’s repurposing content, and it works with pretty much anything you’ve written, such as:
- Blogs
- Emails
- Social posts
Don’t forget to A/B test! Testing helps you find what resonates with your audience, so you create more content like it. Start by testing your:
- Caption tone
- Visual format
- CTA vs. no CTA
Review your results monthly for the best overall picture of your performance. Don’t agonize over each post!
The Bottom Line
If you’re posting consistently, spending time editing your content and adding CTAs, but the traction isn’t tractioning, something is broken in your strategy. Remember: Posting isn’t a box to check off each day. It’s a powerful marketing tool (when used correctly). Stop throwing spaghetti at the walls, and double down on strategy. With the right format, perfect timing, and on-brand tone, the pastabilities are endless.
Need a Jumpstart?
Want some help creating content that truly works for your business? Get in touch today!
