If you’ve been showing up consistently on social media but still feel like you’re spinning your wheels, you’re not alone. In 2025, the algorithms have shifted, audiences have matured, and attention spans have shortened, yet the right strategies still get noticed.

Sprinklr’s latest insights on social media marketing best practices for 2025 hit close to home for what we teach at Eighty6 Marketing: success doesn’t come from posting more often, it comes from posting with purpose.

1. Engagement Isn’t Everything (But Connection Is)

For years, small businesses measured success by likes, comments, and follower counts. Those numbers still matter but they’re no longer the full story.

What matters now is meaningful engagement that leads to brand awareness, trust, and conversions.

Instead of chasing vanity metrics, focus on:

  • Click-through rates (Are people visiting your site?)
  • Shares and saves (Are they finding your content valuable?)
  • Direct messages or inquiries (Are they taking the next step?)

A post with 20 likes but five real leads beats one with 2,000 views and no action.

2. Consistency Beats Virality

Instagram isn’t just a digital catalog, it’s a storytelling platform. From carousels to Reels to product tags that allow direct shopping, businesses can demonstrate real-life uses of their products in a compelling way.

3. Social Listening Is Your New Secret Weapon

Gone are the days when social media was one-way marketing. Today, it’s your most powerful feedback tool.

Social listening, monitoring mentions, reviews, and industry conversations, lets you understand what your audience cares about before they tell you directly.

Are customers confused about your process? Complimenting your quick response time? Sharing frustrations your product could solve? That’s marketing gold.

Businesses that listen well can pivot faster, create content that actually resonates, and build reputations rooted in responsiveness and care.

4. Build Community, Not Just a Following

This year’s biggest marketing shift is the rise of community-driven brands.

Followers want to feel like part of something bigger, not like they’re just watching from the sidelines.

You can build community by:

  • Highlighting customer stories or testimonials
  • Sharing behind-the-scenes moments
  • Hosting live Q&As or casual “office hour” sessions
  • Responding to comments like a friend, not a corporate account

People want to support brands that see them. When you invest in that connection, loyalty follows naturally.

5. Quality Over Quantity (Still True in 2025)

With so much noise online, quality content is still the ultimate differentiator.

It’s better to post one thoughtful piece that educates, entertains, or inspires than five quick posts that vanish from memory.

Strong visuals, clear messaging, and authentic storytelling remain your secret sauce.