Tired of your social media posts not getting noticed? In 2025, the most successful brands are using clever new tricks to get people talking, sharing, and engaging. Here are 10 strategies that are boosting engagement by huge amounts.
1. Create a “Social Media Event” Instead of just a post, create a big, dramatic story over several days. A great example is Duolingo’s campaign where they pretended their mascot, Duo the Owl, had “died.” They made a big fuss about it, which got everyone talking and sharing, and then brought the mascot back. This turned a simple marketing campaign into an exciting event for their fans.
2. Use Sarcasm and Jokes If your brand has a fun personality, use humor to your advantage. Liquid Death, a canned water brand, did this brilliantly by creating a fake, ridiculous ad for a sugary soda. This made fun of other drinks and showed their brand as the cool, honest alternative. People who love a good joke shared the video like crazy.
3. Get Your Audience to Create Content People trust other people more than they trust ads. A smart strategy is to encourage your customers to create their own content about your product. Sephora did this by featuring a young man from a TV show, Love on the Spectrum, picking out products for his family. The video was so genuine and heartwarming that it was shared widely, and it made the brand seem more authentic and caring.
4. Let AI Help with the Fun Stuff Artificial intelligence isn’t just for behind-the-scenes work anymore. It’s being used to create fun, interactive campaigns. The Barbie movie’s AI selfie generator is a perfect example. It let people create their own custom posters, which everyone shared, turning them into walking advertisements for the movie.
5. Be the Influencer Yourself People love to follow real stories. Some brands are skipping famous influencers and having their own founders or employees become the face of the brand. The founders of an iced coffee company called Rodd’s did this, sharing their journey on social media. This made the brand feel personal and built a strong, loyal fan base who felt like they were part of the story.
6. Jump on a Popular Trend Pay attention to what’s popular and find a clever way to connect your brand to it. IKEA India did this perfectly with the TV show Severance. They recreated the show’s futuristic office using their furniture, which made a viral splash on social media among fans of the show.
7. Use Short Videos to Grab Attention Short videos are still the king of social media. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels are the best places to be. The most successful brands use trending sounds and fast-paced visuals to create quick, entertaining videos that are easy to watch and share.
8. Create Interactive Experiences with AR Augmented Reality (AR) lets you turn the world into a game. Nike used this for an Olympics-themed competition in Paris, where a phone app turned the city into a virtual race. This got young people to interact with the brand in a completely new and exciting way.
9. Build a “Club” for Your Fans Instead of just trying to get more followers, focus on building a strong community with your existing fans. By creating exclusive groups, hosting live Q&A sessions, and giving shout-outs to your most active fans, you make them feel like they’re part of a special club. This creates super loyal customers who will promote your brand for you.
10. Collaborate with Stars in a Natural Way The best celebrity partnerships feel like a real friendship, not a paid ad. Dunkin’s collaboration with singer Sabrina Carpenter is a great example. It was timed with her hit song “Espresso” and matched her playful personality perfectly. This made the campaign feel fun and genuine, and it was a massive success for both the brand and the star.
