In 2025, social media has become an indispensable tool for entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses. With the vast audience and reach offered by platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok, entrepreneurs are finding creative ways to harness social media’s power. These strategies go beyond traditional posting and engagement tactics, often involving newer, unconventional methods that can significantly amplify visibility and accelerate growth. This article explores some of these methods, including the often-debated practice of buying followers and likes, highlighting why some entrepreneurs are choosing to do so, and the positive aspects of this strategy.
1. Micro-Influencer Collaborations
Influencer marketing has become one of the most popular ways for entrepreneurs to reach their target audience. However, while many businesses partner with big-name influencers, there is a growing trend toward collaborating with micro-influencers – individuals with smaller but highly engaged followings.
Micro-influencers typically have between 1,000 and 100,000 followers and often possess niche-specific audiences that are more loyal and interactive. By partnering with these influencers, entrepreneurs can tap into highly targeted communities. This kind of collaboration is particularly effective for small businesses or startups, as micro-influencers usually charge lower fees compared to their macro counterparts while still delivering substantial results. Entrepreneurs are leveraging these partnerships not only for direct promotions but also for authentic content creation, such as product reviews, unboxing videos, or tutorials, which help in building trust and credibility with their audience.
2. Utilizing User-Generated Content (UGC)
User-generated content (UGC) is another powerful tool in an entrepreneur’s social media arsenal. This strategy involves encouraging customers to share their own experiences with a product or service, often using a specific hashtag or tagging the business’s social media account. UGC provides a form of social proof, making the business appear more credible and trustworthy to potential customers.
Entrepreneurs can maximize the impact of UGC by hosting giveaways, encouraging customers to participate in challenges, or rewarding customers who share content featuring the brand. This not only boosts engagement but also creates a sense of community around the business. UGC is considered more authentic than brand-created content because it comes from actual customers, making it a valuable asset for entrepreneurs looking to build a stronger online presence.
3. Live Streaming and Real-Time Engagement
Live streaming has emerged as an effective way for entrepreneurs to interact with their audience in real time. With platforms like Instagram Live, Facebook Live, and LinkedIn Live, entrepreneurs can host Q&A sessions, product demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, or even live sales events. This level of real-time engagement allows businesses to create a sense of urgency, build excitement, and foster a closer connection with their audience.
Moreover, live streaming provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to receive immediate feedback, address customer concerns, and tailor their products or services based on audience input. For startups and small businesses, live streams can humanize the brand, giving it a more relatable and personal touch that can differentiate it from larger, less personable corporations.
4. Social Commerce and Shoppable Posts
Social commerce is the integration of shopping experiences directly within social media platforms. Entrepreneurs are increasingly using features like Instagram Shopping, Facebook Marketplace, and TikTok’s “Shop Now” buttons to sell products directly through social media posts.
Shoppable posts make it easy for potential customers to make purchases without leaving the platform, reducing friction in the buying process. This seamless experience increases conversion rates and can be especially beneficial for businesses that rely heavily on visual content to drive sales. For instance, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands often leverage shoppable posts to capitalize on impulse purchases generated by eye-catching visuals.
5. Buying Followers and Likes
The practice of buying followers and likes is a controversial yet commonly used tactic. Entrepreneurs often resort to this strategy to quickly build social proof and create an impression of popularity. When a business’s social media account appears to have a high number of followers, it can help establish credibility and attract organic followers who are more likely to trust the brand.
While the practice is debated, it can help newer businesses get a foothold in competitive markets. However, for long-term success, this approach is best paired with authentic engagement strategies like high-quality content creation and influencer collaborations.
6. Leveraging Data and Analytics for Precision Marketing
Data-driven marketing is becoming increasingly important for entrepreneurs looking to maximize their social media efforts. Tools like Facebook Analytics, Instagram Insights, and Google Analytics allow businesses to track user behavior, measure engagement, and optimize their strategies based on performance.
Entrepreneurs are using data to fine-tune their content, understand what resonates with their audience, and adjust their marketing efforts accordingly. For example, by analyzing the best times to post or the types of content that receive the most engagement, businesses can improve their social media strategies to achieve better results.
7. Social Media Contests and Giveaways
Running contests and giveaways is an increasingly popular tactic for entrepreneurs to drive engagement and expand their social media reach. These activities encourage users to share content, tag friends, and engage with the business in order to win prizes. This organic interaction can significantly boost visibility, increase followers, and generate buzz around a brand.
Entrepreneurs can use giveaways to promote new products, celebrate milestones, or encourage UGC. When executed well, social media contests create excitement, build community, and provide a cost-effective way to grow an audience rapidly.
See what works for you
Entrepreneurs today have a vast array of tools and strategies at their disposal to leverage social media for business growth. While traditional approaches like content creation and engagement remain important, newer strategies such as partnering with micro-influencers, utilizing UGC, live streaming, social commerce, buying followers, data-driven marketing, and hosting social media contests can provide significant advantages when used strategically. The key to success is to combine these methods thoughtfully and adapt to the ever-changing social media landscape to maintain growth and engagement over time.
People also read this: How to Care for Your Teeth with Braces: Dental Hygiene Tips for Orthodontic Patients
