Top 10 Tips for Boosting Social Media Engagement

Introduction

Let’s be honest, posting on social media and hearing crickets is soul-crushing. You’ve crafted what you think is the perfect post, hit publish, and then… nothing. Three likes from your mum, your business partner, and that one person who accidentally double-tapped.

Here’s the reality: social media algorithms don’t care about your feelings. They care about engagement. And if you’re not getting it, you’re essentially invisible. But the good news? Engagement isn’t some mysterious dark art. It’s a skill you can learn, and we’re about to give you ten ways to master it.

1. Stop Selling, Start Storytelling

Here’s the thing about social media: nobody logged on today hoping to see your product pitch. They’re there to be entertained, informed, or inspired.

The brands crushing it on social aren’t the ones with the slickest sales copy.

They’re the ones telling stories that make people feel something. Share your failures, not just your wins. Show the messy middle, not just the polished end result. When you lead with authenticity instead of advertising, engagement follows naturally.

If you’re looking for the ultimate storytelling videos, check out our article on the importance of case study videos.

2. Ask Questions (But Make Them Good Ones)

“What do you think?” is not a question. It’s lazy engagement bait, and your audience can smell it from a mile away.

If you want comments, ask questions that people actually want to answer. Make them specific, relatable, or even controversial.

“What’s the worst marketing advice you’ve ever received?” beats “Thoughts on marketing?” every single time. The more invested someone feels in their answer, the more likely they are to engage.

3. Jump on Trends (While They’re Still Hot)

Remember that meme format that was everywhere last month? If you’re posting it now, you’re already too late.

Social media moves fast.

Trending audio, viral challenges, popular formats, they all have a shelf life measured in days, not weeks. The brands getting massive engagement aren’t necessarily the most creative; they’re the most timely.

Set up alerts, follow trend accounts, and be ready to move quickly when something takes off.

4. Create Content Worth Sharing

This one’s simple in theory, brutal in practice. Most content gets consumed and forgotten. The content that drives real engagement gets shared.

So ask yourself before you post: would someone risk their personal brand by sharing this with their network? Does it make them look smart, funny, or informed?

If the answer’s no, go back to the drawing board. Shareable content is your ticket to exponential reach.

Worried about falling into the common video marketing mistakes? Check out our article on the top 10 video content mistakes every brand should avoid.

Perhaps you’re hosting an event and want to create event content that attendees will share far and wide? Check out our articles on the importance of event videos and how to get the most out of corporate events.

5. Post When Your Audience Is Actually Awake

Posting at 3 am because that’s when you finished creating content is a rookie move. Your engagement depends on your audience seeing your post when they’re actively scrolling.

Check your analytics. Find out when your followers are online. Then post during those windows, not during your lunch break.

It seems obvious, but you’d be shocked at how many brands ignore this basic principle. Timing isn’t everything, but it’s definitely something.

Most social media posting tools, like Buffer or Hootsuite, provide highly accurate audience analytics, including recommended posting times.

6. Reply Like Your Engagement Depends on It (Because It Does)

Here’s what kills engagement faster than anything else: brands that post and ghost.

Someone takes the time to comment on your post, and you can’t be bothered to respond? That’s the last time they’re engaging.

The algorithm notices when you reply to comments. It signals that your content is sparking conversation, which means more people should see it.

More importantly, your audience notices. When you engage back, you’re not just boosting one post; you’re building a community that wants to keep talking to you.

7. Use Visuals That Stop the Scroll

Text-only posts can work, but let’s not pretend we’re all Don Draper. Most of the time, if your visual doesn’t grab attention in half a second, your post is getting scrolled past.

This doesn’t mean every post needs a professional photoshoot. It means you need contrast, faces, movement, or something unexpected. Use bold colours. Show before-and-afters. Post videos that start with a hook. Whatever you do, make sure your visual makes someone’s thumb pause.

8. Give Them Something Valuable (For Free)

People engage with content that helps them. Tips, templates, insights, resources; the more value you pack into a post, the more engagement it generates.

And here’s the counterintuitive part: the more you give away for free, the more people trust you with their money later.

That viral carousel about “10 ChatGPT prompts for marketers” isn’t just engagement bait; it’s a trust-building machine. Stop hoarding your knowledge like it’s precious.

Your expertise is only valuable if people know you have it.

9. Create a Consistent Posting Schedule

The algorithm rewards consistency. Your audience rewards predictability. If you post once a month when you remember, you’re training people to forget about you.

This doesn’t mean you need to post five times a day. It means you need a schedule you can actually stick to. Three times a week, every week, beats ten posts one week and radio silence for the next three. Consistency builds momentum, and momentum builds engagement.

10. Test, Measure, Repeat

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: what works for someone else might bomb for you. Your audience is unique, your industry has its own quirks, and you won’t know what drives engagement until you test it.

Try different formats. Post at different times. Experiment with tone, length, and content types. Then check your analytics ruthlessly. Which posts drove the most saves? What got people commenting? Double down on what works and kill what doesn’t. Engagement isn’t a mystery; it’s a data problem.

Conclusion

In a world where organic reach is dying and algorithms change more often than your underwear, engagement isn’t just a vanity metric; it’s oxygen. It’s what keeps your content visible, your brand relevant, and your business growing.

The difference between brands that thrive on social media and those that shout into the void isn’t budget or luck. It’s strategy. It’s understanding that engagement is earned, not bought, and that every post is an opportunity to either build momentum or waste everyone’s time.

So stop posting like it’s 2015. Stop treating social media like a broadcast channel. And start implementing these ten tips like your business depends on it.

Because honestly? It probably does.

Need help creating high-quality video content for social media? Get in touch.