How to Increase Social Media Engagement: 15 Proven Strategies

Social media engagement is at the centre of a successful online presence. Likes, comments, shares, and clicks aren’t just vanity metrics – they signal that your audience is truly connecting with your brand. In the 2025 landscape, where algorithms increasingly favour interaction over reach, driving meaningful engagement has become more challenging and critical than ever. Nearly half of consumers (48%) say they’re interacting with brands more often on social than they were six months ago, which means there’s huge opportunity for those who get it right.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll break down what social media engagement is, why it matters for your business, and 15 data-backed strategies on how to increase social media engagement across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok and more. You’ll find real examples from top brands, up-to-date statistics to inform your approach, and internal links to additional resources for a comprehensive game plan.

What is Social Media Engagement?

Social media engagement is an umbrella term for all the ways people interact with your content on social platforms. It includes obvious actions like likes, comments, and shares, but can also encompass reactions (❤️, 😂, 👍), retweets/reposts, profile mentions, link clicks, story views, saves, direct messages, and more, depending on the platform. In short, it measures how actively your audience engages with what you post, rather than just scrolling past it.

For example, a Facebook post’s engagement might involve reactions (Like, Love, Wow), comments, shares or link clicks, while an Instagram post could earn comments, shares, story replies or saves. On LinkedIn, an engagement might be a comment, share or an “insightful” reaction, and on TikTok, it could be a like, comment, share or duet. Each network has its own engagement behaviours, but the core idea is the same. It’s about audience interaction and participation with your brand’s content.

High engagement is typically a sign that your content is resonating with your audience. When someone takes the time to leave a comment, tag a friend, answer a poll or share your post, they’re showing a deeper connection to your message. This not only boosts your visibility in algorithms (since social platforms reward posts that spark conversations), but also builds community and brand affinity. Social media engagement is far more than just vanity metrics – it represents real relationships forming around your brand.

Why Social Media Engagement Matters

Focusing on engagement isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s essential for social media success. Here’s why increasing engagement should be a top priority in your social media strategy:

It’s clear why 80% of social marketers say increasing engagement is their primary social strategy. Engagement is the pulse of your social presence – a high engagement rate indicates a healthy, thriving community, whereas low engagement is a red flag that your content or approach isn’t hitting the mark.

Now, let’s explore 15 proven strategies to boost your social media engagement, backed by examples and data.

15 Strategies to Increase Social Media Engagement

Improving engagement doesn’t happen by luck – it requires a thoughtful roadmap. Below are 15 proven strategies, from content tweaks to community-building tactics, that will help you build engagement. These tips apply across platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.), with notes on platform-specific best practices where relevant.

Implementing even a few of these can elevate your engagement metrics and overall social media performance

1. Set Clear Engagement Goals and Track Relevant Metrics

Any successful initiative starts with clear goals, and social engagement is no different. Begin by defining what you want to improve and how you’ll measure it.

For example, do you want to increase the average number of comments per post on Instagram? The total share count of your Facebook content each month? The click-throughs from LinkedIn to your website? Each of these targets may use a different metric, so it’s essential to understand social media metrics and tie them to your specific goals.

Set specific, actionable engagement goals. Using the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) can help. For instance, “Increase our Instagram reels engagement rate by 20% in the next 6 months by utilising trending content twice a week” is a clear goa. It defines success (20% lift in engagement rate), a timeline (6 months), and outlines the tactics to get there (trending posts). With a goal like this, you can then monitor the engagement rate (total interactions divided by reach or followers) on your Instagram posts to see if you’re trending toward the 20% increase.

Tracking the right metrics is vital. Don’t just watch vanity metrics like follower count – focus on engagement-specific KPIs that align with your goals.

Some key engagement metrics include:

By setting clear benchmarks (e.g., achieving an average of 10 comments per post or a 5% engagement rate) and regularly reviewing your analytics, you can quantitatively measure your progress. Many platforms offer built-in insights showing engagements, or you can use third-party social media analytics tools to aggregate data.

Pro Tip: Consider performing a regular social media audit to assess your engagement across all channels. An audit (even a simple quarterly review) can reveal which platforms and content types are driving the most interaction, and which need improvement. This big-picture view ensures your engagement strategy stays aligned with your overall business goals.

2. Know Your Audience (Talk with them, not at them)

Increasing engagement starts with deeply understanding who you’re trying to engage. If you know your audience well – their interests, needs, humour, and online behaviours – you can create content that truly speaks to them. Start by defining your target audience or buyer personas (age, location, interests, pain points, etc.), and research where and how they spend time online. For instance, are they professionals active on LinkedIn? Gen Z users scrolling TikTok? Avid DIY enthusiasts in Facebook Groups? These insights will shape both the content and the platforms you focus on.

Once you have a clear picture, tailor your content style and voice to resonate. Use language and references that feel familiar to your followers. Address their questions and challenges. Aim to provide value – whether that’s educating, inspiring, or entertaining – in a way that aligns with their interests.

Remember, social media is a two-way street. Instead of broadcasting marketing messages at people, try to have a conversation with them. For example, rather than a dull product post, you might share a relatable anecdote or ask a question that invites replies, making your audience feel heard and involved.

Also, pay attention to the feedback your audience gives (through comments, replies, DMs, etc). If you’re a fitness brand and followers often ask about nutrition tips, consider creating posts or short videos on that topic and inviting further questions. Show that you’re listening. When people comment or ask questions, respond to them.

Even a simple reply or a “👍” on a user’s comment can make them feel valued and more likely to continue engaging.

As Social Media Examiner founder Michael Stelzner says, “Engagement is a two-way street: if you encourage engagement, be sure to engage back.” In practice, that means if you prompt your audience with a question or poll, circle back to acknowledge their responses or share the results.

Example: Cosmetics brand Glossier built its social media empire by thoroughly understanding its millennial audience. Glossier encourages followers to share feedback and routinely reposts customer content. Their casual, inclusive tone (“Hi, Glossier here – what’s on your top shelf?”) makes followers feel like friends. This customer-centric approach has led to exceptionally high engagement and a community that essentially markets the brand through word-of-mouth and user-generated content. The lesson is to understand your people and put them at the centre of your social strategy.

3. Choose the Right Platforms and Tailor Your Strategy to Each

One common mistake in social media marketing is trying to be everywhere at once. Yes, there are dozens of social platforms out there (over 20+ networks that brands use), but you don’t need to be active on all of them – just the ones that matter to your audience and content type.

Focus your efforts on the platforms where your target audience is most active and where the format suits your brand. For example, if you’re a visually-driven consumer brand (fashion, food, travel), Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest might be prime channels. If you’re B2B, LinkedIn and Twitter could be more impactful. A nonprofit might prioritise Facebook for community building. Review your audience demographics and referral traffic data to see which networks drive engagement for you, and prioritise those.

That said, it’s wise not to put all your eggs in one basket. The average person uses 6.8 different social networks per month, and with users juggling so many platforms, brands can’t afford a single-channel approach.

Most importantly, adapt your strategy to the unique culture and algorithm of each platform. Each network has its own “language” and engagement signals, so what works on one might flop on another.

Some guidelines to consider:

One size does not fit all in social media. The tone, hashtags, image dimensions, and even the time of day you post should be adjusted per network for best results.

Stat to consider: With Facebook, Instagram and YouTube being the top three platforms consumers use most, many brands will find their audience on a combination of these big networks. However, remember that brands with an active presence across multiple social channels increase their reach by 4.2× compared to single-channel brands.

4. Post Consistently (and Schedule Content for When Your Audience Is Most Active)

Social media success is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency is one of the most important factors in building and sustaining engagement. This applies to both the frequency of your posts and the timing of your posts.

On frequency: it’s better to post on a regular, reliable schedule (even if that’s only a few times a week) than to bombard your followers for a short period and then go silent. In fact, social algorithms tend to favour accounts that are active consistently over those that post in bursts and then disappear.

Consistency trains your audience to expect content from you, and they’ll be more likely to engage when they know you regularly share valuable posts.

Inconsistency can cause your engagement rate to drop as people lose interest or forget about you.

That said, quality trumps sheer quantity.

Many brands are actually dialling back their posting volume slightly to focus on higher-quality content that drives more engagement per post. Maybe you can manage one strong post a day on Instagram, but only one or two per week on LinkedIn due to content needs. That’s fine – as long as you keep the schedule consistent on each platform.

Posting when your audience is actually online and active greatly increases the chance they’ll see and engage with your content. If your followers are global, you might have multiple “peak” times. Use analytics to identify when your audience tends to be online – most social platforms’ insight tools will show you the days and hours when your followers are most active.

For example, you might discover your X followers are highly active around 9am on weekdays during their commute, or that your Instagram engagement spikes after 7pm when people are winding down for the evening. Schedule your most important posts around those peak times to catch the largest crowd.

Sticking to a content calendar can help maintain both consistency and optimal timing. Plan out your posts in advance (at least broadly) and utilise scheduling tools (many social media management platforms or native tools, such as Meta’s Creator Studio) to queue posts for optimal times. Consistency doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible – do leave room for spontaneous posts on trending topics or real-time engagement – but having a baseline schedule ensures you never “go dark” for long.

Remember: Consistency also applies to your brand voice and style. Over time, you want followers to recognise your posts instantly, whether it’s by tone, design or content theme. Establishing a consistent voice (helpful, humorous, inspirational, etc.) and visual identity will make your content more familiar and engaging to your community. They’ll know what to expect from you, which builds trust and encourages regular interaction. Find out how we can help with brand asset design.

5. Craft High-Quality, Shareable Content (Provide Value & Evoke Emotion)

Ultimately, content is king when it comes to driving engagement. No growth hack or timing trick can compensate for uninteresting content. To encourage people to engage with your posts, focus on creating content that is valuable, relevant, and emotionally resonant.

Start by asking before every post: “Would I stop to engage with this if it weren’t my brand?” Be honest. If the content isn’t scroll-stopping for your target audience, reconsider it. The most shareable content is typically high-quality content that offers something to the viewer. This could be a how-to video that teaches something useful, an infographic with surprising data, a funny meme that makes people laugh, or a heartwarming customer story that people want to tell others about.

Aim to spark a reaction – whether that’s awe, amusement, curiosity, or even a bit of controversy to prompt discussion (just ensure it’s on-brand and respectful).

One effective approach is to tap into emotion. Studies show emotional content often outperforms bland content in earning shares and comments.

Also, make your content useful. Practical value is a huge driver of engagement – people love to save and share content that they find helpful or insightful (it makes them look good for sharing it, too!).

For example, a marketing agency might post “5 Tips to Boost Your Email Open Rates” as a carousel or short video – actionable tips that marketers find useful and thus are likely to save or tag colleagues in. A food brand could share a quick recipe or kitchen hack that followers will want to bookmark. By delivering value, you’re giving people a reason to interact (they may ask follow-up questions, or simply express thanks in a comment, which still counts as engagement).

A few additional pointers for maximising content quality and shareability:

6. Use Eye-catching Visuals (Images, Infographics, Carousels)

In the crowded social feed, visuals are often what catch someone’s attention and make them stop. Humans are highly visual creatures, and on social media, great visuals can make the difference between a scroll-by and a like or share. Posts with visual content receive 10× more engagement than text-only posts on social media. If you’ve been posting text-only updates or bland graphics, it’s time to upgrade your visual game.

Here are ways to leverage visuals for higher engagement:

To illustrate the impact of visuals, over half of marketers (56.2%) believe that high-quality visuals are key to their strategy because they’ve seen how better imagery leads to better results. User-generated content (UGC), such as photos, behind-the-scenes snapshots, or vibrant graphics, can all make your posts stand out.

Lastly, don’t forget video thumbnails and cover images – they should be just as eye-catching, since they determine whether someone clicks to watch your video (more on video next). Put effort into that initial visual hook.

7. Embrace Video Content – Especially Short-form and Live Video

It’s no secret that video content dominates social media engagement today. If you’re not incorporating video, you’re likely leaving a lot of potential engagement on the table.

Short-form videos (think TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook short clips) are currently the most engaging content format on social media. They are quick, entertaining, and highly shareable – perfect for today’s fast-scrolling audience.

A few compelling reasons to use more video:

• Users find video content more compelling – in fact, 78% of people prefer to learn about products through short videos.
• Marketers are investing accordingly – 21% of social media marketers say short-form videos have the highest ROI of any content type, and it’s the #1 content priority for social marketers now.
• Videos auto-play on many platforms, instantly grabbing attention in the feed with motion and sound (if unmuted), which can increase time spent on your post.

To leverage video for engagement:

Don’t be intimidated by video production. In the age of TikTok, lo-fi and authentic often beats highly polished. Smartphone cameras are incredibly capable, and many platforms reward content that feels native to the platform (e.g. a casual handheld style on TikTok can outperform a sleek ad). Focus on storytelling and authenticity over big production value when starting out. A behind-the-scenes chat with your team shot on an iPhone can humanise your brand and get strong engagement through comments from customers who appreciate the transparency.

In summary, meet your audience where they are. Incorporate a regular cadence of short videos and possibly live streams into your content mix. Track which topics or styles get the best response (views, likes, shares, comments) and do more of those. As you experiment and get comfortable, your video content can become a powerhouse for driving social media engagement.

8. Encourage Interaction with Interactive Content (Polls, Questions, Quizzes)

One sure-fire way to increase engagement is to make your content interactive. Instead of just consuming your post, the audience gets to actively participate in it. This not only boosts engagement metrics (since people are clicking or typing responses) but also makes your community feel more involved and heard. Social media platforms offer a variety of interactive features – take full advantage of them.

When using interactive features, always respond or acknowledge the participation. If you run a poll, consider sharing the results (“68% of you voted for Matcha – noted!”). If someone asks a question in your Q&A, answer it (publicly if appropriate). This closes the engagement loop and makes people feel their input mattered, encouraging them to interact again next time.

9. Run Contests, Giveaways, and Campaigns

One of the fastest ways to boost social media engagement is by running a contest or giveaway. People love the chance to win something, and they’re often willing to complete engagement-boosting actions (like, comment, share, tag a friend) as entry requirements. Contests create excitement and can rapidly expand your reach through participants spreading the word.

There are many types of social contests, but here are a few common and effective formats:

When running contests/giveaways, keep these best practices in mind:

10. Show Personality and Humour (Be Authentic and Relatable)

Brands that dare to show some personality on social media often reap the rewards of higher engagement.

People use social platforms primarily to connect with other people, not to be sold to by faceless corporations. By infusing your brand’s accounts with a human voice, humour, and authenticity, you make it easier for users to relate to you, and when they relate, they engage.

A great case in point is the phenomenon of “sassy” brand Twitter accounts (like Wendy’s, Netflix, or fast food chains playfully roasting each other). These brands have cultivated a distinct voice that feels like a witty friend rather than a sterile company. Their tweets get massive retweets, replies, and media attention. Of course, your tone should match your audience and industry – not every brand should be snarky – but every brand can benefit from sounding human. Even B2B brands can adopt a friendly, knowledgeable tone rather than relying on corporate jargon.

Authenticity is equally important. Social media users (especially younger generations) have a strong radar for anything that feels fake or overly polished. They crave transparency and realness. So show the imperfect, human side of your brand. Share behind-the-scenes looks, admit a mistake with a bit of self-deprecating humour (if something goes wrong), celebrate your team. Authentic content might include a candid video of your team packing orders while singing along to a song, or the CEO doing a casual Q&A from their home office.

When your content feels genuine, people respond.

In fact, 86% of consumers say authenticity is crucial in deciding which brands they like and support. If your tone is consistently authentic and human, your audience will trust you more and be more engaged.

A few ideas to inject more personality:

Example: The fast-food chain Wendy’s has no new products or flashy visuals to differentiate it on X (Twitter) – but it gained millions of followers and outrageous engagement by crafting a bold, roguishly funny persona. Wendy’s became known for hilariously roasting both customers and competitor brands (never crossing into mean-spirited). Tweets like “@user No one asked for your opinion on fries, Steve” go viral regularly. While that extreme sass isn’t for everyone, Wendy’s strategy highlights how a strong voice can make even a burger chain’s social content eagerly anticipated and widely engaged with. For your brand, find your authentic voice – whether it’s humorous, inspirational, compassionate, or expert – and let it shine.

11. Use Hashtags and Trends Strategically to Increase Reach

Hashtags are like the signposts of social media – they categorise your content and make it discoverable to broader audiences interested in that topic.

Using the right hashtags can significantly extend your reach and thus potential engagement, especially on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and X (TikTok). In fact, tweets with hashtags can see up to a 50% increase in engagement for brands compared to those without hashtags. The caveat is that you must use them strategically and not haphazardly.

Here’s how to leverage hashtags effectively:

Stat Example: On Instagram, posts with at least one hashtag average 12.6% more engagement than those without – hashtags help your content surface where interested users can find it. Meanwhile, Twitter posts with one or two hashtags can get 50% more engagement, but using more than two can reduce engagement. The lesson: sprinkle in hashtags thoughtfully to boost visibility, and your engagement can climb accordingly.

12. Curate and Share User-Generated Content (UGC)

If you’re looking for a double-win strategy to increase engagement, look no further than user-generated content. UGC refers to any content related to your brand that is created by someone who isn’t on your team, typically customers or fans.

This could be a customer’s Instagram photo using your product, a testimonial tweet, an unboxing video on YouTube, a TikTok review – the possibilities are endless. Featuring UGC on your official channels not only provides you with fresh content but also massively boosts community engagement because it shines a spotlight on your audience and acts as authentic social proof to others.

Why UGC drives engagement:

• It’s authentic and relatable. People trust content from real users more than polished brand ads. When followers see someone like them featured, they’re more likely to like, comment (“Oh I love this!”), or even share their own related experiences. UGC often sparks conversations among your community.
• It encourages participation. When you regularly repost or shout-out user content, others are incentivised to create content for a chance to be featured. It becomes a virtuous cycle: you feature a customer post – that customer and their friends engage heavily with it out of excitement, and others see that and submit their own content.
• It can significantly outperform brand-created content. In fact, user-generated content on social media gets 8.7× higher engagement rates than brand-generated content. This stat underlines just how powerful UGC can be.

How to leverage UGC effectively:

Always ensure you have permission to repost someone’s content (a quick DM for approval is good practice, unless they’ve clearly tagged you or used your hashtag expecting a share). And when you do share UGC, respond to the comments like you would on any post, especially thanking the original creator again.

Your customers and followers are your best marketers. When you amplify their voices, you not only validate them (building loyalty), but also show others a genuine, community-driven side of your brand that invites more engagement. As the saying goes, people trust people more than brands – so let your people do some of the talking, and watch engagement flourish.

13. Engage Proactively and Respond Promptly

Social media is meant to be social. Building a strong online community means actively participating, responding to comments, answering questions, and sometimes making the first move. Don’t just broadcast content, engage too.

Respond promptly. Whether it’s praise, a question, or criticism, treat every comment as a chance to connect. Timely replies show you care and encourage others to engage too. Research shows that 65% of people are more likely to recommend a brand that responds to them, even if it’s just to offer a compliment.

Acknowledge all types of feedback. Thank people for kind words, answer questions helpfully, and handle complaints with professionalism. Negative feedback isn’t a threat – it’s an opportunity to build trust and show responsiveness. Many users expect a response within 24 hours, especially to direct messages (DMs).

Be proactive. Don’t wait – join conversations. Comment on user posts, especially when they tag you. Engage with posts in your niche. A friendly response – even to casual mentions – can turn a passive user into a fan.

Spark conversation. Post questions, polls, or discussion prompts to invite replies. Actively respond to those replies to build momentum and community vibes.

Think beyond brand-to-user. Engagement isn’t just one-on-one – it’s about creating a space where followers interact with each other too. Those micro-communities build loyalty and time spent on your page.

Customer service = engagement. Many people now turn to social platforms for support. By handling issues publicly (and kindly), you show others that you’re reliable and responsive.

The bottom line is don’t be passive – mingle! Engaged brands earn loyalty, more visibility in algorithms, and real connections with their audience.

14. Collaborate with Influencers of Partner Brands to Expand Reach

When it comes to boosting engagement, sometimes it pays to join forces. Influencer marketing and brand partnerships are powerful ways to tap into new, highly engaged audiences and add fresh voices to your content. People tend to engage enthusiastically when they see a personality or brand they recognise and trust working with you.

Identify influencers or content creators in your niche (or whose audience aligns with your target demographic) and work together on content. This doesn’t always require a huge budget – micro-influencers (those with smaller but dedicated followings) can be very effective and often more cost-friendly.

For example, a local restaurant might invite a few foodie Instagrammers to try a new menu and post about it. Or a B2B software company might partner with a respected industry blogger or YouTuber to do a review or a joint webinar. When influencers post about your brand, their followers are likely to comment and ask questions, and you can engage in that dialogue too. Moreover, when you share or co-create content with the influencer on your channels (like an Instagram Live together, or a series of collaborative posts), you’ll notice their fans coming over to engage on your page as well.

It’s noted that influencer marketing can generate up to 18 times the ROI of traditional ads – part of that’s due to the higher engagement these posts receive, which then translates to more reach and conversions.

Partnering with another brand (especially one that complements yours) can also yield creative campaigns that drive engagement for both parties. This could be a co-hosted event or giveaway, a product bundle, an Instagram Live discussion between brands, or simply shout-outs on each other’s pages. Cross-promotions help expose each brand to the other’s followers. If done cleverly, followers will interact out of curiosity and excitement about the collaboration.

When pursuing collaborations:

15. Analyse Your Results and Refine Your Strategy Continually

Last but certainly not least, increasing social media engagement is an ongoing process of learning and optimising. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow as algorithms change and audience preferences evolve. The most successful social media strategies are those that are data-driven and agile. By regularly analysing your performance and gathering feedback, you can refine your tactics to drive engagement and adjust those that don’t.

Here’s how to keep the cycle of improvement going:

Make sure to tie your engagement metrics back to your broader goals, too. For example, if your goal was to increase comments by 20% in a quarter and your analysis shows you hit 25%, celebrate and understand what fueled that growth. If you fell short, pinpoint why – maybe you grew followers but the average engagement rate dropped, indicating you need to work on content quality for the new audience.

One useful practice is to create a simple report or summary each month, noting follower growth, total engagements, engagement rate, top posts, lessons learned, and action items for the next month. This keeps you accountable and learning. Over a year, you’ll have a rich log of insights specifically about your community.

Finally, remember that behind all the numbers are humans. Use data as a guide, but also trust your understanding of your brand and audience. Sometimes, a post might not receive massive engagement, but it’s still important for messaging or branding, and that’s okay. Balance the quantitative with the qualitative (comments sentiment, community vibes).

In summary, these 15 strategies, from understanding your audience and tailoring your content, to leveraging visuals, videos, interactivity, community building, cross-promotion, and data analysis, all interconnect to create a robust approach to boosting social media engagement. It may seem like a lot, but you don’t have to implement everything at once. Start with a few tactics that make sense for your brand and build from there. Monitor the results, refine your approach using the data, and keep experimenting with new ideas.

Every brand’s path to high engagement is unique, but the common thread is being genuinely social, value-driven, and adaptive. Engage not for the sake of metrics, but to build genuine relationships with your audience and the metrics will follow. By focusing on providing value, community, and keeping a pulse on what your audience responds to, you’ll see those likes, comments, shares and saves climb steadily over time, along with the deeper rewards of brand loyalty and advocacy.

Ready to Improve Your Social Media Engagement?

Contact us today to find out how our social media marketing services can help you build an engaged community of customers and fans. We’ll work with you to tailor a strategy that fits your brand and goals, so you can turn likes and comments into loyalty and conversions. Let’s start a conversation about taking your social media to the next level and we can’t wait to help you connect with them in a bigger way.