8 Ways To Use Social Media To Grow Your Business

The Ultimate 2025 Guide to Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses

Are you a small business owner struggling to make social media work for you? You're not alone. In 2025, with over 5 billion global social media users and increasing platform complexity, the key to success lies in using the right strategies, platforms, and content to connect with your audience and convert followers into loyal customers.

In this guide, we break down longtail strategies and best practices for small business social media marketing, including real-world insights, actionable advice, and tips on how to book a free strategy call to boost your success: Book Your Free Strategy Call

1. Be Strategic: Define Your Social Media Purpose

Before you even post, ask yourself:

• Why are you using social media? (Hint: "Because everyone else is doing it" is not a strategy.) Are you aiming for brand awareness, customer service, lead generation, or community building?

• How does this align with your wider business objectives?

• What specific actions will you take across platforms to meet these goals?

Focus is power. Choose platforms where your audience is most active:

• Facebook for local visibility and communities

• Instagram for visuals and shopping

• LinkedIn for B2B and thought leadership

• TikTok for short-form storytelling and engagement

• YouTube for deep dives and evergreen content

2. Content is Still King (and Consistency is Queen)

Create content that adds value. Mix your posts across:

• How-to videos

• Educational carousels

• Customer testimonials

• Behind-the-scenes photos

• Storytelling Reels

Avoid endless self-promotion. Instead, engage with topics your audience cares about. Use longtail keywords like:

• "how to use Instagram reels for small business 2025"

• "best LinkedIn strategy for UK-based coaches"

• "TikTok marketing ideas for handmade product sellers"

Pro Tip: Use free tools like Canva and ChatGPT to create posts in bulk and schedule them with tools like Buffer or Later.

3. Be Discoverable: Promote Your Profiles Everywhere

Don't make customers search for you. Include social media links in:

• Website footers

• Email signatures

• Blog posts and newsletters

• Product packaging

• Business cards and receipts

4. Own Your Platforms: Social Media + Website = Power Combo

Social media is rented space. Your website is your digital home. Use social media to funnel followers to your site where you:

• Collect leads

• Showcase case studies

• Sell directly from your store

Ensure seamless integration between channels: embed Instagram feeds, add social share buttons to blog content, and use retargeting pixels for better ad ROI.

5. Google My Business and YouTube: Your SEO Dream Team

In 2025, Google still rules search. Here’s how to use it to your advantage:

• Optimize your Google Business Profile with keywords and regular posts

• Post geo-tagged updates and photos

• Use YouTube to create keyword-rich videos (e.g. "how to grow a dog grooming business UK") and embed them on your site

6. Paid Advertising: Start Small, Track Everything

Use paid social campaigns to boost visibility:

• Facebook/Instagram Ads for local services

• LinkedIn Ads for B2B lead gen

• YouTube Ads for product launches

Best practice in 2025:

• Use retargeting and lookalike audiences

• Create multiple ad creatives per audience

• Track your cost per lead/sale to determine ROI

7. Customer Service Is Now Public

Customers expect fast, friendly service on social. Tools like Hootsuite and Sprout Social let you monitor brand mentions across platforms.

Set up:

• Instagram DMs auto-responders

• Twitter/X keyword tracking

• Facebook Messenger bots

Use your social accounts as an extension of your customer support desk.

8. Niche Communities and Forums: High-Value Traffic

Go beyond the big platforms:

• Engage in Reddit communities (e.g. r/UKSmallBusiness)

• Share expertise in Quora or niche forums

• Build your audience in Slack groups, Discord, or Facebook niche groups

These places often deliver high-intent leads.

9. Social Video in 2025: Go Live, Get Real

In 2025, authenticity wins. Use live video to:

• Host Q&A sessions

• Run product demos

• Share customer stories

Use YouTube Shorts, Instagram Stories, and TikTok to deliver quick, high-value insights. Include CTA overlays: "Book a Free Strategy Call → Calendly Link"

10. Book a Free Strategy Call Today

Still feeling stuck or overwhelmed?

We're here to help. Book a free 30-minute 1-2-1 strategy session and receive:

• A full audit of your current social presence

• Actionable tips tailored to your niche

• A 90-day social growth plan

👉 Book Your Free Strategy Call Now

Take control of your digital marketing. Whether you're a one-person startup or growing brand, the right social media strategy in 2025 can change everything.

Now is the time to act.