Creating Effective Social Media Posts That Get Results

Creating effective social media posts is not about following trends; it is about connecting with your audience in meaningful ways. In 2025, attention is harder to earn than ever, and algorithms favor content that sparks genuine engagement. How do you create posts that perform instead of just existing? Let’s walk through a few updated strategies for creating effective social media posts that deliver results.

Start With One Question: What Are You Doing?

This is still the best question you can ask before publishing anything. Every post should have a clear purpose: to raise awareness, educate, engage, or drive conversion. We ask ourselves this every time we create something for our clients because the answer shapes everything from tone to visuals.

When you are creating effective social media posts, think of it like a modern Mad Lib:

I want to ______________ with this post.

• Share something interesting
• Share knowledge or insights
• Teach something valuable
• Promote a product, service, or event

I am writing it for ______________.

• People who already follow our brand
• People discovering us for the first time
• People looking for solutions we provide

When someone reads it, I hope they ______________.

• Learn something new
• Feel inspired or entertained
• Click through to learn more
• Remember it tomorrow

If your goal is to get someone to take action, make that action easy. Include links, add a clear call to action, and use visuals that direct attention.

For more guidance on clarity and simplicity in your message, check out Why Simple Marketing Messages Are Effective. 

Know the Platform You Are On

One size fits all does not cut it anymore. What works on TikTok may flop on LinkedIn. The most effective social media posts meet each platform’s audience where they are.

Instagram: Reels still rule, but carousel posts that educate or tell a story perform better than single static images. The algorithm favors saves and shares over likes.

TikTok: Educational and behind-the-scenes videos outperform trends. Brands like Duolingo and Ryanair show that humor, consistency, and authenticity still win.

LinkedIn: Native documents, thought leadership carousels, and first-person storytelling drive the most engagement. Videos under 90 seconds with captions perform best for professional audiences.

X (formerly Twitter): Short, bold insights and visuals continue to stand out, but avoid posting links without context. Threads that teach or summarize value work best for organic reach.

Pinterest: Idea Pins and seasonal boards attract search-driven users and remain strong tools for evergreen content.

If you are scheduling posts, tools like Social Pilot or Sprout can help you tailor posts to each platform while tracking engagement over time.

Make Every Post Valuable on Its Own

In an era where people scroll faster than ever, most users will not see your full campaign or content series. When creating effective social media posts, make each one stand alone: provide full context, deliver value, and give a clear takeaway.

Ask yourself:

• Can someone understand this post without extra context?
• Does it teach, entertain, or inspire within a few seconds?

Even if the post is part of a larger campaign, assume it is the only piece your audience might see.

Success in social media is not about volume; it is about impact. When analyzing your social media performance, focus on:

• Saves and shares (a stronger indicator of value)
• Comment depth, not just count
• Click-throughs and conversions from organic posts
• Watch time on video content

Use tools like Google Analytics or built-in platform insights to see which types of posts perform best.