How to Make Social Media Work for You

Three women of the Honest team holding a phone showing their Instagram profile.

Let’s be honest: keeping up with social media can feel like a full-time job. Posting regularly, chasing trends, engaging in DMs—it's a lot. But the truth is it doesn’t have to be that way.  When you shift from chasing the algorithm to connecting with real people like real people, social media starts working for you.

Whether you’re a growing practice, small business, or solo entrepreneur, here’s how to make your content pull its weight without burning you out ↓

1. Hook Them in the First 3 Seconds

Your audience scrolls fast. It’s not 2018 any more and there’s more content online than most people know what to do with. If you want to grab your audience’s attention, you’ve got to start strong—especially with video.

Use:

  • Bold opening lines (“Do you actually need this treatment?” or “Your technology isn’t working”)

  • Engaging facial expressions or gestures

  • Eye-popping visuals (ditch stock photos—use real people, real places)

Pro Tip: Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts dominate because they deliver quick, relatable content. The first 3 seconds matter more than anything else.

2. Engage Like a Human

People don’t want to talk to a brand—or worse, a robot—they want to connect with a person. That means:

  • Reply to every comment and DM (even with a simple thank you or like)

  • Show personality in your captions and stories

  • Make your CTAs warm and conversational (try “Not sure where to start? DM us!” instead of “Book now”)

These interactions aren’t “extra.” They’re how trust is built.

3. Post When Your Audience is Active

Don’t waste great content on a sleeping audience, and it doesn’t have to be difficult to be strategic. Use your platform insights to determine:

  • What days your audience is online

  • What times they’re most engaged

  • Which types of posts perform best

Then test different times and adjust. Content performance is not about volume or even the perfect trend. What matters is showing up when your people are watching.

4. Choose Trends That Fit You

Just because something is trending doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for your brand. Instead of copying influencers or reposting viral sounds, ask: “How can we make this trend ours?”

If an influencer uses a product, show your take: how your team uses it, what results you’ve seen, or who it’s for. For trending audios, find scenarios that are unique to your industry or product, but don’t just copy others to get something on your grid. Use trends to amplify your brand, not replace it.

5. Mix Education + Entertainment

Call it “edutainment.” The sweet spot between value and vibe. Content that teaches and entertains is what keeps people coming back. Think:

  • Bold carousel posts

  • Quick Q&A Reels

  • Behind-the-scenes transformations

  • “Did you know?” storytelling posts

Your content can’t just be about followers and other vanity metrics. Your online presence should move audiences through the marketing funnel by building familiarity and authority. Become the industry expert.

6. Show Real People (And Real Results)

In a world where you see AI-generated videos of bunnies jumping on trampolines and dogs jumping off of diving boards, there’s growing skepticism online. Skip the overly polished stock photos and instead spotlight:

  • Your team in action

  • Real patient stories or testimonials

  • Candid behind-the-scenes moments

Real builds trust. Real stops the scroll. Real converts.

7. Be Consistent, Not Constant

You don’t need to post every day, but you do need to post with purpose.

A strategy that works for you might look like:

  • 3 strong posts per week

  • 1-2 short-form videos

  • 10-15 minutes a day engaging in DMs or comments

  • Monthly batch content sessions

Planning ahead frees you to actually show up when it matters, how it matters. Being strategic means cultivating posts that represent your brand, connect with your audience, and grow your reach. 

Build a Strategy That Supports You

Social media doesn’t have to feel like a guessing game. When you align your content with your goals, your audience, and your bandwidth, it becomes a tool—not a time suck. The key is to start where you are, show up like a human, and make it easy for people to connect with you.

Ready to stop doing it all yourself? We’re here to help. It’s time to make your content work for you.

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