Social media advice for beginners: 15 tips from the pros

Dive into the world of social media with practical advice straight from the experts. This article demystifies the journey for beginners, providing tried-and-true strategies on how to navigate and thrive online. Gain exclusive insights from seasoned professionals to kickstart a robust digital presence.

MORE NEWS: 7 rooftop restaurants in Phoenix to try

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Want more news like this? Get our free newsletter here

  • Build Connections Over Content
  • Embrace Selective Invisibility
  • Observe Conversations Before Posting
  • Own Your Digital Space
  • Engage Authentically
  • Focus on One Platform First
  • Start Real Conversations
  • Use Connect, Create, Comment Framework
  • Map Out Your Strategy
  • Learn Content Styles and Formats
  • Focus on Education, Not Promotion
  • Post Consistently
  • Stay Scam-Smart
  • Know Your Audience and Goals
  • Be Mindful of Digital Footprint

Build Connections Over Content

If you’re new to social media, my biggest piece of advice is: focus on building connections, not just content. When I first started using social media for marketing in the food industry, I thought success meant posting eye-catching images and clever captions. But over time, I realized that engagement and authenticity matter more than aesthetics.

One thing I wish I knew earlier is that consistency beats perfection. It’s better to post regularly and show up for your audience than to stress over making everything flawless. For example, when promoting healthy eating habits, I found that sharing simple, real-life tips—like easy meal prep ideas for busy professionals—resonated more than highly polished, magazine-style food photos. People connect with content that feels relatable and helpful, not just visually appealing.

Another key lesson? Don’t let social media take over your life. When I first started, I felt the pressure to be online all the time, constantly checking analytics and responding to every comment instantly. But burnout is real, and a healthy work-life balance is crucial, especially in industries like food where creativity and passion drive success. Now, I set boundaries—scheduling content in advance, designating response hours, and unplugging when needed. Funny enough, I noticed engagement didn’t drop; it actually improved because I was more intentional with my interactions.

So, if you’re just starting out, remember: be consistent, stay authentic, and don’t let social media consume you. Success comes from building a genuine community, not chasing viral moments.

Julie Collins, Marketing Director, The FruitGuys

Embrace Selective Invisibility

If I could offer one unconventional piece of advice to someone just starting out on social media, it wouldn’t be about mastering algorithms or chasing viral trends. It would be to embrace the power of selective invisibility.

When I first dove into social media, I felt an overwhelming pressure to be everywhere, all the time. I treated my profiles like a 24/7 reality show, sharing every thought, every photo, every mundane detail, believing that constant visibility was the key to engagement. What I wish I had known then is that real impact does not come from shouting into the void, but from intentionally curating what you share and, more importantly, what you choose to keep private.

Silence can be more powerful than noise. Authenticity is not about broadcasting every unfiltered moment; it is about thoughtfully shaping your digital presence in a way that aligns with your values and protects your well-being.

In a world addicted to oversharing, the ability to step back, create space, and share with intention is a superpower. It makes your presence more meaningful and your voice more impactful when you do choose to speak.

Nirmal Gyanwali, Founder & CMO, WP Creative

Observe Conversations Before Posting

Start by observing conversations in your niche before creating content. While building our agency’s social presence, I initially made the mistake of jumping straight into posting without understanding how our audience communicated.

By spending two weeks just watching discussions in digital marketing groups, I noticed successful posts shared specific challenges and solutions rather than generic tips. When I finally started posting, I focused on sharing real problems we’d solved for clients, using the same language our audience used. This approach generated more meaningful engagement than my earlier promotional attempts.

For newcomers, spend time learning how your target audience talks about their challenges. Your content will resonate better when it matches their natural conversation style.

Marc Hardgrove, CEO, The Hoth

Own Your Digital Space

When I first started, I poured all my creative energy into platforms like Facebook and Instagram, obsessing over follower counts, engagement metrics, and the latest trends. I treated social media as the foundation of my brand, never considering that I was building on borrowed land.

One algorithm change, one policy shift, or one unexpected platform update could wipe out everything I had worked so hard to create. I wish I had understood the importance of owning my digital space from the start.

A website, an email list, a blog. These are assets you control. Social media should be a tool for driving traffic to these spaces, not a substitute for them. Think of your social profiles as billboards. Great for grabbing attention, but ultimately meant to direct people to something more permanent.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that success is measured by followers on a single platform. Instead, focus on building a loyal community around your content, your brand, and your values. Social media is fleeting, but your digital presence should be built to last.

Shankar Subba, Head of SEO, WP Creative

Engage Authentically

One crucial piece of advice for anyone new to social media is to engage authentically rather than trying to be someone you’re not. Early in my e-commerce career, I attempted to present a polished and overly professional image. However, I quickly learned that sharing genuine stories and interacting with my audience on a personal level fostered a stronger connection.

For instance, I started sharing behind-the-scenes moments and personal anecdotes about Wethrift’s journey. This shift not only grew my online community but also provided invaluable feedback and ideas from real customers which influenced our direction.

The key takeaway is to remember that people value authenticity and relatability over perfection. Social media is about building trust and relationships, which happens best when you’re genuinely yourself. By focusing on meaningful engagement rather than metrics, you can create a more trustworthy and impactful online presence.

Nick Drewe, Founder & CEO, Wethrift

Focus on One Platform First

A critical mistake that people often make when getting started with social media is that they try to be active on all channels at once. You need to consider your resources and operational capacity. Being active on all social media platforms at once will just overwhelm you. Each platform favors a different content format and is fueled by a distinct algorithm. So, you won’t be able to keep up. You’ll end up compromising on either your content quality or your consistency.

It’s best that you pick one platform that aligns with your niche and where your target audience spends the most time. Start from there and grow gradually. Post quality content regularly. Don’t be super active in one week and disappear in another. Your goal should be to build a community. Don’t be active on social media just for the sake of it. When you’ve successfully gained a decent following on one platform, you can expand from there, and it’ll be easier that way too. I wish I knew this when I started.

Syed Balkhi, Founder, WPBeginner

Start Real Conversations

When we first started using social media for marketing, we focused too much on creating polished content, assuming that would drive engagement. But we quickly learned that social media isn’t just about posting; it’s about interacting. One piece of advice for anyone new? Don’t just share content; start real conversations.

Early on, we made the mistake of treating social media like a one-way broadcast. But what truly works is engaging, replying to comments, asking industry-relevant questions, and interacting with potential clients and talent. The more conversations we started, the more visibility and trust we gained.

A simple but effective approach? Set aside at least 15 minutes daily to engage with your audience. Reply to comments, comment on others’ posts, and even start discussions in relevant groups. Over time, this builds relationships and makes your brand more than just another name in the feed.

If we had focused on community building from day one, we would’ve seen results much sooner. Social media isn’t just about content; it’s about connection.

Vikrant Bhalodia, Head of Marketing & People Ops, WeblineIndia

Use Connect, Create, Comment Framework

Use the Connect, Create, and Comment framework. View social media as an engagement platform as opposed to only a self-promotion tool. The one strategy I wish I adopted earlier was the Connect, Create, and Comment Framework. This approach focuses on engaging with your target audience before, during, and after you post content.

Engage with people and influencers in your niche by liking, commenting, and sharing their content for 10-15 minutes before posting your content. This simple gesture helps improve your visibility while allowing you to show users that you genuinely care about the social media community. Then, create content that reflects your brand’s voice while offering tangible value to your audience—whether through education, entertainment, or inspiration.

After posting, focus on the comment section; engage your audience by responding to each comment in detail, posing questions, and trying to keep conversations going. By doing so, you create an emotional connection and loyalty with your audience. Relationships are key to social media success, so consistently following this approach will help you shift from broadcasting content to a two-way conversation that will benefit your brand.

Brian Lim, Founder & CEO, iHeartRaves

Map Out Your Strategy

Having just parsed through the applications of 250+ freelancers who responded to my job post for part-time social media help, let me say this: with Canva and AI, just about anyone can make and post content—but very few know how to get eyes on that content. Put another way: it’s easy to identify what’s trending; it’s an altogether different thing—and much more difficult—to demonstrate the ability to reach and engage the audience that’s going to increase or sustain your business.

So it’s not just about content ideas or account management; strategy really matters—you have to know HOW to get to your audience; how to stand out; how social media will support your product/service, and vice versa. Map it out BEFORE you start talking about videos and calendars.

Brad Cawn, Founder, New Dad’s Kitchen

Learn Content Styles and Formats

When I first jumped into social media, I thought I could “ROCK” it with my “innovative approaches.” LOL… Reality hit fast. Social media isn’t just about posting unique content—it’s about building genuine connections while staying relevant to your niche.

But as a newbie, I had no clue how to make that happen. That’s when I stepped back, reworked my strategy, and focused on three key things:

  • Learning the fundamentals—understanding social media beyond just scrolling and sharing.
  • Mastering content formats—exploring videos, carousels, text posts, and interactive elements.
  • Executing with flexibility—adapting to trends, engagement patterns, and audience preferences.

The impact? Exceeded all expectations. Engagement soared, my content reached the right audience, and I finally understood what works.

So, if you’re new to social media, start by learning the different content styles and formats. Mix videos, images, and carousels to keep your feed dynamic. Add trending topics, challenges, polls, and quizzes that align with your brand.

And most importantly, track audience insights—see what resonates and adjust your strategy. Do this consistently, and you’ll actually grow instead of just posting into the void.

Jehanzaib Ahmed, Founder & CEO, Petbizs

Focus on Education, Not Promotion

If you’re new to social media marketing, my biggest piece of advice is: Focus on education, not just promotion.

What I Wish I Knew Earlier:

  • Use Research Tools to Guide Your Content – Before creating content, find out what your audience is actually searching for. A tool like AnswerThePublic helps you discover real-time questions and topics people are curious about. This allows you to craft a keyword-driven strategy that aligns with what your audience wants to learn.
  • Storytelling > Selling – People connect with real-life scenarios more than sales pitches. Share success stories, behind-the-scenes insights, or customer experiences rather than just listing product benefits.
  • Short-Form Content Wins – Quick “Did You Know?” facts, myth-busting posts, and short videos explaining key concepts drive way more engagement than long, text-heavy posts.
  • Engagement Matters More Than Followers – A smaller, engaged audience that interacts with your content is far more valuable than thousands of passive followers. Focus on conversations, not just numbers.

By shifting from a sales-first to an education-first approach and using data-driven research to inform content strategy, I saw a significant increase in organic engagement and conversions. Social media isn’t just about pushing products—it’s about building trust, providing value, and staying top of mind when your audience is ready to take action.

sebastien Antoine, Marketing & Operations, The Policy Shop

Post Consistently

“Just start posting consistently.” If there was less time spent trying to come up with the perfect piece for social media every time and more time spent posting consistently, I would have learned a lot more a lot faster.

When a channel is still young, your first goal should be to get it growing in terms of followers and especially engagement. This will give you the feedback you need in terms of interactions, or lack thereof, from your target audience all in the form of real-life data.

Based on that you can then evolve your posts, rather than playing the guessing game.

The perfect piece of content doesn’t really exist and you should aim to continually find ways to improve as your main goal.

Getting over that first hurdle of posting consistently is the biggest challenge for most people.

Thys Du Plooy, CEO, Thickrope Marketing

Stay Scam-Smart

One of the biggest pieces of advice I’d give to someone new to social media is to be cautious of scams. When I first started, I didn’t realize how many fake accounts, phishing links, and too-good-to-be-true offers were out there. I wish I knew that not everyone online has good intentions. Just because someone messages you saying you’ve won a giveaway or offers a job opportunity doesn’t mean it’s real. Scammers are smart, and they often pretend to be real companies or influencers to trick you into giving away personal info.

A good rule of thumb is to never click on random links or share your password, even if a message looks legit. I’ve seen people lose access to their accounts because they fell for fake login pages or sketchy DMs. Also, if someone is rushing you to send money or asking for sensitive details, that’s a huge red flag. Take your time, double-check profiles, and always verify before trusting anyone online. I wish I had known from the start that being careful doesn’t mean being paranoid; it just means protecting yourself from unnecessary risks.

Callum Gracie, Founder & Digital Marketing Expert, Otto Media

Know Your Audience and Goals

As a social media strategist, I’ve learned it’s all about knowing your audience and your goals. Where does your target audience hang out online and what do you want to achieve—brand awareness, lead generation, or customer support? Each platform has its own superpower: Facebook is for building relationships, Instagram is for visual storytelling, LinkedIn is for B2B connections, Twitter is for real-time engagement, YouTube is for wide-reaching video content, and TikTok is for younger audiences.

My approach is to use social listening tools to track competitor activity and customer preferences. I start small, on the platforms that align best with our audience and goals and also our resources. It’s all about testing, measuring, and adapting. I monitor engagement rates, reach, and conversions and tweak as we go. The key is to tailor content to each platform’s superpower and be flexible with the ever-changing algorithms. This approach has worked for me to find the right social media mix for our marketing goals.

Jorge Argota, Legal Marketing, Jorge Argota

Be Mindful of Digital Footprint

Navigating social media can be daunting for newcomers. One crucial piece of advice is to be mindful of your digital footprint. Every post, comment, and interaction leaves a trail, shaping your online persona. Maintain professionalism and avoid impulsive posts that could haunt you later. Additionally, prioritize authenticity over chasing likes or follows. Share content that aligns with your values and interests, fostering genuine connections. Lastly, remember that social media is a tool, not a substitute for real-life interactions. Use it wisely to complement, not consume, your offline life.

Mahee Chouhan, Content and Digital Marketing Manager, Mitt Arv

Related Articles