Someone wants to build a social media presence from scratch, but has no idea where to begin. It feels overwhelming, feeds are crowded, and everyone seems ten steps ahead. To make the process easier, here are some clear and practical ways to create, maintain and grow a strong social media presence over time.
Why am I on social media
Before launching accounts everywhere, it helps to understand the purpose behind being online. Instead of thinking “everyone else is on social media, so I should be too,” it is far more useful to ask questions like “What is the goal here? What should this account achieve?” Clear goals shape everything that follows. For example, the main focus might be to increase brand awareness, bring more visitors to a website, or generate leads and sales. Once those aims are defined, it becomes easier to decide what kind of content to create, how often to post, and what style or tone to use. Setting SMART targets and preparing a bank of content in advance gives structure, prevents random posting and ensures each update serves a purpose.
Choose the platforms that actually make sense
Not every platform will suit every person or brand. Trying to be active everywhere usually leads to burnout and weak results. Instead, it is smarter to select a few networks where the audience is already active and the content style fits naturally. For example, businesses that focus on professional services often do well on Facebook, LinkedIn and X (Twitter), where conversation, news and thought leadership matter. Visual creators such as photographers, designers or artists usually benefit more from platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, where imagery is the main attraction. When in doubt, it is often a safe bet to start with Facebook and Instagram, since both have huge user bases and offer powerful tools for building communities over time.
Tell people where to find the accounts
A social media profile cannot grow if nobody knows it exists. Growth is much easier when the audience is guided toward those platforms from other touchpoints. This is where everyday communication becomes important. Email signatures, newsletters, flyers, packaging, business cards, menus and posters can all carry social media handles or QR codes. Websites can display icons that link directly to profiles, and physical locations like shops, cafés or festival stands can use small “Follow us” signs near the counter. At this stage, some brands also choose to partner with a trusted social media growth shop to speed up early visibility, while still focusing on real engagement and long term relationships.
Optimise every profile properly
Profile optimization might sound technical, but it is really about making each page look complete, professional and trustworthy. A half-filled bio, blurry profile picture or missing contact details sends the wrong signal and discourages new followers. Strong profiles share a few common traits. They use high quality images that are consistent with the brand, such as a clear logo or recognisable portrait. Bios explain who the account is for and what followers can expect, in simple and direct language. Links lead to the most important destination, often a website or landing page. Contact information and business details are kept accurate and up to date. When someone lands on the page, they should instantly understand who is speaking, what they offer and why it is worth following. Those who need extra guidance can easily find platform-specific tutorials and checklists that walk through each step of optimisation.