7 Top-performing types of social media content + examples

Social media is one of the best platforms for reaching and engaging your target audience. It’s not just essential to comprehend that people spend 2+ hours, on average, browsing social channels. Data also shows that social media plays a significant role in driving brand and product discovery, being almost as effective as search engines.

With this in mind, it’s no wonder that you want to elevate your brand’s performance throughout the social networks you use. The key to doing so is, without a doubt, investing in hyper-relevant, engaging, and unique content.

But are there any particular formats that work better than others in 2025? And should you consider expanding your social media content repertoire to ensure your business stands out?

Read on for an overview of the seven top-performing types of social media content to include in your strategy, along with excellent examples from which you can draw inspiration.

Customer-centric posts

If there’s one single format to integrate into your social media strategy this year, it has to be customer-centric content.

Ultimately, consumers are tired of being treated simply as a source of income. Unfortunately, however, data shows that 56% of people feel that companies treat them solely as a number.

Instead, consumers want brands to understand and care about their needs. And they’re even willing to pay a premium for more personalized and relevant brand experiences.

With this in mind, one of the best ways to supercharge your social media content is to prioritize customer-centricity. Think about what your followers want and need from your business. Then be prepared to (selflessly) give it to them, even if it doesn’t benefit your bottom line.

Customer-centric social media content can, for instance, include in-depth educational posts that share your proprietary knowledge for free. This is the exact approach Squat University adopts on TikTok, selflessly sharing advice and exercise hacks to help remove some of its followers’ pain points.

What’s amazing about this type of social media content isn’t just that it addresses questions your target audience is trying to answer. More importantly, it demonstrates your brand’s dedication to customer satisfaction, which is a marvelous way to build brand trust, a factor that 88% of shoppers consider before choosing what brand to buy from.

Shoppable content

In addition to being a place that consumers use to discover brands and products, social media also plays a key role in the lower stages of the buyer’s journey. 

According to survey data, sales through social networks accounted for an estimated 17% of total online sales in 2025.

So, if you’re trying to create a social media marketing strategy that benefits your business throughout the sales funnel, why not include shoppable types of social media content on your feed?

Soludos, for instance, uses all of its social media posts as an opportunity to drive sales. Its tactic is subtle enough, meaning it won’t come off as overly sales-oriented to awareness-stage consumers. Nonetheless, it does make it easier for prospects to move to the purchase stage of the buyer’s journey with product links in each post.

Posts that showcase your real-life experiences

Brand authenticity is a key element of attracting and engaging your ideal customers.

However, the benefits of allowing your organization’s unique personality to shine through on social media don’t just stop at attracting more potential customers. Research also suggests that more than 70% of people spend more with brands that manage to position themselves as authentic.

So, if you’re looking to expand your digital repertoire with the types of social media content that drive exceptional results, why not prioritize sharing your real-life experiences with your target audience?

This content format may not seem exciting, especially when compared to some of the other options we cover in this guide. Nevertheless, it is a great method to establish credibility and expertise, as well as build stronger relationships with potential prospects.

And the best part is that it doesn’t necessitate any advanced content creation strategies. Instead, just explore ways to provide your followers with insights and content that demonstrates your experience while also providing them with educational value.

A good example to look at is RE Cost Seg, a well-known real estate cost segregation service provider. The company uses this content type on its LinkedIn profile and also on its blog in posts like this one on bonus depreciation.

Ultimately, the brand does this because it understands that its target audience doesn’t seek trendy or viral content. Instead, they need high-quality advice from a credible source. By sharing some of its proprietary knowledge and past experiences, Re Cost Seg manages to provide exceptional value to its audience and establish its trustworthiness in an otherwise low-trust industry.

The one thing to pay attention to when investing in this type of social media content is not to embellish past experiences. Yes, drawing from real-life experience is a valuable opportunity to build your brand. But go too far, and it might just backfire, as in the example below that managed to turn into one of the most mocked posts in LinkedIn history.

Value-driven content

While we’re on the subject of authenticity, it’s worth noting that today’s consumers pay close attention to brand values.

According to research, 82% of shoppers want brands’ values to align with their own. McKinsey discovered that businesses with ESG claims achieve better growth compared to those that don’t make such promises. Last but not least, 64% of American consumers (and 79% of Gen Z) would spend more with brands that reflect their values.

With this in mind, including value-driven types of social media content in your strategy could be a great way to stand out in 2025 and beyond.For instance, you can take inspiration from Finisterre. This outdoor gear brand centers its social media content around its commitment to making outdoor adventures accessible to anyone. However, instead of just posting about the issues it stands for, the brand aligns its actions with its promises. In addition to making adaptive wetsuits, it also makes these products available for rent. Moreover, it offers financial support through its foundation. Finally, Finisterre uses its social media to raise awareness about the assistance it offers to those who need it, transforming its Instagram profile from a mere marketing tool into a resource that offers genuine value to the people who need it the most.

Community-building content

One of the biggest appeals of social media for business is that it offers an informal digital space to interact with potential customers and gently guide them through the sales funnel.

But if you look at why people engage with brands (or anyone, for that matter) through social networks, you’ll find that connection ranks as one of their top reasons. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to treat these platforms not just as a space to market your solutions but also as a zone where you can develop and maintain relationships with potential and existing customers.

Investing in community-building content is an excellent way to reach this goal. After all, if your brand’s success depends on building close relationships with your target audience, then the best place to develop those relationships is on the platforms where people spend a significant amount of their online browsing time.

The great thing about this social media format is that you can easily adapt it to your brand’s needs and budget.

For example, if you want an easy way to incorporate this type of social media content into your feed, do something similar to Inkbox. The brand reposts content that customers have tagged it in, reinforcing customers’ participation and using the content as a form of social proof.

Or, you could take it a step further and create dedicated spaces for your followers to interact with your brand (and each other). 

Notion, for instance, created a dedicated Discord community for customers, where both experienced and beginner users can share tips, ask for assistance, or simply find inspiration on how to get the most out of the brand’s productivity tool.

AI-generated content

Of all the types of social media content we’ve listed here, this one may not seem like the most logical way to elevate your brand’s digital presence. But the simple truth is, when used right, AI content can truly allow your brand to stand out.

For starters, it’s worth noting that AI genuinely benefits performance. According to HubSpot, 72% of marketers accomplished better results thanks to AI-assisted content. 71% actively use it in their social media marketing, and 77% say that it helps build audience connections.

With this in mind, explore opportunities to incorporate AI into your social strategy.

For example, by using an AI assistant, you can generate captions or visuals for your posts, ensuring that they have what it takes for followers to notice them.

This is precisely what companies like Business for Sale do. Despite the point of this brand’s social strategy being to advertise businesses available for purchase through its platform, its marketing team understands that attracting customer attention often necessitates visuals. So, instead of allowing its posts to fly under the radar due to a lack of real-life images, Business for Sale generates relevant imagery with AI, automatically elevating engagement rates.

Video content

Last but not least, one of the types of social media content with the highest ROI is, without a doubt, video.

According to data, Instagram Reels engagement is up by 25% since 2021. And data shows that, on average, people spend 6 hours and 45 minutes watching video content per day.

In other words, if you want to attract (and retain) your followers’ attention, video is the best format to do it with.

Naturally, not all types of video offer the same benefits. Yes, short-form videos tend to attract the most views. Nevertheless, you don’t have to limit your strategy to only producing this type of social media content.

For instance, long-form resources are rapidly regaining traction as consumers seek in-depth information delivered through engaging, easy-to-consume formats. 

According to Google, Gen Z internet users are particularly willing to dive deeper into the topics that interest them, which is where long-form video content comes in.

If you’re looking for types of social media content that will help your brand stand out, invest in long-form videos.

Blank Earth is a great example of a brand that has managed to build an engaged and committed following through long-form videos. If you check out its YouTube channel, you’ll find that it’s filled with vlog-style resources, providing pottery enthusiasts with insights into the creation process while also raising awareness about the business’s work, products, and services.

Final thoughts

Social media marketing doesn’t have to be hard. All you need is a solid strategy (with well-defined goals), reliable tools, and the right types of social media content.

If you’re on the fence about which formats are worth investing in in 2025, this guide is an excellent place to start. The types of social media content mentioned in this article are all guaranteed to help your brand stand out and get your target audience invested in your offer.

For next-level results, don’t just stick to these formats. Instead, allow yourself to experiment, make small changes to what you post, and track your audience’s reactions. Who knows, you might uncover the ideal type of social media content for your brand, unlocking an even bigger social media ROI without upping your content creation costs.

FAQs

What type of social media content works best for 2025 (and beyond)?

There’s really no one-size-fits-all answer for creating content. What works best depends on your audience and your goals. That said, it’s always a good idea to go with posts that put your customers first, videos, and content that highlights your values.

How often should I post on social media?

What matters is putting out valuable content on a consistent schedule, and this doesn’t translate to posting every day. If you can post genuinely useful or engaging content three times a week, that will get you better results than posting daily just for the sake of it.

Do I need to use all seven content types mentioned?

Not at all. Start small. Choose two or three that feel the most natural for your brand and your audience. Once you get comfortable, you can experiment with others.

Is AI-generated content a good idea?

AI can be a handy tool for brainstorming ideas or creating drafts, but churning out AI-generated posts won’t help you connect with your audience in any way. Work on communicating with your audience using your unique brand voice, and if you use AI to assist your writing, always give your content a personal touch before you share it. 

How do I figure out what kind of content my audience likes?

Pay attention to your analytics. Look at which posts get the most likes, shares, and comments. Many platforms also let you run polls or Q&As, which is a simple way to ask your followers directly.

What type of content works best for small businesses on a budget?

Community-focused posts and customer stories are an excellent choice; they cost very little to create but often get a lot of engagement. Sharing behind-the-scenes moments is another great idea, since people love seeing the human side of a brand.

How can I make my content stand out?

Be real, be relevant, and tell stories. Whether you’re sharing a customer success story or giving a peek behind the curtain, the more authentic you are, the more likely people are to stop scrolling and pay attention.

Should I make short videos or long ones?

Both can work. Short videos are great for quick tips or fun updates, while longer videos give you space to dive deeper and build trust. A mix of the two usually works best.