As you plan your 2025 marketing strategy, “where should my business be on social media 2025” is one of the foundational questions you must answer. Social platforms continue to evolve rapidly — new players emerge, formats shift (short video dominates), and audience behaviors change. This guide breaks down seven social media platforms your business should consider in 2025, explains how to choose the right channels, and highlights the best social media platforms for business 2025 and top social media platforms for content creators 2025.
Why choosing the right platforms matters: how to choose social media platforms for your business
Before we list platforms, let’s cover a process to answer “how to choose social media platforms for your business.” Choosing the right channels avoids wasted effort, ensures better ROI, and helps you build an audience where they already are.
1. Define goals and KPIs
- Brand awareness — reach, impressions, share of voice
- Lead generation — form fills, website visits, MQLs
- E-commerce — product views, add-to-cart, purchases
- Community building — members, engagement rates, retention
2. Know your audience
Map customer personas to platform demographics and behaviors. Younger audiences favor short-video platforms, professionals prefer LinkedIn, and niche communities thrive on Discord or Reddit.
3. Match content format to platform
Consider whether you can consistently produce short-form video, long-form video, images, or written content. Your strengths should match platform expectations.
4. Assess resources and capabilities
Account for team bandwidth, creative assets, ad budget, and analytics tools. Better to win on two platforms than underperform across six.
5. Test, measure, iterate
Run pilot campaigns, measure KPIs, then double down on winners. Use A/B tests for creative and CTA optimization.
Overview: best social media platforms for business 2025
Not every platform suits every business, but the list below reflects where audiences, engagement, and revenue opportunities are concentrated in 2025. We identify seven platforms your business should consider and explain why each makes the cut.
7 Social Media Platforms Where Your Business Should Be in 2025
1. TikTok — short-form creative and discovery engine
TikTok remains one of the best social media platforms for business 2025 thanks to algorithmic reach, high engagement, and strong commerce integrations. Its For You Page still allows rapid audience growth for creators and brands that prioritize entertaining, authentic short video.
- Best for: brand awareness, viral campaigns, product demos, Gen Z and younger millennials
- Content types: short-form video (15–60s), trends, behind-the-scenes, influencer collaborations
- Monetization/ad options: In-Feed Ads, TopView, Spark Ads, Creator Marketplace, native shopping
- KPIs: views, average watch time, engagement rate, click-throughs to landing pages
Tip: Focus on trends, rapid iteration, and native editing styles. Use TikTok as a discovery funnel with links to longer-form content or product pages.
2. Instagram (including Reels & Shops) — visual storytelling and commerce
Instagram remains a core channel for many brands. With Reels prioritized and native shopping features matured, Instagram balances discovery, community, and direct commerce.
- Best for: lifestyle brands, DTC e-commerce, visual storytelling, influencer programs
- Content types: Reels, Stories, carousels, Lives, shoppable posts
- Monetization/ad options: Feed and Reels ads, Shopping, Branded Content, Affiliate Tools
- KPIs: saves, shares, product clicks, conversion rates from Instagram Shopping
Tip: Treat Reels as the discovery engine and your feed as a trust-building gallery. Optimize product tags and maintain consistent aesthetics.
3. YouTube — long-form video, education, and search presence
YouTube is still one of the top social media platforms for content creators 2025 and one of the best social media platforms for business 2025 for brands that can produce educational or narrative video content. It functions as both a social platform and a search engine for video content.
- Best for: tutorials, product reviews, thought leadership, evergreen educational content
- Content types: long-form videos, Shorts, livestreams, playlists, episodic series
- Monetization/ad options: YouTube Ads, channel memberships, Super Chat, shopping integrations
- KPIs: watch time, subscriber growth, retention, search rankings for video keywords
Tip: Invest in SEO for video — titles, descriptions, chapters, and thumbnails — to maximize discovery both on YouTube and Google.
4. LinkedIn — B2B relationships and thought leadership
For B2B companies, professional services, and high-ticket sellers, LinkedIn remains indispensable. In 2025 it’s more content-forward with short-form video, newsletters, and creator monetization features.
- Best for: B2B lead generation, hiring, executive thought leadership, professional services
- Content types: posts, long-form articles, video, LinkedIn Live, newsletters
- Monetization/ad options: Sponsored Content, Message Ads, Lead Gen Forms
- KPIs: leads generated, engagement from target accounts, content shares in industry networks
Tip: Use LinkedIn for high-value content and account-based marketing. Publish case studies, whitepapers, and executive insights to build credibility.
5. X (formerly Twitter) & Threads — real-time conversation and community listening
X and Threads (Meta’s conversation-focused platform) serve slightly different roles but both matter for public conversation, customer service, and topical engagement. In 2025, brands use these platforms for fast updates, crisis management, and trend participation.
- Best for: real-time customer service, PR, trend participation, short updates
- Content types: short posts, image/gif, links, Threads for serialized posts
- Monetization/ad options: promoted posts, conversation amplification tools
- KPIs: response time, mentions sentiment, share of voice
Tip: Prioritize listening and rapid response. Use social monitoring tools to track brand mentions and emerging trends.
6. Pinterest — discovery and purchase intent
Pinterest is often underrated, but it remains powerful for product discovery and pre-shopping research. For e-commerce and lifestyle brands, it’s one of the best social media platforms for business 2025 that directly influences purchase intent.
- Best for: home, fashion, food, DIY, and any visual product discovery
- Content types: Pins (static or Idea Pins), shoppable pins, guides
- Monetization/ad options: Promoted Pins, Shopping Spotlight
- KPIs: saves, referral traffic, catalog sales attributed to Pins
Tip: Optimize Pins for SEO with clear descriptions and keywords; Pinterest is a visual search engine.
7. Discord — community-first engagement and retention
Discord has emerged as a top platform for brands that want to build close-knit communities, especially for games, creators, and niche interest groups. It’s a top social media platform for content creators 2025 who monetize via subscriptions, events, and direct community sales.
- Best for: community building, events, product beta testing, creator-fan interaction
- Content types: channels (text, voice), live events, AMAs, gated content
- Monetization/ad options: server subscriptions, merch drops, sponsored channels
- KPIs: active members, retention, event attendance, engagement depth
Tip: Use Discord as a retention channel. Offer exclusive content and direct access to product teams to increase loyalty.
Top social media platforms for content creators 2025: how creators should prioritize
Content creators have different goals — audience growth, revenue diversification, or brand partnerships. Here are the platforms creators should prioritize in 2025 and why:
- YouTube — long-form revenue and search discoverability
- TikTok — rapid growth and virality
- Instagram (Reels & Stories) — visual brand building and commerce
- Twitch — live streaming and subscriptions for long-form engagement
- Substack/Patreon — monetized newsletters and membership revenue
- Discord — deep community engagement and recurring revenue
Creators should diversify across at least two public platforms for discovery (YouTube, TikTok, IG) and one direct monetization channel (Patreon, Substack, or platform subscriptions).
Emerging social platforms to watch 2025
New platforms and formats can quickly become important. When thinking about “emerging social platforms to watch 2025,” keep an eye on networks that offer new creator monetization models, decentralized ownership, or unique formats that match your audience.
- Threads — Meta’s text-focused app for serialized posts and communities
- Decentralized platforms (Mastodon/ActivityPub) — niche, community-owned networks
- BeReal-style ephemeral platforms — authenticity-driven, time-limited sharing
- Niche audio communities — social audio for live conversations and events
- Vertical commerce-social hybrids — platforms integrating live shopping and AR try-ons
Tip: Monitor these platforms for early adopter audiences and potential partnership or creator-first opportunities. Run small experiments before committing resources.
How to build a 2025 social media strategy that scales
Once you’ve picked your platforms, use a repeatable framework to scale your presence.
1. Content pillars and repurposing
- Define 3–5 content pillars (product education, customer stories, industry insight, culture)
- Create pillar content in long form (video or article) and repurpose into short clips, carousels, and captions
2. Posting cadence and content calendar
Set realistic cadence by platform. Example: daily TikToks/Reels, 3–4 weekly Instagram feed posts, weekly YouTube video, daily LinkedIn value posts for B2B. Automate scheduling and maintain a content backlog.
3. Paid + organic mix
Organic builds relationships; paid accelerates reach. Allocate budget to test creative variations and subsidize top-performing organic posts for amplified reach.
4. Creator and influencer partnerships
Partner with creators who align with your brand and audience. For product launches, combine creator seeding with paid amplification for predictable results.
5. Measurement and attribution
Use UTM-tagged links, platform analytics, and a marketing dashboard to measure attribution. Track both leading indicators (engagement, website visits) and lagging indicators (sales, CLTV).
Practical checklist: what to do next
- Audit current channels: performance, audience overlap, and resource cost
- Map your customer personas to the 7 platforms listed above
- Choose 2–3 primary platforms and 1 community platform for 2025
- Create a 90-day pilot plan with goals, content calendar, and budget
- Measure weekly and iterate monthly; scale what works
Common mistakes to avoid in 2025
- Spreading thinly across every platform instead of prioritizing
- Ignoring short-form video — it drives discovery across most platforms
- Failing to track ROI or set measurable goals
- Underutilizing commerce integrations (shoppable posts, live shopping)
- Neglecting community-first channels like Discord for retention
Conclusion: Where should my business be on social media 2025 — key takeaways
Answering “where should my business be on social media 2025” starts with goals, audience, and content capabilities. Prioritize platforms that align to those factors. For most businesses, the seven platforms you should seriously consider are TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, X/Threads, Pinterest, and Discord. Use the “how to choose social media platforms for your business” framework — define goals, know your audience, match content, assess resources, and run tests. Keep an eye on emerging social platforms to watch 2025 and diversify creator monetization channels. With a focused approach, a clear content strategy, and measurement discipline, you’ll position your brand to win attention, drive conversions, and build lasting customer relationships in 2025.