Why start-ups and SMEs need a social media strategy in 2025

Posted on by BusinessResearchEnterprise

By: Kahina Belamri, Social Media Manager and Founder of Cheri Social

In today’s hyper-competitive digital world, having a social media presence isn’t enough. Start-ups
and SMEs that succeed aren’t the ones posting randomly, they are the ones that build a strategy
with purpose, creativity, and data-driven insights.

At Cheri Social, we specialise in helping early-stage businesses cut through the noise and grow
their brand the smart way. From experience, I can tell you: the difference between brands that
win and those that disappear is a clear, focused social media strategy.

Here’s why you can’t afford to skip this step:

The risk of posting without a plan

Without a structured approach, social media efforts often lead to:

  • Inconsistent messaging
  • Low engagement
  • Wasted time and resources
  • Missed opportunities for real growth

A strategy ensures every post supports your business goals, speaks directly to your ideal audience, and builds momentum over time.

The foundation of a strong social media strategy

Every business is different, but the pillars of a successful strategy remain the same:

  • Audit your current presence: Start by reviewing what you’re already doing. What types of content have performed well? Where are you losing traction? Which platforms are worth your time, and which aren’t serving your goals?
  • Analyse your market and competitors: You don’t need to copy what others are doing, but you should understand it. Identify gaps in the market. Ask: what aren’t they doing that your brand can?
  • Stay relevant with trends: Trends change fast. But being trendy isn’t about jumping on every meme, it’s about tapping into cultural conversations in a way that feels authentic and relevant to your audience and brand voice.
  • Build a smart content plan: Don’t just post to fill space. Structure your content around themes that educate, inspire, build community, and promote with balance. Content pillars help guide your voice and ensure consistency, even across different formats and platforms.

It’s not about posting more. It’s about posting with a purpose.

Why strategy matters more than ever

Social media platforms evolve fast. What worked a year ago won’t necessarily work today. Brands that succeed are those that understand their audience deeply, adapt quickly, and build real community, not just vanity metrics. Consistency, creativity, and intentionality are the key ingredients. But getting it right requires a real understanding of how your brand fits into the bigger picture.

More than just a checklist

A strategy isn’t just a checklist or content calendar. It’s a framework that connects your brand’s mission with your audience’s needs and uses creativity, analytics, and storytelling to bring that connection to life. At Cheri Social, this is what we help startups and SMEs do every day. I’m Kahina, founder of Cheri Social, and for the past five years, I’ve worked with ambitious early-stage businesses to build social strategies that lead to real growth not just in metrics, but in community, authority, and business impact.

Whether you’re launching your first product or scaling to your next stage, the right social
strategy can be your most powerful tool, no big ad budgets required!

Ready to elevate your brand?

If you’re thinking about how to refine your social media approach or just want to understand
what’s working in 2025, I’d love to connect.
📍 Book your Social Media Strategy consultation (20% off for SBREC members)
🌐 Visit https://cherisocial.com/
📧 Reach me directly at info@cherisocial.com
🔗 Follow me on LinkedIn

*We strive to do our best when supporting small business and their growth. Our business databases can give you information and data that can help you with advertising, market research, company information, and industry factsheets. If you have already taken the plunge, we would love for you to join us at a seminar, our workshops cover digital marketing, business model canvas and planning, demystifying taxes and intellectual property to name a few. Visit our events page or website for more information.

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