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2025 Social Media Trends That Still Matter (and What to Ignore)
- Dillon Fuller
- Jun 19
- 7 min read
Navigating social media marketing can sometimes feel like trying to hit a moving target. Platforms update algorithms, new features emerge, and trends come and go—often leaving small businesses wondering where to focus their limited time and budget.
For businesses in Huntsville and North Alabama, it’s especially important to invest wisely. Social media isn’t just about likes or followers; it’s about building meaningful connections that turn into real customers. That’s why in this post, we’ll walk you through the 2025 social media trends that truly deliver engagement and ROI, and also call out those that no longer deserve your attention.
By understanding what works now, you’ll be better equipped to craft a social media strategy that grows your local presence without wasting resources.
Where to Focus: The Top Social Media Platforms in 2025
Not all social platforms serve the same purpose—and in 2025, some are clearly pulling ahead when it comes to small business marketing. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen your focus, here’s a quick look at the most relevant platforms and how North Alabama businesses are using them effectively:
TikTok
Still the top platform for viral reach and short-form video engagement. TikTok's algorithm rewards creativity and authenticity, even for accounts with small followings. Local businesses use it for product demos, behind-the-scenes clips, and quick storytelling. Features like TikTok Shops and Reviews now make it easy to sell and get discovered directly on the platform.
A go-to for visual storytelling, product promotion, and community building. Instagram Reels remain one of the most powerful tools for organic reach, and the platform’s built-in Shops make selling seamless. Stories and Lives are also great for more personal or time-sensitive content.
Still relevant—especially for service-based businesses and those targeting older demographics. While organic reach is low, Facebook Groups, local marketplace listings, and paid ad options (including boosted Reels) still deliver strong results. It’s also a reliable platform for building local credibility through reviews and event promotion.
YouTube Shorts
YouTube’s answer to TikTok and Reels. Shorts offer extended shelf-life, meaning your videos can continue gaining views long after posting. If your business already uses video (product how-tos, tutorials, testimonials), cross-posting to Shorts can drive long-term discovery.
Best for B2B, recruiting, and professional services. In 2025, video content is gaining traction here too, but the focus is more on thought leadership, testimonials, and case studies. If you’re a consultant, agency, or work with other businesses, don’t overlook it.
X (formerly Twitter)
More niche and less essential for most small B2C brands. However, it’s still useful for news-style updates, real-time engagement, and professional networking. Recent shifts toward video and “Communities” may increase relevance, but for most local businesses, other platforms provide better ROI.
Top 2025 Social Media Trends That Drive Real Results
Short-Form Video Remains the Best Way to Capture Attention
If you’ve been hesitating to jump on the TikTok or Instagram Reels bandwagon, now is the perfect time. Short-form videos continue to outperform other content types by a wide margin. Why? Because they’re fast, engaging, and easy to consume on mobile devices.
Nationally, studies show that short-form videos get up to five times more engagement than traditional photo or text posts. And the impact isn’t just online — local businesses have reported noticeable spikes in sales and foot traffic from viral or highly engaging clips.
For example, The Pants Store in Alabama went from about 3,000 TikTok followers to 25,000 in a matter of weeks after a sorority-themed Reels series caught fire. Online sales jumped 600% in just one week. While you may not go viral overnight, consistently posting quick, authentic videos about your products, services, or daily operations can steadily build your audience.
Local Tip: For Huntsville and North Alabama businesses, adding local hashtags, and tagging your location helps your videos appear to nearby customers, driving in-person visits.
Authentic Storytelling and User-Generated Content Build Trust
In an era of ad fatigue and “perfect” marketing campaigns, consumers are craving authenticity. Sharing real stories—whether it’s your founder’s journey, your team’s daily work, or customer testimonials—humanizes your brand and fosters genuine connections.
User-generated content (UGC) takes this a step further by letting your customers become your advocates. Encouraging customers to share photos or videos using your product, and then resharing that content on your channels, can significantly boost trust and credibility. According to surveys, 85% of small businesses have seen sales increases after actively promoting UGC.
In Huntsville, businesses like The Coffee Shop have used TikTok to share their vibe and owner stories, resulting in a roughly 20% boost in foot traffic. This shows how authentic storytelling resonates locally just as well as on the national stage.
How to start: Run a social media contest or offer a small discount to customers who post about your business and tag you. Then, repost those customer stories and photos to your feed or stories to showcase real experiences.
Building Community Locally Is More Important Than Ever
Social media algorithms now reward meaningful engagement over passive likes. Instead of just broadcasting messages, the best-performing businesses focus on cultivating real relationships online.
Creating or joining local Facebook Groups, interacting through Instagram comments, or engaging in neighborhood pages allows your business to become a valued part of the community conversation.
For example, a local fitness studio might run a private Facebook group where members share progress, ask questions, and get exclusive tips. This kind of niche community keeps your brand top-of-mind and encourages word-of-mouth referrals.
Platforms like TikTok are also leaning into this trend. Its new location-based reviews feature means positive comments and ratings from local customers can influence discovery and trust.
Pro tip: Dedicate time daily or weekly to engage authentically with your community’s posts, and respond thoughtfully to comments on your own content.
Social Commerce Is Growing Fast
Selling directly on social media is no longer optional — it’s a growing expectation. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok have all expanded shopping features, enabling customers to browse and buy without leaving the app.
For small retailers and restaurants in North Alabama, this opens up a seamless path from discovery to purchase. Tagging products in posts or Reels, setting up a Facebook or Instagram Shop, or hosting live shopping events can boost sales with minimal overhead.
Canvas Beauty, a Huntsville-based brand, made over $1 million in a single TikTok live shopping event, illustrating the power of this trend. While not every business will reach that scale, even a small live sale or shoppable post can convert casual browsers into paying customers.
Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Canva AI have become indispensable for content creation, especially for small teams juggling many tasks.
These tools can help brainstorm captions, draft video scripts, or generate design ideas — speeding up content production and easing creative burnout. But it’s important to remember AI is a helper, not a replacement. Always tailor AI-generated content to fit your brand’s authentic voice.
Local salons, gyms, or retailers can use AI tools to plan social media calendars, write catchy posts, or design graphics, freeing up time to focus on community engagement and customer service.
Video Content on All Platforms
While TikTok and Instagram Reels get a lot of attention, don’t neglect video on Facebook, Twitter (now X), or LinkedIn (for B2B). Meta has merged Facebook Watch and Instagram Reels into one stream, making vertical video the dominant content type.
Small businesses can maximize reach by cross-posting videos across platforms with minimal extra effort. A cooking clip posted as a TikTok can easily become a Facebook Reel and even a Twitter video post.
Local and Timely Content Still Drives Foot Traffic
Using geo-tags, local hashtags, and posting about timely offers or events connects your business to nearby customers when it matters most. TikTok’s new location reviews feature is helping people discover and trust local businesses like never before.
For example, a hair salon could run a “One Day Only” hometown special promoted through Stories and Reels, using location tags to pull in local interest.
Trends to Avoid or Use With Caution
While it’s tempting to chase every shiny new trend, some social media tactics have lost effectiveness for small businesses:
Big influencer campaigns: These are often expensive and less trusted by consumers than real customer stories. Local businesses get better ROI by showcasing loyal customers and authentic experiences.
Jumping on every viral challenge: Trends that don’t fit your brand can seem inauthentic and confuse your audience. Focus on trends that align with your identity and values.
Solely relying on organic Facebook or Twitter (X): Organic reach continues to decline on these platforms. Investing a small budget in boosted posts or ads often yields better visibility.
What North Alabama Businesses Should Do Next
Armed with the latest insights, here’s a practical social media checklist to start implementing this week:
Film and post two short-form videos (TikTok or Reels). Aim for 15–30 seconds, add local hashtags, and include a call-to-action, like asking viewers to tag a friend or visit your location.
Encourage and reshare user-generated content. Offer a small incentive for customers who post about your business and tag you, then feature their posts in your stories or feed.
Engage locally online. Spend 10-15 minutes daily commenting thoughtfully on local business pages and community groups.
Set up or optimize your Instagram/Facebook Shop. Tag products or services in posts and Reels to simplify purchasing for followers.
Boost a high-performing post with a small budget ($5-$10). Target people within 20 miles of your location to build local awareness.
By focusing on these actionable steps grounded in proven 2025 social media trends, your business will build a stronger online presence that drives real-world customers and revenue.
Need help tailoring your social media strategy or content calendar? Contact Fuller Marketing Group today — we’re ready to help North Alabama businesses grow online in 2025. You can also check out our 2025 Social Media Guide if you need more information on social media marketing!
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