Why Social Media Marketing is No Longer Optional in 2025

In 2025, social media is no longer a choice for businesses; it’s a necessity. From driving brand awareness to fueling sales, social media platforms have evolved into powerful tools that every business must utilize in order to stay competitive. If you’re still on the fence, the numbers and trends show that opting out of social media will leave you behind your competitors.?

Here are 3 reasons why being active on socials is now a necessary marketing effort for all businesses:

1. Audience Behavior Has Shifted Online

According to SOAX, people spent about 2.5 hours on social media each day in 2024. Whether that time is spent engaging with friends, researching a brand, or getting product recommendations, it is clear that a large portion of our lives are spent on these apps.

When it comes to businesses, 54% of social media users use social media to research products and 71% are more likely to purchase products and services based on social media referrals. With this data, we can see that social media is no longer just a place to scroll through posts full of familiar faces, but a trusted source of information. If your business chooses to opt out of social media marketing, you are invisible to half the population that uses it for research.

2. Social Media Drives ROI

Social media platforms once solely revolved around likes, comments, and shares, but the tide has shifted. With paid ad spend you can do more than just spread awareness, you can directly leverage your revenue.

According to Statista, global social media ad spend is projected to reach $268 billion in 2025. Thanks to Meta, LinkedIn, and TikTok you, can now use ads to reach an incredibly targeted audience. For businesses, this means that every dollar spent on social media advertising can yield tangible, measurable results.?

Who’s actually buying things from paid ads?

A staggering 76% of online shoppers have purchased a product they discovered via social media. It’s simple: killer ad, killer results. Thanks to analytic tracking you can also see which ads perform the best and which audiences engage most with your content.

3. Brand Trust and Credibility Are Built Online

Let’s dive into user-generated content (UGC), an effective approach to digital marketing that encourages real customers to share their experiences about a product or brand using video content. According to a recent poll, 85% of people prefer seeing brands showcase content created by actual customers. Word-of-mouth has always been a powerful tool, and now it’s amplified on a global scale.

Consumers increasingly turn to social media when making purchasing decisions, but you can take this a step further. By fostering genuine community engagement: responding to comments, answering DMs, and interacting with others’ posts; you add a personal touch to your brand. This approach builds trust, strengthens relationships, and makes customers more likely to choose your business.

Conclusion

In 2025, the question isn’t whether your business should be on social media, it’s how effectively you can leverage it to achieve your goals. Social media is where your audience lives, shops, and interacts with brands. Ignoring it isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a strategic disadvantage.

Whether you’re a small business owner or a marketing director at a global company, investing in social media marketing is no longer optional. It’s the cornerstone of growth in today’s digital world. Don’t let your business be left behind.

Don’t have the time to tackle this on your own? We can help! Email [email protected] for more information.