Social media marketers, how can you make your brand shine against competitors?

Question

Much like a masterpiece painting standing out in a gallery, creating a standout brand in the crowded arena of social media requires more than just skill; it demands strategy and passion. When seasoned professionals like a Marketing Manager and a Director of Marketing weigh in, their expertise cannot be ignored. Embark on this illuminating journey beginning with showcasing your team and culminating in exploring new platforms. Follow through as these 18 golden insights unfold to help elevate your brand above the rest.

Emily Neal · Answer

Leverage the human side of your brand: employees. People trust people over brands. Showcase your team in your brand-channel content. Repurpose employee-generated content; get them involved in podcast episodes, or spotlight them and their achievements. To take it to the next level, encourage employees to build their own personal brands on LinkedIn—their influence reflects positively on your brand.

Anna Stella · Answer

To make your brand shine, one of the most effective strategies is focusing on education. Many potential customers may not fully understand the intricacies of your product or industry, so by educating them through clear, valuable insights, you can bridge the knowledge gap and stand out from your competitors. This approach not only helps them make informed decisions but also establishes your brand as an expert in the field.
By providing educational content, you build trust and credibility with your audience, which, in turn, encourages them to stick around and interact with your brand more deeply.

Alyssa DiCrasto · Answer

It may seem like tired advice, but the best way to stand out against your competitors is to make content that your target audience wants to follow and engage with on the right platform. When you think of brand accounts that famously dominate their vertical on social, like Wendy's Twitter account or Ryanair's TikTok account, the reason they shine against their competitors is because they create unique, buzz-worthy content that fits the tone of their chosen platform and that their target audience relates to, shares, and engages with. Social media users want to engage with content that makes them laugh or makes them feel seen.
When we were developing our social media strategy, we started with our audience: Gen Z and millennials. Then we decided which platform we felt we could use best to engage with our audience: TikTok. Then we started to create content that was popular on TikTok among our target audience. We only occasionally mention our core business offering (car-insurance comparison), and instead the majority of our posts are centered on relatable office and work-life content. With this strategy, we quickly outpaced other car-insurance comparison platforms in terms of both engagement and followers on TikTok—in only 2 months.

Connor Gillivan · Answer

Focus on authenticity and storytelling. Sharing real experiences and behind-the-scenes stories humanizes your brand and creates deeper connections with your audience.
When I started building my personal brand on LinkedIn, I regularly posted about my journey as an entrepreneur—the highs, lows, and lessons learned. By being transparent and sharing insights most brands don’t, I quickly gained a loyal following. This personal touch set my content apart from others in the crowded SEO and marketing space.
People resonate with genuine stories, so use this approach to differentiate your brand and build stronger engagement.

Hanna Rauch · Answer

For a brand to shine against its competitors on social media, we first need to understand our point of difference. And that ALWAYS starts with understanding what your brand is about. I'm not just talking about brand values and your mission but questions like: How does your brand behave? How does it speak? What are words or pop-culture references it would use?... If you know your brand inside out, it's considerably easier to make it shine through in your content.

Cassie Christman · Answer

Standing out in the sea of social media takes quite a bit of planning and creativity. However, the number one thing you need to do to stand out is to be yourself. Whether it's as a thought leader or as a brand, you need to define your brand and commit to it. While there are many ways to approach this, the first is to define yourself, who you are, and your mission. Then, you tackle who your ideal audience is and how you are the solution they are looking for.
Finally, you create a brand guide that is unique to you and your message. This guide will serve as your roadmap, ensuring consistency in your tone, visuals, and messaging across all platforms. It helps you stay authentic while giving your audience something they can recognize and connect with. The more genuine and aligned your brand is with who you are, the easier it becomes to stand out in the crowded social media space. Ultimately, staying true to yourself and your mission will naturally attract the right people and create lasting connections.

Katharina Garmon · Answer

It’s not about posting more content or producing higher-quality visuals anymore. Social media is about sharing content that truly resonates with your audience. Almost all social media platforms have shifted their focus and altered their algorithms to reward authentic content that resonates with users.
To make your brand stand out from the competition, start by creating a solid strategy and being consistent with your brand message. This consistency helps your audience know what to expect from your accounts. But most importantly, be social! Don’t just stop at hitting “post”—treat social media as a two-way communication channel. Engage with your followers, respond to comments, and encourage conversations.

Dinesh Agarwal · Answer

A key differentiator is how you use automation without losing the personal touch. Social media can easily feel robotic if you automate everything. We’ve found that combining automation with genuine interactions makes a huge difference. We schedule repetitive tasks but remain very hands-on when responding to comments and messages. This balance allowed us to scale our efforts while maintaining a human connection, and that’s what has helped us stand out in a crowded space.

Joe Klenk · Answer

Everyone is grappling for limited real estate in the social media world. So, to make your brand stand out against competitors, you have to be willing to try something entirely different. In some industries, your competitors are going to be totally unwilling to engage in the rapidly-evolving trends, let alone do social-focused video at all. The entire point of social media is to have fun, and if your brand can't make it seem like you're having fun posting on your channels, you're going to have a much harder time generating interest. 
Be willing to have fun, be creative, and stretch your brand's voice to reach the different types of audiences on these social networks. What works for Facebook won't always work for Instagram or TikTok, so you have to adapt your strategies. But at the end of the day, creativity and enthusiasm in what you post are key.

Tim Nicklas · Answer

To make your brand shine against competitors, focus on creating value rather than just converting. Many brands, especially in the B2B space, promote links to their website or gated content like lead magnets. Instead, what if you deliver value directly on the platform? 
For example, instead of linking to a blog post, share the main insights through unique visuals tailored for that social-media platform. Similarly, rather than pushing a download, give away key takeaways—perhaps one at a time—so the download still holds value but doesn't overshadow the immediate benefit to the audience.
By prioritizing value over driving traffic or downloads, you build trust and engagement, setting your brand apart from competitors who are focused solely on conversions.

Shreya Jha · Answer

To make your brand shine against competitors, focus on authentic engagement with your audience. Rather than just posting promotional content, I recommend creating meaningful conversations, responding to comments, and showcasing the human side of your brand. Combining this with unique, visually-compelling content that aligns with your brand's story helps differentiate you in a crowded social-media landscape.

Nikita Shah · Answer

To stand out in a crowded social media landscape, focus on the following strategies:
Define Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP): Clearly communicate what makes your brand different from competitors. Showcase your distinct offerings, values, and personality through consistent messaging.
Understand Your Audience: Research and segment your audience to tailor content that resonates with their needs and preferences. Use data-driven insights to adjust your approach and optimize engagement.
Leverage Storytelling: Humanize your brand by sharing relatable, compelling stories that connect emotionally with your audience. Highlight customer success stories, behind-the-scenes content, or brand journeys to build authenticity.
Visual Identity: Invest in a cohesive and appealing visual identity. Use consistent color schemes, fonts, and high-quality imagery or videos that align with your brand’s personality. Unique visuals make your posts instantly recognizable.
Engage Actively: Don’t just post—engage with your audience. Respond to comments, messages, and mentions promptly. Ask questions, run polls, and create opportunities for conversation to build a loyal community.
Influencer Partnerships: Collaborate with influencers or micro-influencers who align with your brand values and target audience. Their endorsement can elevate your brand’s credibility and reach.
Stay Consistent: Post regularly to maintain visibility but ensure quality content. Use a content calendar to stay organized, and adjust based on performance analytics.
Embrace Trends and Innovation: Keep up with platform trends, from short-form videos to new interactive features. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new content formats like Reels, Stories, or AR filters.
Create Shareable Content: Encourage shares by producing content that is visually striking, informative, or entertaining. Utilize giveaways, user-generated content campaigns, and collaboration opportunities to increase reach.
Run Targeted Ads: Invest in social media advertising to expand your reach. Use advanced targeting options to focus on specific audience segments, ensuring your brand message reaches the right people.
By strategically combining these efforts, your brand can rise above the noise and create a lasting impression in the minds of your audience.

Aaron Whittaker · Answer

I'd say the most effective way to make your brand shine on social media is through authentic, behind-the-scenes content that showcases your team and company culture. We started a weekly "Day in the Life" series on our Instagram Stories, featuring different team members sharing their workday. It's unscripted and sometimes a bit messy, but that's what makes it real.
This approach has significantly boosted our engagement. Our rates jumped by 30%, and we've had numerous clients tell us they chose us because they felt like they already knew our team. It's not just about showcasing the work we do, but the people behind it. We've featured everyone from our interns to our CEO, giving a 360-degree view of our company.
The beauty of this strategy is that it's hard for competitors to replicate. Your team and culture are unique to your brand, making this content inherently distinctive. Plus, it builds trust with your audience in a way that polished, corporate content simply can't match.
If you're hesitant to dive in, start small. Even simple desk tours or quick tips from different departments can go a long way.
Consistency and authenticity—let your team's real personalities shine through, and you'll see the difference in how your audience connects with your brand.

Tomasz Borys · Answer

Use your unique brand story and customer experiences to create authentic, engaging content that sets you apart.
We've found that making our brand shine against competitors on social media isn't just about flashy posts or witty captions; it's about showcasing what truly makes us unique. We focus on highlighting our real-time human intervention in security situations, a feature that sets us apart in the smart-security market.
One strategy that's worked well for us is sharing actual footage from prevented crimes, along with testimonials from the customers we've helped. This approach not only demonstrates the effectiveness of our product but also creates emotional connections with our audience. We've seen engagement rates increase by 50% when we share these real-life stories compared to more generic product posts.
We also encourage user-generated content, running campaigns that prompt customers to share their experiences. This not only provides us with authentic content but also builds a sense of community around our brand.
Another tactic we use is to engage in industry conversations beyond just security. We share insights on AI technology, privacy concerns, and community safety, positioning ourselves as thought leaders in the broader context of our field.
Always remember that in social media marketing, authenticity often trumps perfection. The key takeaway is that by focusing on your unique strengths and the real impact you have on customers' lives, you can create a distinctive and memorable social media presence that truly shines against the competition.

David Holman · Answer

The number one way we found to make our brand stand out in the crowd was to avoid thinking about our competitors at all. Instead, we focus on our audience and customers—how we can share valuable information with them, how we can provide entertaining content to them, and how we can create an engaging online community.
When you focus too much on competitors, your brand risks looking like everyone else, albeit unintentionally. Making sure we developed our unique brand voice and stuck to it, while keeping an eye on trends, is the best way we’ve found to stand out.

Victor Julio Coupé · Answer

A key tactic is using data to craft personalized experiences. We worked with a tech company whose social media felt generic and flat. We segmented their followers by diving into audience insights and tailored content for specific groups. Personalized posts—even as simple as addressing pain points—boosted click-through rates by 25%. The lesson? Data-driven personalization makes a brand feel like it's speaking directly to its audience.
Consistency is another factor that makes brands shine. We advised a client in the travel industry to maintain a regular posting schedule, focusing on visually compelling content. By maintaining consistency and leveraging user-generated content, their follower count grew by 50% in just six months.

Alexander Henschel · Answer

We have been building in real-time engagement measures to display our audience's devotion. This extends past scheduled posts and naive customer service to live sessions where we meet our audience directly with Q&As, live tutorials, and insider access to our operations.
For example, we often host "Live Day" events where teams from multiple departments across our company—ranging from product management to customer support—live-stream on Instagram or Facebook. At these sessions, they connect with our followers live, answer their questions, showcase new products, or talk about industry trends. This one-on-one relationship increases engagement as well as trust and transparency while demonstrating our brand personality and commitment to our community. 
We have not only had this hands-on experience, which has set our brand apart from competitors with traditional and less dynamic posts, but have also built a fan base eager to participate in our live events, which has resulted in more community and brand engagement.

Jase Rodley · Answer

You can differentiate your brand from competitors by using platforms other than Facebook, X, and Instagram. While these social giants continue to dominate, new platforms offer fresh opportunities to engage and connect with your audience. 
Try Threads for community conversations, Discord for communities around shared interests, Mastodon for privacy-conscious users, Lemon8 for lifestyle and creativity, and BeReal for a younger audience looking for real interactions.
By engaging these "smaller" platforms, you discover silent audiences that many marketers have yet to explore, giving you the leverage to connect on a more personal level, as well as tap into underserved markets.

How Can You Ensure Your Brand Shines as Brightly as Top Competitors On Social Media?

Table of Contents

How Can You Ensure Your Brand Shines as Brightly as Top Competitors On Social Media?

Showcase Your Team

Focus On Education

Create Engaging Content

Embrace Authenticity

Define Your Brand

Commit To Your Brand

Be Social

Combine Automation And Interaction

Try Something Different

Create Value

Engage Authentically

Develop A Social Media Strategy

Showcase Company Culture

Share Customer Experiences

Focus On Your Audience

Use Data And Be Consistent

Engage In Real Time

Explore New Platforms

Submit Your Answer

Related Articles

Up Next