iWorld
Five tips for young brands to boost their social media engagement
Social media has become an indispensable tool for brands to connect with their audience, build rapport, and drive business growth. Establishing a strong social media presence for small brands can be challenging but extremely rewarding. Here are five tips to help young brands successfully increase social media engagement:
1. Understand and know your audience
Before you can talk about your audience, you need to understand who they are. Identifying your target audience is essential to creating relevant content. Here’s how you can get started:
Conduct market research
Polls and surveys: Use polls and surveys to gather demographic information, preferences, and opinions from your audience.
Analyze competitors: Study your competitors’ followers and engagement strategies to understand what works in your industry.
Create an audience persona
Create a comprehensive profile of your ideal customers, including their age, gender, interests, pain points, and social media habits. This will help you tailor your content to their needs and preferences.
Use analytics tools
Use social media analytics tools like Facebook Insights, Instagram Analytics, and Twitter Analytics to gain insights into your audience’s behavior, engagement patterns, and content preferences
2. Create high-quality, relevant content
Content is the cornerstone of social media engagement. To capture and retain the audience’s attention, focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that adds value to their lives.
Images and videos: Use attractive images and videos to get attention. Visuals will likely be shared and discussed.
Infographics: Create informative infographics that simplify complex information and provide value to your audience.
Creative a narrative and history
Speak persuasively in line with your audience’s experiences and emotions. Share background stories, customer testimonials, and success stories that create a deeper connection with your audience.
Testimonials
Encourage your followers to do brand-related content. User-generated content (UGC) not only increases engagement but also trust and authenticity. Credit the creators for reposting the UGC on your social media channels
3. Actively engage with your audience
Weddings are a two-way street. Actively engaging with your audience helps build relationships and creates a sense of community around your brand.
Respond promptly
Respond to comments, messages, and comments in a timely manner. Show appreciation for the positive feedback and address any concerns or questions promptly and professionally.
Hosting Q&A sessions
Host live Q&A sessions on platforms like Instagram Live, Facebook Live, or Twitter Spaces. This allows your audience to interact with you in real-time and creates a real connection with your brand.
Run contests and giveaways
Contests and giveaways are great ways to increase engagement and reach. Participants must encourage friends to like, comment, share and tag to enter. Make sure the reward is appropriate and valuable to your audience.
4. Leverage influencer partnerships
Influencer marketing can dramatically increase your brand’s visibility and engagement. Teaming up with influencers who share your brand values and have a strong following can help you reach a wider audience.
Choose the right influencers
Find that influential audience that matches your target demographic. Consider their level of engagement, authenticity, and quality of their information.
Work together in a constructive way
Work with influencers to create authentic, engaging content that highlights your brand. Allow influencers to add their own touch to content to ensure it resonates with their followers.
Consider the impact
Monitor the performance of your influencer campaigns through metrics such as engagement rates, reach and conversions. This will help you understand the effectiveness of the partnership and make appropriate decisions for future cooperation.
5. Use social media trends and features
Staying up to date with the latest social media trends and features can boost your brand and boost your reputation.
Jump to trends
Participate in trending topics, challenges and hashtags relevant to your brand. This can be more informative and make your content better known.
Use platform-specific features
Each social media platform offers unique features that can improve your content and engagement. Example:
Instagram reels: Create short, engaging videos that showcase your products, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes moments.
Twitter Threads: Share news or details in related tweets.
Facebook Groups: Create a niche community around your brand and interact with them.
Try a new format
Don’t be afraid to experiment with new content formats and features. Experimenting with different content can help you figure out what resonates with your audience the most and keep your social media presence fresh and engaging.
Conclusion
Boosting social media engagement for young brands requires a strategic approach and a genuine connection with your audience. By understanding your audience, creating high-quality content, actively engaging, leveraging influencer partnerships, and staying updated with trends, you can build a strong and engaged community around your brand. Remember, social media is a dynamic space, so be flexible and ready to adapt your strategy as you learn and grow.
The article has been authored by Digidarts founder & CEO Siddhartha Vanvani.
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
