24 Creative Business Ideas for Building Social Media Relationships
Building genuine connections on social media requires more than posting updates and hoping for engagement. This guide presents 24 practical strategies for strengthening relationships with your audience, backed by insights from marketing professionals and community managers who have tested these approaches across multiple platforms. Each idea offers a concrete method to turn followers into active participants and loyal advocates for your business.
Pair Humor With Visible Contact Details
Our biggest social wins are the ones that relate the most to our audience, tying humor into it, and making it a video. Biggest views and impressions come from this. An other big way we use our social media creatively is by ensuring we have our number and website on most of our posts. You never know if someone is going to come across your post in their feed, and having that informational available without having to click into your profile is invaluable. Its provided us with leads as a result!
Share Process To Attract Aligned Clients
One creative way I've used social media to build real relationships — not just followers — was by shifting the focus from finished work to shared process and intent.
Instead of only posting completed tattoos, I began sharing why a piece existed: the concept behind it, the data or story that informed it, the decisions that were removed rather than added, and sometimes even the uncertainty during the process. This reframed the work from something to consume into something to participate in mentally.
A concrete example was posting short, quiet videos or minimal captions that explained the logic of a design — a line placed for balance, a form responding to the body, or a data point translated into abstraction. No trends, no aggressive hooks. Just clarity.
What this did was filter the audience naturally.
The people who stayed weren't just viewers — they were aligned. They began reaching out not with "How much?" but with conversations: personal stories, references, questions about meaning. That's when followers turned into collectors.
The outcome was fewer inquiries, but significantly higher-quality ones. Sessions became more collaborative, trust was established before anyone met in person, and long-term relationships formed organically. Social media stopped being a marketing channel and became a pre-conversation space — a place where values are communicated before words are exchanged.
In an environment driven by speed and volume, choosing slowness and intention ended up creating deeper and more durable connections.
Let One Question Guide A Day
We ran monthly question takeovers where one follower question shaped all content for an entire day. Every reply and story linked back to that single question and explored it from different angles. The person who asked the question was credited publicly which showed that their voice mattered. This simple focus helped set a clear theme and gave the community a reason to stay involved.
Over time quieter followers began to join discussions because the space felt welcoming. People shared more thoughtful questions since they knew each idea would receive real attention. Relationships grew stronger as attention was shared across voices instead of being tightly controlled. Social media slowly became a shared space for exchange rather than a place for performance.
Tell Unvarnished Client Tales That Build Trust
One of the most effective ways we've used social media to build relationships is by sharing honest, behind the scenes client stories on LinkedIn—not polished case studies, but what actually happens when events get messy.We realized our feed looked like every other agency's: speaker headshots, event announcements, highlight reels. Nothing that showed how we really work or why clients trust us when things go sideways.So we started telling the real stories. After one particularly successful corporate event, instead of posting a generic congratulations, we shared the actual challenge: the original speaker canceled two weeks out from a leadership summit, and we had to find a replacement who could address a very specific audience dynamic on an impossibly tight timeline. We wrote about the frantic Friday call, the tradeoffs we considered, and why we ended up recommending a speaker the client hadn't initially thought about.With their permission, we tagged both the client and the speaker, then ended with a simple question: "What's the biggest event curveball you've had to manage?"The engagement caught us off guard but the real outcome mattered way more. Former clients showed up in the comments with their own crisis stories and started tagging colleagues who were currently planning events. Two of those tagged people reached out directly within days about upcoming programs.What we learned: people don't connect with perfection. They connect with how you think under pressure, how you solve problems, and whether you're honest about the parts that don't go smoothly. Sharing those moments built credibility in a way promotional posts never could.Now our strongest social media relationships start exactly like our best client relationships do: with transparency, real context, and an actual conversation—not a polished pitch.
Co-Create Products Through Audience Votes
The one creative way brands built relationships in 2025 was through interactive community led product development, exemplified by Liquid Death's Casket Cooler campaign.
The Approach
Other than traditional ads, the brand uses Instagram and TikTok polls allowing followers to design a morbidly themed cooler . For two weeks, followers voted on everything from the interior lining colour to specific obituary engraved on the lid. This changed followers from passive consumers into product architects offering them a literal stake in the brand's physical lineup.
Outcome:
The strategy turned social media engagement into immediate revenue and loyalty:
High Retentions: Engagement rates increased by 45% during the voting period, as users returned daily to see if the design choices won.
Brand Advocacy: There are thousands of users who shared "unboxing"videos, offering the brand with massive amounts of free user generated content and deepening the community's emotional investment.
Offer Invite-Only Drops To Reward Loyalists
Creating exclusive drops for invite-only groups that are shared through social channels which helped identify some of our most loyal customers. The outcome helped build strong brand loyalty as we're able to reach out to these customers directly and provide them even further discounts and perks.
Partner With Trusted Groups To Earn Credibility
We use social media primarily as a relationship-building tool rather than a promotional channel. Instead of pushing ads or posts about ourselves, we focus on collaborating with organizations that already have trust within our target audience, such as churches, PTOs, schools, and community groups.
We actively engage with their content, follow their profiles, and partner with them on community events and sponsorships. Because their followers and attendees are already our ideal customers, these relationships feel natural rather than transactional.
The outcome has been stronger trust, more inbound partnership requests, and consistent repeat business. Many organizations now reach out to us directly when they have event or sponsorship needs, which has become a reliable source of long-term growth.
Combine Shorts, Quizzes, And Lively Chat
I paired YouTube Shorts with community posts that featured polls and quizzes, then stayed active in the comments to keep the conversation going. This interactive approach built a strong core audience and sustained engagement around the content.
Celebrate Adoption Stories To Mobilize Community
At Dog with Blog, one fun way I built real connections was starting #AdoptDontShop It's a weekly Instagram Reels thing where we celebrate adoption stories. Followers send in quick clips of their adoptable cats & dogs and we use community outreach to find rescues a home.
For instance, we had posted: "Show us your desi dog's secret talent! Tag us, top ones get featured." Kept it easy, no pro editing required. For every video that came in, I'd hop in the comments with something personal like, "Rocky's treat-juggling game is straight Pune street smarts!" Then repost the best with full credit and a poll: "Paw-some or paw-fect?" People went from liking posts to jumping in.
Reels engagement averages 2.8%, but UGC like this drives 3x that on featured clips, per our analytics. We've hit 50k views on single Delhi indie posts and seen steady follower growth. Direct result: 20+ verified adoptions in the last quarter alone, plus partnerships with five local shelters for walks and fosters. Overall, the blog and social have powered 900+ adoptions total. People stick around because they feel part of it and real stories pull harder than ads.
Host Weekly AMAs To Give Real Help
We launched "ASK ME ANYTHING" sessions on LinkedIn where I answered marketing questions from followers in real-time comments every Friday afternoon. This wasn't selling—just providing free advice to anyone who asked. Over six months, these sessions built genuine relationships with 40+ regular participants, and 11 eventually became clients.
The creative approach worked because I gave away expertise without expecting immediate returns. One participant asked detailed questions about attribution modeling for eight weeks before his company hired us. He later said he chose us because the AMA sessions proved we actually understood complex challenges instead of just claiming expertise in sales materials.
The outcome exceeded lead generation—we built a COMMUNITY of marketers who defended our brand in LinkedIn discussions and referred opportunities unprompted. One AMA regular who never became a client sent three referrals because he valued the free help. Social media relationship building pays off when you focus on genuine value instead of promotional content disguised as engagement.
Livestream Crew Effort To Inspire Confidence
We turned a routine moving day into a social moment by livestreaming a customer's full-service move on Instagram, with their permission. It was not a polished highlight reel. It showed the real work: packing, loading, navigating tricky stairwells, and the team's jokes in between. It felt raw and transparent, and it was strangely satisfying to watch.
We used Stories and polls throughout the day and asked followers questions like, "Guess how long it will take to pack this kitchen?" This kept engagement high and turned passive followers into active participants.
The impact was clear. Direct messages tripled that week. Inquiries from new customers jumped by 27% over the next two months, and many mentioned the livestream. It helped explain how our service works, built trust, and showed the people behind the work. People did not just see a company. They saw a team that shows up, works hard, and does not take itself too seriously.
That single campaign became a template we could reuse. We now schedule monthly "day-in-the-life" content featuring real team members in real jobs. It is not glamorous. It feels authentic, and it has brought us more loyal customers than any ad spend ever did.
Run Decision Polls Then Message Voters Personally
One creative approach that's worked extremely well for me was turning social media from a broadcast channel into a two way research tool.
Instead of posting generic market updates, I started running short Instagram and Facebook story polls tied to real decisions people were already thinking about. Things like Would you sell first or buy first? What would stop you from moving this year? Condo or townhouse if prices were equal? No fluff. Just real questions.
The key move was what happened next. Anyone who voted or replied got a personal follow up message from me, not a pitch, just context. I'd say something like I noticed you voted sell first. Curious what's driving that for you right now. That opened real conversations with zero resistance.
The outcome was significant. Engagement jumped, but more importantly, it created warmer relationships at scale. People felt seen, not sold to. Several listings and buyer clients came directly from those conversations, and even those who did not transact immediately stayed connected and responsive. It also gave me real time insight into what my audience was actually worried about, which made all future content sharper and more relevant.
Invite Strategy Debates To Reveal Expertise
One creative way we used social media to build relationships was by turning our posts into open strategy discussions instead of promotional content.
We shared short real-world scenarios from campaigns and PR work and asked our audience how they would handle them. We actively responded in comments and continued conversations in private messages.
Outcome:
This approach built trust and direct relationships with decision-makers. Several consulting engagements, media requests, and speaking invitations came directly from these conversations, because followers began to see us as strategic partners rather than marketers.
Pose Real Scenarios And Implement Feedback
AS Medication Solution shifted social media away from announcements and toward shared problem solving. One approach that worked well was posting short, anonymized "day in the life" scenarios based on real situations teams see, such as a delayed refill, an insurance change, or a last minute clarification. Followers were invited to react with how they would want the update explained if they were on the receiving end. No polling gimmicks. Just a prompt that respected their perspective.
The comments quickly became conversations. Customers shared what confused them, what reassured them, and what language raised concern. That input fed directly back into how updates and notifications were written internally. People saw their feedback show up in future communications, which closed the loop.
What made this effective was restraint. Posts were occasional and focused, not constant. There was no pressure to perform or entertain. At AS Medication Solution, social media became a listening channel that strengthened trust. Relationships grew because customers felt heard and saw their input shape real decisions.
Spotlight Small Wins And Encourage Publicly
Relationships strengthened once social media shifted from promotion to participation. At MacPherson's Medical Supply, one effective approach was a recurring weekly post that invited customers and caregivers to share small wins tied to daily independence. Examples included walking to the mailbox without help or sleeping through the night after weeks of disruption. Staff responded to every comment with practical encouragement rather than sales language. That interaction mattered because many followers felt unseen during long care journeys. The posts created a steady rhythm where people checked in, not just scrolled past. Trust grew because the space felt human and grounded in real life instead of polished messaging. Over time, those same commenters became referral sources, often tagging family members who needed guidance. Sales conversations started naturally in direct messages because a relationship already existed. The value came from listening in public and responding with respect, which signaled reliability long before a purchase decision entered the picture.
Trade Free Kits For Expert Critiques
On Instagram, we searched tags like #estheticianlife to find licensed estheticians. Instead of pitching a sponsorship, we offered a free kit and asked them to use it and privately tell us what we got wrong. We treated them as product consultants and prioritized technical expertise over follower count. That approach turned outreach into real dialogue and led to genuine endorsements. It also strengthened relationships with practitioners who felt heard and respected.
Elevate Customers As Credible Voices
I'm Christina Garnett, the Chief Customer and Communications Officer at neuemotion, and my work focuses on building customer relationships through connection and understanding, with social media as a primary space where that work happens.
When I joined HubSpot, I went to Twitter and LinkedIn and asked customers to message me so I could understand why they cared about the brand. Those conversations became my customer interviews and shaped the program it would become, building off of that customer understanding.
Social media was crucial to understanding customer sentiment and experience in real-time, through their own words. I did extensive social listening and paid attention to negative sentiment, but I spent just as much time on positive posts. When customers expressed brand affinity, the official account responded, and when possible, leadership joined in. That acknowledgment reinforced trust and encouraged broader participation.
I've always treated customers like influencers, regardless of follower count, because influence happens through peer conversations. That mindset led to the INBOUND Correspondents program, where customers were invited to attend INBOUND and share their experience across social from their own perspective, creating sustained, credible conversation. People trust people, and this program made customers the main character.
I explore this approach in more depth in my book, Transforming Customer-Brand Relationships, where I outline the components required to build trust, advocacy, and long-term customer relationships, with social media as a core conduit for connection and recognition.
Post Honest Clinic Notes And Define AI Boundaries
Community Notes Over Content Creation
As we quit pursuing trending topics, we found ourselves sharing short and unedited "clinic notes" at the end of each day. One paragraph. Some of these included such as seeing a patient smile while sitting comfortably for the first time in years. Or, observing how people's quiet use of their phones was slowly destroying their necks. They were often raw and awkward, however, that rawness and awkwardness gave them credibility.
Using AI and Maintaining the Human Element
We have also discussed how we utilize AI as a tool behind the scenes. For example, scheduling, exercise planning drafts, etc. We then clearly stated our limits on using AI. There would be no AI diagnosis and there would be no automated care recommendations. The openness to where we drew the lines created a sense of trust among followers. Followers appreciated knowing a human still had to make the final decision. People are increasingly fearful of machines becoming "smarter." Instead of trying to hide this fear, we engaged with it.
What Changed
Now, followers are responding to our posts with lengthy messages. Examples of burn out from desk jobs, fear of losing the human element when dealing with healthcare, patients are now recommending us to their friends based not solely on results; but also because they feel heard prior to walking through the door. Our social media has become an ongoing, slow dialogue which adds up over time. Rather than creating "noise," we've developed "meaning."
Provide Private Access Via Simple QR Moments
A creative approach that built real relationships was shifting social posts from broadcast to invitation. Instead of asking followers to comment or like, we gave them a simple way to step into a shared experience.
FREEQRCODE.AI made this work cleanly. Posts included a QR that opened a short, personal follow up. Sometimes it was a behind the scenes clip. Other times it was a private note explaining why a product existed or how a decision was made. The key was that the content felt human and limited, not mass produced. People scanned because it felt like access, not marketing.
The relationship shift was noticeable. Direct messages became more thoughtful. Replies referenced the content behind the scan. Engagement depth increased even when surface metrics stayed flat. Trust grew because the interaction felt intentional.
Social media works better when it creates a doorway instead of a stage. FREEQRCODE.AI helped turn passive scrolling into a moment of choice, which is where real connection starts.
Answer Common Concerns Clearly And Consistently
I didn't go into TikTok trying to "generate leads." I went in trying to be understood and understand how to build an audience.
I started posting short, direct videos answering the same questions people were asking us every day on the phone or in our consultations. I avoided polished scripts and focused on speaking the way the audience does. I wanted to give clear explanations about how divorce actually works and what people should watch out for.
I surprised by how quickly trust built. People would say, "I've been watching your videos for months," when they arrived for consultations. They already felt like they knew how I think and how I handle cases. That completely changed the conversation. There was no hard pitch or education period. The content had already done that work.
The biggest driver wasn't virality, it was consistency. Showing up everyday, saying the same things in slightly different ways, and not trying to sound like a marketer. I focused on being useful, even when it meant repeating myself. TikTok became a top-of-funnel channel that generated real business and paying clients without paying for ads.
The biggest lesson for me was people don't hire you based on your law school or even your firms prestige. They hire you because you make them feel informed and prepared in a stressful moment. Social media works when it builds genuine connections before it ever tries to sell.
Feature Field Fails To Humanize Technical Work
I manage distribution for a large ventilation equipment supplier. Usually, our social media is pretty dry. It's mostly specs on fans or updates about inventory. But last year, I tried something different on LinkedIn.
I started a weekly post called "Worst Ventilation Nightmares." I asked our followers—mostly engineers and facility managers—to send me photos of the worst DIY ductwork or broken fans they encountered in the field.
The response surprised me. People sent in photos of duct tape disasters and fans installed backward. I posted the best one every Friday and tagged the person who sent it.
It turned into a community event. People commented with their own stories and advice on how they would fix it. It wasn't about selling our products directly. It was about shared experiences in a niche industry.
The outcome was a significant bump in engagement. But more importantly, when those engineers needed new equipment later, they messaged me directly because we had already joked about the bad stuff. It humanized a very technical business.
Leave Insightful Comments That Prove Competence
I started genuinely engaging with my ideal clients on LinkedIn by leaving thoughtful comments on their posts, not just the usual 'great insight' fluff. When a SaaS founder posted about struggling with their website's bounce rate, I'd jump in with a specific technical tip without any sales pitch attached.
After doing this consistently for a few months, something interesting happened. People started reaching out to me directly, asking if we could help with their projects. One comment thread actually turned into a $45K website rebuild because the founder felt like I already understood their world. It worked way better than any cold email campaign we'd tried.
Turns out people prefer working with someone who's already shown they understand the problem rather than someone cold pitching solutions.
Empower Followers To Decide And See Outcomes
The tone was the most shifted with the help of shared decision posts more than any campaign. Short updates had invited followers to engage in minor decisions, which had real impacts instead of declaring completed plans. They involved choosing the next month community project to receive support or two dates of a local event. Every post remained basic and time-limited, typically lasting forty eight hours and therefore it felt comfortable to engage.
Responses were more weighty, since the results were visible. The decision and actual action as a result of that decision was displayed by way of follow-up posts. That completed the circle and indicated the appreciation of the input of people. The levels of engagement increased, but what is more significant is the quality. The need to comment changed to conversations. The number of direct messages also grew as people suggested something to think over instead of complaining or asking to be explained.
This gave people trust since social media ceased to be performative. The followers viewed the role they played and were aware of how their voice would be incorporated in the work of Mano Santa. It is relationships that are built on mutual accountability, rather than regular updates. By making the individuals involved in the process of shaping even minor decisions, they will remain attached even longer and discuss the organization both with the veritable confidence and in the real world as well as online.
Reply With Personal Videos To Deepen Rapport
I tried something different last year on Instagram. Instead of typing generic replies to comments and DMs, I sent personalized video messages. I just picked up my phone, said their name, and answered their specific question. It took me about twenty extra minutes a day, but the results surprised me.
People didn't expect a real human face. They usually get bots or automated links. By showing up personally, I started actual conversations. My engagement rates doubled in a month. But more importantly, those followers became my strongest advocates. They bought my products without me asking and shared my content constantly. They trusted me because I treated them like people, not metrics. Sometimes the most creative strategy is just being human in a digital space.
