Branding22 May 2025Simon Druery

10 Best Ways to Tap into Social Connection to Build Your Brand and Community in 2025

Connection is everything. It’s not algorithms or ad spend that drive brand growth, it’s the human relationships behind them. At Belong Creative, we build brands people feel part of. Brands that foster community and create a true sense of belonging.

So, how do you create a social connection that’s meaningful and memorable in 2025? Here are ten ways to build stronger relationships with your audience and grow a brand people care about.

1. Share Content with Heart

We are all flooded with information, but what stands out are the moments that feel personal. Sharing content with heart is about expressing your values, telling real stories and connecting emotionally with your audience. It shows there are real people behind your brand and helps create deeper resonance.

Try this:

  • Share your brand purpose in a video or post
  • Introduce your team through short stories
  • Highlight a customer story that moved you
  • Post about a cause you care about
  • Reflect on a moment of growth or learning

2. Treat Social Media Like a Conversation

People want to feel heard, not sold to. When you shift your mindset from broadcasting to engaging, social media becomes a space for relationship-building. Encouraging two-way dialogue builds trust, loyalty and advocacy.

Try this:

  • Ask open-ended questions in your posts
  • Reply to comments and messages thoughtfully
  • Host live Q&As or AMAs (Ask Me Anything)
  • Create polls to invite opinions
  • Share responses and thank people publicly

3. Bring People Together with Events

Shared experiences create strong emotional bonds. Events give people the chance to interact with your brand in a meaningful way and help nurture a sense of belonging. Whether online or in person, they’re a powerful way to build community.

Try this:

  • Run a virtual workshop or roundtable
  • Host a themed networking event
  • Organise a purpose-driven community activity
  • Start a regular series like ‘Lunch and Learn’
  • Invite special guests or clients to share their expertise

4. Find Like-Minded Partners

Collaboration expands your reach and amplifies your values. By teaming up with those who believe in similar things, you enhance your impact and show your audience that you are part of a broader movement. Partnerships build trust and credibility by association.

Try this:

  • Co-host an event or webinar
  • Collaborate on content or campaigns
  • Cross-promote each other on socials
  • Create a bundle of offers or resources
  • Interview your partner for a spotlight post

5. Tell Your Story with Honesty

People don’t connect with perfection. They connect with truth. Telling your story with honesty builds emotional trust and makes your brand feel authentic and human. It also shows vulnerability, which can be surprisingly powerful.

Try this:

  • Share a turning point in your business
  • Talk about a time you struggled
  • Celebrate a behind-the-scenes milestone
  • Show before and after moments
  • Reflect on the journey, not just the destination

6. Shine a Light on Your Community

The more you celebrate others, the more people feel included. When your audience sees themselves reflected in your brand, it creates a shared sense of identity. Uplifting your community encourages participation and pride.

Try this:

  • Highlight a client or customer success story
  • Re-share user-generated content
  • Start a ‘community spotlight’ feature
  • Invite testimonials or contributions
  • Celebrate community milestones publicly

7. Stand for Something That Matters

People want to align with brands that care. When you take a stand on issues that reflect your values, you give your audience a reason to believe in you. Purpose-led brands create loyal, engaged communities that go beyond transactions.

Try this:

  • Support a cause or charity consistently
  • Share your sustainability goals
  • Talk openly about your company values
  • Use inclusive language and visuals
  • Get involved in local or global movements

8. Make People Feel Like Insiders

Everyone loves to feel part of something exclusive. When you treat your audience like valued insiders, they’re more likely to stick around and advocate for you. Small gestures of inclusion go a long way in building loyalty.

Try this:

  • Share sneak peeks or previews
  • Offer early access to new launches
  • Create members-only content or groups
  • Personalise thank-you notes or gifts
  • Share behind-the-scenes decisions or stories

9. Personalise Where You Can

Mass marketing is fading. Personalisation is what people now expect. When you tailor content and communication to people’s interests or behaviours, it shows you care. It creates relevance and strengthens the bond.

Try this:

  • Use names and past interactions in messages
  • Send tailored emails based on preferences
  • Suggest relevant services or content
  • Celebrate milestones like anniversaries
  • Create audience segments for better targeting

10. Show Up Consistently

The most trusted brands are the ones that show up again and again. Consistency in tone, visual identity and content builds familiarity. When people know what to expect from you, they’re more likely to engage and stay connected.

Try this:

  • Follow a regular posting schedule
  • Keep your brand tone and visuals aligned
  • Reinforce your values in every message
  • Create recurring content series
  • Stay visible even when not selling

Ready to connect more meaningfully in 2025?

Social connection is not just a trend - it is the future of brand building. Your logo, your product and your marketing all play a part, but it is the feeling you create that truly matters. That feeling of being included. Of being valued. Of belonging.

At Belong Creative, we help brands become a community people want to be part of. If you are ready to create deeper relationships, grow your tribe and lead with purpose, we are here to help.

Let’s build your brand from the inside out.

Article by Simon Druery

Simon Druery is Director and Brand Strategist at Belong Creative. What gets him jumping out of bed each day is helping business owners and marketers craft brands that people want to belong to. When he’s not working you can find him travelling Australia in the family caravan and enjoying a tawny port by the fire. 

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