10 Proven Video Engagement Strategies to Boost Your Social Media Performance

Why Your Social Media Videos Aren't Getting the Engagement You Deserve

You post consistently, you follow trends, and your content looks polished—but your engagement is still low. You’re not alone. The average engagement rate across all industries on Facebook is just 0.07%, according to Hootsuite. And on Instagram, it’s around 0.60%.

The problem isn’t that people aren’t watching video—it’s that they’re not interacting with it. Viewers scroll past or watch without liking, commenting, or sharing.

So what’s missing?

Interactive video and intentional strategy.

If you want to boost social media engagement, you need to move beyond passive content. In this article, we’ll walk you through 10 proven video engagement strategies that can significantly improve your social media performance. Whether you're a solo creator, a brand, or a marketer, these tips will help you spark meaningful social engagement and drive better results.

1. Start Strong with a Hook

You have 3 seconds to grab attention—use them wisely. Open with a question, bold statement, or visual that stops the scroll.

Examples:

• "Are you still editing videos the hard way?"
• "Most marketers are doing this wrong..."
• Quick transformations or dramatic results

Why this boosts social media engagement:

Starting with a hook encourages users to stay and watch longer, increasing watch time and making it more likely the algorithm will recommend your video.

2. Add Captions and Text Overlays

85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound.

Use captions, text callouts, and dynamic typography to keep your audience engaged even on mute.

Engagement tools to try:

• CapCut
• Submagic
• OpusClip

3. Include a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Don’t assume people will know what to do next.

Examples of CTAs:

• “Comment below if you relate.”
• “Save this for later.”
• “Watch the full video in my bio.”

Tips to improve:

Place CTAs early (within the first 10 seconds) and reinforce them at the end. Test different wording based on your audience engagement.

4. Use Native Formats for Each Platform

Posting a TikTok on LinkedIn or a YouTube video on Instagram rarely works. Tailor your content format:

Instagram: Portrait, fast-paced, trendy edits
LinkedIn: Professional tone, educational or story-driven
Facebook: Relatable, subtitled, longer form okay
YouTube Shorts: High-quality, value-packed, 60 seconds max

Boost your social media engagement by posting what each platform favors.

5. Ask Questions and Encourage Comments

Engagement on social media increases when you create space for dialogue. People love to share opinions, especially if prompted.

Examples:

• “Which tool do you prefer—CapCut or OpusClip?”
• “Would you try this tip? Yes or no?”

This invites meaningful engagement and helps improve your social media engagement rate.

6. Make Interactive Videos

Instead of one-way videos, try interactive video tools that let viewers click, choose, and respond.

Tools to try:

• Sharelo – Add clickable CTAs, links, questions
• Vidzflow – Turn videos into mini-conversations
• Spott – Shoppable video tool

Why interactive video works:

• Viewers retain 95% of a message via video (vs. 10% by text)
• Interactive videos lead to higher engagement and more conversions

7. Post at the Best Time

Using Sprout Social or Sprinklr Social, analyze when your audience is most active.

General best times:

• Instagram: 9AM–11AM Tuesday & Thursday
• TikTok: 6AM–10AM or 7PM–11PM
• LinkedIn: 8AM–10AM weekdays

Posting at the right time can dramatically boost engagement on your posts.

8. Tell Stories, Not Just Tips

Facts tell, but stories sell.

Whether it’s a client success story, a failure you learned from, or a behind-the-scenes look—storytelling increases emotional connection and shares.

Social media content that connects:

• Personal journeys
• Customer transformations
• Before-and-after case studies

9. Engage in the Comments Section

Don’t ghost your own posts. Replying to comments creates a feedback loop that boosts your post visibility and strengthens community.

Try replying with:

• Emojis + gratitude
• Questions to keep the convo going
• Shout-outs or tags

Even replying to just 10 comments can help increase social media engagement significantly.

10. Track and Learn from Engagement Metrics

Use your social media analytics to identify what works.

Track:

• Engagement rate (likes, shares, comments per view or follower)
• Watch time and drop-off points
• Click-through rate if you use CTAs

Tools to monitor:

• Meta Business Suite
• YouTube Studio
• Sprout Social
• Hootsuite Analytics

Apply these insights to refine your social media strategy and double down on content that performs.

Final Thoughts: Create for Conversations, Not Just Views

A viral video that doesn’t spark conversation is a missed opportunity. True engagement is about building relationships—not just racking up vanity metrics.

If you want to increase social media engagement, start treating each video like a conversation starter. Test, measure, refine, and repeat.

Need help turning your videos into lead-generating, high-engagement assets? Try Sharelo — the easiest way to make your videos interactive. Add questions, clickable links, and CTAs to drive real results.

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