What to do when faced with these 10 social media marketing challenges

CianDigital Marketing2025-07-032080

Ready to tackle the biggest social media marketing challenges?

If you’ve been struggling to keep your social media strategy agile and up to date, you’re definitely not alone.

Competition for attention on social media is tougher than ever. New social networks are changing how we create content. Plus, people's expectations are getting higher every day. It’s no wonder building a memorable brand presence online can feel overwhelming.

Fear not. In this guide, we’re breaking down 10 of the most common social media marketing problems brands face today. For each challenge, we’ll also give you actionable next steps that help you clear the hurdle with ease.

Keeping up with changing social trendsFinding social talentProving the ROI of socialFalling engagement rates and fewer post interactions Standing out against established social competitorsLost time from juggling multiple social platformsLittle-to-no communication between departmentsRunning out of creative content ideas Responding to call-outs and crises Lack of growth, direction or strategy

The average lifespan of a trend is shrinking fast, leaving room for more trends than ever before.

This abundance is great for consumers, who get to enjoy hyper-targeted micro-trends that appeal to their interests 24/7. For marketers, harnessing trends is only getting more complicated.

According to a Q2 2023 Sprout pulse survey, 49% of marketers say identifying and responding to emerging trends on social media is the biggest challenge in managing their brand’s social presence.

A text-based graphic that says "49% of marketers say identifying and responding to emerging trends on social media is the biggest challenge in managing their brand’s social presence."

It’s a needle-in-a-haystack effect for social media marketers. To create content that resonates with your target audience, you have to sift through an endless stream of content to figure out what’s relevant.

When done manually, this looks like a lot of scrolling. Thankfully, social media management tools and process adjustments can keep you on trend without blowing up your screen time.

Solutions:

Make trendspotting a collaborative effort. Don’t attempt to keep up with rising trends all by yourself. Instead, crowdsource ideas by asking teammates about what they’re seeing on their feeds.Use a social listening tool to tap into trends in a way that resonates. Nailing your voice-of-customer is crucial to creating effective trend content. Audience insights from a social listening tool help refine your message so that it’s current and relevant.If there’s not enough time to create net-new content, opt for strategic engagement plays. Commenting on viral videos or content from relevant creators can generate as many impressions as a feed post.

One of the biggest challenges social media teams face isn’t taking place in inboxes or timelines. It’s on the job boards.

Hiring social media professionals has become quite a challenge in today's ever-evolving landscape. The demands placed on social marketers have skyrocketed. It’s no longer enough to be a strong strategist or copywriter. Brands now seek individuals who excel in creating engaging content across various formats, all while possessing a firm understanding of internet culture.

According to The Sprout Social Index™ 2022, more than half (52%) of marketers cite finding experienced talent as their team’s primary obstacle. This scarcity of experienced and proficient professionals in social media management presents brands with difficulties in securing the right team members.

If you’re on one of the many teams trying to up their headcount this year, be extra thoughtful about your growth strategy. Craft an enticing job description that aligns with your future vision for the channel to attract qualified talent.

Solutions

Write a thoughtful, clear and intentional social media manager job description that shows candidates you understand and value their work.Create an exceptional interview experience using resources in this hiring manager toolkit. It’s complete with interview questions, scorecard templates, assessment examples and an onboarding checklist, all designed to create a wow-worthy process from start to finish.Brush up on social recruiting strategies. Use employee advocacy and referrals to tap into brand new spheres of talent that might miss your job listing otherwise.

Social media has come into its own as an integral part of every business strategy. Its impact is felt everywhere, from the songs we sing to the topics we talk about.

Still, some higher-ups may fail to recognize the immediate value of investing in social media as a priority channel. Although social plays a clear role in lead generation, customer nurturing and more, it’s difficult to make sense of the metrics needed to translate that impact.