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Social Media Advertising on a Budget: What Actually Works in 2025

Social media ads don’t need to cost the earth to be effective. In 2025, with more competition and rising ad prices, businesses are getting smarter about how they spend. The good news? You don’t need a huge budget to get real results. You just need the right strategy.

Here’s what’s actually working right now for brands that want to make an impact without blowing their marketing spend.

Start Small, Test Often

The beauty of social media advertising is that you don’t have to go all in from the start. Begin with small budgets – even £5 to £10 per day – and test different creatives, audiences, and formats. Look at what’s getting clicks, saves, or conversions, then put more money behind the ads that are performing well.

It’s not about spending more. It’s about spending smarter.

Targeting Is Everything

One of the biggest wastes of ad spend is showing your content to people who just aren’t interested. In 2025, targeting tools are more advanced than ever. You can hone in on people by behaviour, interests, location, or even how they’ve interacted with your brand in the past.

If you’re running ads without setting up custom or lookalike audiences, you’re leaving money on the table.

Reuse Your Best Content

Don’t reinvent the wheel. If you’ve got organic posts that did really well – maybe a reel that got loads of shares or a carousel that drove engagement – use them as ads. Content that already resonates with your audience is more likely to perform well with a paid boost.

Sometimes the best ad is simply a great post with £10 behind it.

Focus on One Clear Message

Trying to say too much in one ad often results in saying nothing at all. Pick one product. One offer. One message. Then build your ad around it.

Whether it’s a discount, a new launch, or a call to join your mailing list, keep it simple and direct. Confused people don’t click.

Use Video – Even If It’s DIY

You don’t need high-end production. In fact, casual, mobile-shot videos often perform better because they feel more authentic. A quick demo, a behind-the-scenes clip, or a face-to-camera testimonial can do wonders.

Just make sure your video has captions, a strong hook in the first few seconds, and a clear CTA.

Retargeting = Low-Cost, High-Impact

This one’s a must. Retargeting ads are shown to people who already know you – they’ve been to your website, watched your videos, or followed your page. These ads are cheaper and usually convert better because the audience is warmer.

If you’re not using retargeting, you’re missing the easiest win in the game.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a huge budget to advertise effectively on social media in 2025. With the right strategy, even a small spend can go a long way.

Need help making every pound count? As a leading social media company London, Social Buzzing helps brands of all sizes create ads that perform – without wasting time or money.