The Difference Between Organic and Paid Social Media Growth
If you’re trying to grow your presence on social media, you’ve probably heard the terms “organic growth” and “paid growth.” While both are useful, they work in different ways and can give you different results. Let’s break it down in a simple way, using everyday language—no fancy talk here. Whether you're growing your business, personal brand, or just trying to better understand how platforms like Socibly work, knowing the difference can really help.Organic social media growth means getting followers, likes, comments, and shares without paying for ads. This usually happens when people discover your content because it's interesting, helpful, or fun. For example, if you post a funny video and your friends share it, and then their friends share it—those new followers are coming to you naturally. It takes time and effort, but it helps build trust and keeps people engaged without spending money.
On the other hand, paid social media growth is exactly what it sounds like—you pay to get noticed. This could be through ads, boosted posts, or sponsored content. It’s a faster way to reach a larger audience or target a specific group of people, like folks in a certain age range or location. It can be helpful if you’re launching a new product, holding an event, or simply trying to increase your visibility quickly.
Each type of growth has its pros and cons. Organic growth helps you build stronger relationships with loyal followers, but it can take a long while to see results. Paid growth gives faster results, but if you stop paying, things might slow down again. Most successful pages and accounts use a mix of both—it’s like watering a plant while also making sure it gets enough sunlight.
So, how do you choose? If you’re just starting out and you’ve got more time than money, focusing on organic growth might be a good idea. If you have a bit of a budget and want to reach more people quickly, a paid approach could be useful. Either way, always make meaningful content—stuff people actually want to see. At the end of the day, the best kind of social media growth is the kind that keeps people interested, whether they found you through a friend or an ad.