Whether you’re an individual trying to make your mark or a company aiming to increase brand visibility, social media strategy is crucial. It’s not just about posting regularly but about using effective strategies that align with your goals. Here’s a detailed guide with the most popular social media strategies, their pros and cons, and some lesser-known strategies that can make you stand out.

Individuals

Navigating social media as an individual requires strategy and finesse. Here are five common strategies:

1. Personal Branding: Showcase your unique personality and values. Pros: Authenticity, personal connection. Cons: Requires consistency, may blur personal/professional boundaries.
2. Lifestyle Content: Share personal life, routines, and other lifestyle-related content. Pros: Relatable, wide appeal. Cons: Privacy concerns, need for constant content.
3. Educational/Informative Content: Teach followers something valuable. Pros: Builds authority, creates a loyal following. Cons: Requires deep knowledge, time-consuming.
4. Storytelling: Connect with followers through personal or insightful stories. Pros: Emotional connection, engaging. Cons: Requires strong writing skills, needs engaging stories.
5. Inspiring Content: Share motivational and inspirational quotes or stories. Pros: Encourages sharing, viral potential. Cons: Can seem cliché if not authentic, content saturation.

Now, let’s delve into some unconventional strategies:

1. Fictional Narratives: Creating a fictional persona or story. Unique, highly engaging.
2. Viral Challenges: Starting your own challenge can lead to viral fame.
3. Spotlighting Followers: Showcasing followers’ stories or achievements. Engages them, generates more content.
4. Interactive Live Streams: Hosting Q&As or webinars. Creates community bonds.
5. Augmented Reality (AR) Filters: Create your own AR filters. Highly creative, broadens your reach.

Companies

For businesses, the strategies are a bit different but equally vital. Here are the top five:

1. Influencer Marketing: Use social media influencers to endorse your brand. Pros: High reach, strong trust factor. Cons: Can be expensive, risk of misalignment.
2. User-Generated Content (UGC): Let your users showcase your product. Pros: Builds trust, cost-effective. Cons: Less control over content, potential for negative exposure.
3. Interactive Content: Engage the user interactively. Pros: Engaging, builds brand loyalty. Cons: Requires resources, may not always lead to conversions.
4. Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) Content: Show the human side of your business. Pros: Humanizes your brand, fosters transparency. Cons: Requires open culture, can reveal ‘too much’.
5. Educational/Informative Content: Share helpful and informative content. Pros: Builds authority, fosters trust. Cons: Requires deep industry knowledge, time-consuming.

For those who wish to try a path less trodden, consider these lesser-known strategies:

1. Meme Marketing: Use humor to connect with your audience. Highly memorable, requires a sense of humor.
2. ASMR Videos: Generates a calming, pleasurable feeling. Unique, memorable.
3. Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences: Create a VR experience for your audience. Highly engaging, resource-intensive.
4. Community Challenges: Get people talking and participating. Encourages engagement, potentially viral.
5. Comics and Illustrated Stories: Use visual storytelling. Unique, engaging, memorable.

Finally, here are the top 10 things to avoid, whether you’re an individual or a company:

No.	Things to Avoid
1.	Inconsistent posting
2.	Ignoring followers’ comments
3.	Sharing irrelevant content
4.	Poorly planned promotional content
5.	Insensitive or offensive posts
6.	Neglecting the visual aspect
7.	Ignoring negative feedback
8.	Overuse of hashtags and buzzwords
9.	Failing to track and analyze results
10.	Not having a clear strategy

Remember, the key to social media success lies in authenticity, engagement, and strategic creativity. Happy strategizing!