Nowadays, business is inseparable from social media – but let’s be honest, not everyone actually uses it well. Some post once in a blue moon, others just shout into the void.
At carVertical, we take social media seriously (but not too seriously). Our goal is to genuinely engage with our followers, create content people actually want to see, and strengthen our position as a trusted leader in automotive data.
So today, we’re pulling back the curtain. Let’s take a closer look at how carVertical approaches social media – and share a few tips and tricks that help us stand out in a crowded feed.
Where are we today?
Across all major platforms, carVertical has built a following of over half a million users, with Instagram clearly leading the way as our biggest channel. Facebook comes in second, followed by TikTok in third place.
We’ve recently hit a major milestone – more than 100 videos with over a million views, adding up to over half a billion views in total. For a company account, that’s a pretty staggering result. Unsurprisingly, Instagram leads the charge here as well, accounting for more than half of our viral videos. On top of that, we now have nearly 20 videos with over 10 million views across platforms, and our most-watched Instagram video has reached 39 million views.
So how did we get here? Let’s break it down.
Tips for making your social media content to stand out
#1 Find viral content first
One of the easiest ways to make viral content is to find it before you create it. We regularly scroll through Instagram and TikTok feeds looking for viral videos we know we can improve or adapt.
Once we spot a strong idea, we distribute it to UGC creators we trust – creators who we know can remake the video in the best possible way.
Most of the time, we don’t even chase trends. Instead, we focus on niches we already know perform well and that we understand how to “exploit” creatively.
#2 Know your niche (and its sub-niches)
At first glance, our niche might seem simple: cars. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The car niche is full of smaller sub-niches – and that’s where the real magic happens.
Here are a few that work particularly well for us:
- ’90s vibes and nostalgia. We often tap into nostalgia, reminding our audience how simple, beautiful, and desirable older cars felt. We didn’t invent this – it’s a classic social media truth: old cars have soul.
- Car jokes and memes. Every niche has memes, and cars are no exception. While we’re somewhat limited (many great car memes rely on movie scenes), we’ve found creative alternatives – like animal green screens. It’s not perfect, but it still goes viral from time to time.
- Relatable situations. This is our strongest niche and where most of our viral videos come from. These videos are usually delivered by our UGC creators and focus on everyday situations drivers instantly recognize. If people see themselves in the video, they’re far more likely to engage.
- Seasonal trends. Seasonal content is another reliable way to go viral. A great recent example was the “first snow” trend – drivers excited (or terrified) to hit the road when winter arrives. Christmas content followed soon after, and we leaned into that as well.
#3 Reuse viral videos – the smart way
Once you’ve identified what works, reuse it – but don’t just repost and forget about it.
When we reuse viral videos, we usually rewrite the hook, change the music, or tweak the edit. To avoid annoying our audience, we also wait at least a month before reposting the same concept.
Some of our best-performing videos have gone viral multiple times with small changes.
#4 Use Instagram’s Trial Reels feature
One of the most effective growth tools for us in 2025 has been Instagram’s Trial Reels feature. It allows you to post reels that are shown only to non-followers, helping your content reach a completely new audience.
We used this feature to repost our older viral content. Some videos did millions of views, others didn’t – but the key result was new followers. In total, we gained around 5–7k followers just by reposting old content as trial reels.
If your page feels stuck at a certain follower count, Trial Reels can be a great way to break through.
#5 Edit your videos to keep people watching
You might have a video idea with huge potential, but without proper editing, it can still flop. A few things we always focus on:
- Text hook. This is crucial. The hook needs to instantly explain what the video is about. Keep it short, simple, and easy to read.
- Music. Music drives emotion. Choosing the right audio can make or break a video’s performance.
- Editing. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok seem to favor content edited within their apps. There’s almost always a frame to cut or a moment that works better at 2× speed.
- Consistency. Posting 2–3 times a week isn’t enough if you want serious growth. We post 2–5 times daily (reels and posts).
#6 Dive into your analytics
Finally, don’t ignore your analytics. Knowing when your audience is most active helps you post at the right time, increasing the chances of strong early engagement, which often leads to better overall reach.
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Article by
Andrius Jasiulionis
Andrius is a social media manager and video content creator at carVertical. As an experienced visual storyteller, he shares his product expertise in a fun and engaging way, making millions of people laugh. Andrius is also very passionate about classic cars and hopes one day to be the owner of a classic Porsche 911.