Organic vs. Paid Social Media: What’s the Right Mix?

Posted on April 13, 2025 in Blog

Let’s face it — social media is no longer just about showing up. It’s about showing up with a strategy. And one of the biggest questions we get from brands is:

“How much should we focus on organic content vs paid social ads?”

The short answer? You need both. But the right mix depends on your goals, your budget, and your stage of growth.

Here’s how to think about it.

Organic Social: The Long Game That Builds Trust

Organic social is what you post for free on your brand’s feed — think behind-the-scenes stories, day-in-the-life team content, culture-building posts, and value-driven educational content.

What Organic Does Best:

• Builds brand personality and loyalty
  
• Engages your existing audience
  
• Supports your customer journey
  
• Helps you stay consistent and visible
  

If paid ads are the megaphone, organic content is the conversation. It shows people who you are after the click. But organic reach alone? It’s limited — especially on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where algorithm shifts mean only a small percentage of your audience sees your content without boosting.

Organic is where you build community. Paid is where you scale it.

Paid Social: The Accelerator for Growth

Paid social lets you get in front of new audiences with targeting precision. It’s how you reach beyond your followers — and fast.

What Paid Does Best:

• Drives traffic, leads, and sales
  
• Amplifies high-performing organic content
  
• Targets new and niche audiences
  
• Supports campaigns and launches
  

The power of paid social lies in data. When set up correctly, your ad campaigns should tell you what’s working — and let you pivot quickly if something’s not.

Paid doesn’t replace organic. It enhances it.

So… What’s the Right Mix?

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula, but here’s a solid starting point:

Early-Stage Brands or New Launches:

• 70% Paid / 30% Organic
  
• Focus on awareness, growth, and quick traction
  

Mid-Stage Brands Building Loyalty:

• 50% Paid / 50% Organic
  
• Balance reach with retention and engagement
  

Established Brands with Strong Following:

• 30% Paid / 70% Organic
  
• Prioritize brand storytelling, with paid layered in for new products or retargeting
  

How We Do It at Drive

At Drive Creative Agency, we build custom strategies that align with your goals — not just what’s trendy.

We use organic content to keep your brand human, approachable, and authentic. Then we use paid media to scale the right message, to the right people, at the right time. And we constantly test, refine, and optimize.

Because social without strategy is just noise.

Final Thought

If you’re wondering where to invest, start with your goal:

• Want sales? Lean into paid.
  
• Want long-term brand equity? Build organic consistency.
  
• Want both? Let’s talk.
  

We’ll help you strike the right balance — and make every post (paid or organic) count.