In today’s online world of social media, it’s crowded, competitive, and in a constant state of change. Be it a small business operating in Manchester, a London-based technology brand, or simply a home-care provider trying to build a presence in the UK, how one shares matters more than ever. And it is at this point that the 5:3:2 social sharing rule becomes incredibly useful: a simple formula to keep content balanced, engaging, and strategic.
However, most brands still can’t seem to get content planning right: some post anything, some over-promote themselves, and the rest simply don’t know how to grow social media followers 2025 best practices or create posts that drive engagement. Whether one is stuck in slow social media growth or in need of social networking marketing ideas, this 5:3:2 method will change.
What is the 5:3:2 rule for social sharing?
The 5:3:2 rule refers to how one should plan the content in a healthy and engaging ratio. For every 10 posts, the breakdown is:
l 5 posts: curated content-from other creators or credible websites
l 3 posts: Your own original content
l 2 posts: Personal, fun or human-centered content
This is one of the easiest social media growth strategies, as it keeps your feed balanced and does not make it look spammy
That is a perfect idea that works just well with any kind of business-from tech blogs and finance firms right through to the social media pages of home care that need trust and authenticity.
Why the 5:3:2 Rule Works in 2025
Social media algorithms love consistency and actual interaction. Indeed, the success of TikTok’s “For You Page” convinced other platforms to take up relevancy-based feeds in a big way. Knowing the first social media to introduce the For You Page idea helps you understand why the 5:3:2 mix goes perfectly with modern algorithms-because they like meaningful interactions, not selling posts all the time.
Here is why the rule is powerful:
1. Variety keeps people interested.
Your audience doesn’t want to see 10 consecutive promotional posts. Curated content and personal style posts keep things fresh.
2. You establish yourself as an expert
Great external content curation helps to present you as knowledgeable and well-informed, especially during a social media audit.
3. Human posts build emotional connection
The last 2 posts help your audience see the people behind the brand. That is important when building trust on LinkedIn or in sensitive sectors like healthcare.
4. It falls under influencer marketing psychology.
If you ever wondered what the concept behind influencer marketing was, well, here it is.
People trust people more than brands.
Your “2 posts” support that principle.
Breaking Down Each Part of the 5:3:2 Rule
The “5” – Curated Content (50% of Your Posts)
Curated content is the creation of others, which you share with your audience. This may include:
l Industry news
l Useful tips from creators
l Reports & Research
l Community announcements
Other tools include SocialMention, best suited for tracking social trends.
Curating content proves that you are active, relevant, and supportive of your community.
This section of the rule will assist businesses wanting to advertise responsibly-especially those advertising on social media-in finding a balance and not appearing overly promotional.
Where to Find Curated Content
l Trending posts on LinkedIn
l Industry blogs
l UK market reports
l Government or Ofcom digital findings
l Popular creators: all kinds of content creators — educators, entertainers, professionals
The aim is to share value posts, not just random links.
The “3” – Your Own Content (30% of Your Posts)
This is where your brand voice comes alive. Your original content may be:
l How-to guides
l Case studies
l Product tips
l Corporate news
l UK business insights
l Job postings
l How-to Explainers for Creating a LinkedIn for a Company
l Visual content, videos or carousels
Posting original content helps you:
l Boost brand authority
l Organic follower attraction
l Drive website traffic
l Strengthen your SEO
This is also where you show your audience how to make money on social media if your business covers it.
The “2” – Human or Personal Content – (20% of Your Posts)
This type of post does build connections and trust, especially helpful on platforms such as LinkedIn or Instagram.
Examples include:
l Behind-the-scenes content
l Friday fun posts, for example, Friday interactive posts
l Employee stories
l Photos of workplaces
l Celebrating UK holidays or cultural events
People want human brands, not robotic ones.
This aspect of the rule also helps shape better culture with regard to social media and the workplace because transparency and personality are promoted without crossing the line into privacy.
Using the 5:3:2 Rule on Different Platforms
1. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an extremely powerful medium in the UK. It’s a huge driver of B2B opportunities, and knowing what the best times to post on LinkedIn are improves these results even more.
Following the 5:3:2 rule on LinkedIn could look like this:
l Curating reports or market insights.
l Publishing your own long-form content
l Posting updates from teams or behind-the-scenes videos
In fact, some businesses even buy LinkedIn followers if they want more visibility. Sure, that will bump up the numbers, but real growth still comes from a good content strategy, and that is supported perfectly by the 5:3:2 rule.
Understanding platform rules helps, too. For instance, on LinkedIn, the photos you can post are 9 per post. Perfect for carousels or portfolio style shares.
2. Instagram
To be successful on Instagram, learn to understand the following fundamentals of Instagram for business:
l Reels
l Visual storytelling
l Consistent branding
l Smart use of Hashtags
l Timing the post just right
The 5:3:2 rule will keep your content both varied and interesting, especially as the algorithms continue to shift.
3. TikTok
TikTok is about discovery through the “For You Page.” The rule works remarkably well by blending:
l TikTok Education Tips
l Your own how-to videos
l Fun behind-the-scenes clips
Remember that personal, human content is TikTok’s biggest strength.
4. Facebook & X (Twitter)
This is a rule that maintains the balance in such platforms and their usefulness for community building and brand communications.
How to Get Content for Social Media Using the 5:3:2 Method
And if you often find yourself wondering how to get the content for social media, this rule actually simplifies your whole planning process.
Ideas for Curated Content
l Share trending UK industry news
l Post research from experts.
l Find hot topics using tools like SocialMention
l Share posts by partners, creators, or influencers
Ideas for Your Own Content
l Short tutorials
l Infographics
l Case studies
l Product features
l Local UK insights
Ideas for Human Content
l Staff Birthdays
l Friday games
l Office pictures
l Team achievements
It will not be a chore at all, once it is set up.
The 5:3:2 Rule & Social Media Audits
The biggest red flag in running a social media audit is an imbalanced content mix-for example, too much promotion and not enough value. The 5:3:2 rule gives you a structure that passes audits easily because you are:
l Information sharing
l Having value for yourself
l Staying relatable
This also reduces risks around what not to post on social media, because curated personal posts are inherently more thoughtful.
How the 5:3:2 Rule Helps Different Industries
Tech Business
Perfect for sharing updates, news about UK tech, and innovation highlights.
Home Care Businesses/Home Care Social Media
This helps in building trust by including education on the condition, care tips, and human-centered stories.
E-commerce
Allows for the promotion of products while still maintaining lifestyle and engagement content.
Freelancers & Creators
This application supports all types of content creators, from educators to entertainers.
Advanced Tips: How to Increase Social Media Followers-2025 Best Practices
Scale up in 2025 and beyond by mixing 5:3:2 rule with:
l Scheduling regular posts
l Real Engagement: commenting, responding, sharing
l UK-based keyword usage
l SEO-optimised captions
l Social listening tool usage
l Testing features: carousels, Reels, Shorts
l Avoid controversial subjects that violate workplace policies.
All these methods combined make your brand stronger, without having to buy LinkedIn followers or using spammy approaches.
Social Network Marketing Ideas for the UK
Here is some inspiration to enhance your feed:
l Conduct Friday quizzes.
l Share British culture memes.
l Post “day in the life” stories
l Celebrate UK awareness days
l Publish monthly social audits.
l Create LinkedIn carousels
l UK case studies
These ideas fall squarely within the 5:3:2 framework.
What Not to Post on Social Media: UK Workplace Edition
To be safe and professional:
l Do not post confidential workplace information.
l Never discuss private clients.
l Don’t use offending humor.
l Avoid political fights
Don’t over-share personal location. Don’t attack competitors The 5:3:2 rule safeguards you against most of these problems.
Conclusion
The 5:3:2 rule gives a simple and effective grounding on which one can grow a strong, harmonious, and trusted online presence. This no doubt will render your content relevant and engaging within a UK digital space that is increasingly demanding value, authenticity, and consistency from its audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does the rule help with increasing followers?
This, when combined with best practices in 2025, ensures growth, more engagement, and increased brand visibility.
2. Can I use the rule on LinkedIn?
Absolutely, LinkedIn is one of the best places to apply the 5:3:2 rule since value and authenticity are truly rewarded on that platform.
3. How many photos can I post on LinkedIn?
You can attach a maximum of 9 photos for every post.
4. How do I find curated content?
Utilize industry websites, UK reports, creator posts, and tools such as Social Mention.