Why B2B Tech Treats Social Media Like a Side Hustle (and Why It’s Hurting Them)
By now, every business leader understands that social media isn’t going anywhere. Yet in the B2B tech world, too many companies still treat it like an optional side project. They’ll set up a company LinkedIn page, push out a few announcements, maybe drop a press release, and then wonder why nothing happens.
The problem isn’t that social media “doesn’t work” for B2B. The problem is that most companies don’t take it seriously enough to build a social media marketing strategy that connects with buyers, drives qualified traffic, and generates actual pipeline.
When you treat social media like a hobby instead of a system, you fall behind competitors who are using it to dominate attention, establish authority, and influence buying decisions. In 2025, if you’re not investing in content marketing, thought leadership, and social engagement, you’re already losing ground.
Why B2B Tech Falls Behind on Social Media
There are a few common reasons why so many B2B software and hardware companies remain weak on social media:
Outdated stereotypes: Many executives still think social media is just cat videos, flash mobs, and teenagers posting about breakfast. They don’t see how buyers are using LinkedIn, YouTube, and even Twitter/X for research, peer validation, and decision-making.
Fear of the unknown: Some leaders simply don’t understand social media marketing and don’t want to expose their lack of expertise. So they set up a profile, post sporadically, and call it “being present.”
Lack of time and resources: This is the most common excuse. But the truth is that building brand awareness, lead generation, and demand capture through social media is just as important as product development or sales enablement. If you don’t allocate resources to it, you’re actively handicapping your growth.
Blogging: The Foundation of B2B Content Marketing
If there’s one channel that consistently drives ROI for B2B tech, it’s blogging. A well-executed blog isn’t just “extra content” — it’s the engine of your SEO strategy, inbound marketing, and lead generation funnel.
Here’s why blogs matter so much:
Search engine optimization (SEO): Fresh, high-quality content helps you rank for important industry keywords.
Website traffic: Each blog post creates a new entry point for potential buyers to find you.
Content distribution: Blog posts become the raw material for LinkedIn posts, Twitter threads, newsletters, whitepapers, and sales collateral.
Thought leadership: When your executives publish deep insights, it positions your company as a credible authority.
Conversion opportunities: Blog content can be paired with gated assets, demo offers, or newsletter sign-ups to move prospects down the funnel.
Put simply: your blog isn’t just a content channel. It’s the hub of your B2B demand generation system.
LinkedIn: The Modern B2B Trade Show
LinkedIn is hands-down the most powerful platform for B2B SaaS marketing, ABM (account-based marketing), and enterprise lead generation. Yet most companies underuse it.
Common mistakes: setting up a company page with minimal content, letting employees create weak profiles, and then abandoning it. That’s like renting the biggest booth at a trade show and leaving it empty.
What works instead:
Optimized company and employee profiles: Buyers research people before they research products. Your team needs strong professional branding.
LinkedIn Groups: Joining and contributing to relevant groups allows you to share blog posts, participate in conversations, and position your company as a thought leader.
Consistent engagement: Don’t just broadcast. Comment, answer questions, and contribute to discussions. This builds brand trust.
Prospecting: LinkedIn’s search and Sales Navigator make it one of the best databases of executives and decision-makers. When used properly, it’s a goldmine for outbound sales.
Content distribution: LinkedIn is where your blog posts, case studies, and webinars should live and get shared for maximum impact.
Done right, LinkedIn is not just a networking site — it’s the core of modern B2B demand generation.
Twitter/X: Fast, Direct, and High-Risk
Twitter (or X) often gets dismissed in B2B tech because it looks chaotic. But it can be a surprisingly effective engagement and PR channel.
Real-time communication: Great for product announcements, customer support, and responding to industry news.
Thought leadership: Executives who share insights and engage with influencers can amplify their personal brand.
Community building: Developers, engineers, and tech leaders often hang out here. Building relationships in public can create credibility.
Content promotion: Blog posts, case studies, and podcasts all perform well if distributed smartly.
The key is to treat Twitter/X as an engagement platform, not a one-way megaphone. It works when you interact, not when you spam.
YouTube: The Overlooked B2B Channel
Video is no longer optional in B2B tech marketing. YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world and should be central to your strategy.
Types of videos that work for B2B tech:
Product demos that highlight features and use cases
Customer testimonials that build social proof
Thought leadership interviews with internal experts
Training or how-to tutorials that establish authority and trust
Webinar recordings that extend the life of your live events
Pairing YouTube content with your blog posts and LinkedIn campaigns increases reach and boosts your SEO rankings.
Facebook: Still Relevant, Even in B2B
It’s not the star of B2B tech marketing, but with billions of users, Facebook still has a role. Company pages, community groups, and event promotion can all help with brand visibility. Just don’t spend your entire marketing budget here. Use it as a supporting channel in your social media mix.
The Changing ROI of Social Media
It’s true: the ROI of social media in B2B tech has declined compared to a decade ago. The platforms are more saturated, algorithms limit reach, and novelty has worn off. But that doesn’t mean social is dead.
Instead, it means you need:
Clear goals and KPIs (awareness, leads, engagement)
Automation for repetitive tasks like posting and scheduling
Quality over quantity in content production
Integrated strategy where social supports your website, email marketing, and sales enablement
Social media won’t win deals by itself. But it will shape buyer perception and influence the shortlist before your reps ever get a meeting.
The Bottom Line
Social media marketing for B2B tech is no longer “nice to have.” It’s a core part of your go-to-market strategy. Buyers are self-educating, researching vendors, and narrowing shortlists long before talking to sales.
If you’re inconsistent, absent, or shallow on social, you’ll be invisible. If you build a consistent, strategic presence across blogging, LinkedIn, YouTube, and even Twitter/X, you’ll capture attention, build trust, and create demand.
The companies treating social media like a side hustle are falling behind. The ones treating it like a product — intentional, structured, and customer-focused — are the ones winning.
So the only question left: are you dipping your toe into the pool, or are you ready to dive in?