To Trend? Or Not to Trend?
Trends can be a fun and exciting way to increase awareness for your brand and to show your audience that you are on trend and paying attention to pop culture, but how do you know what trends to participate in and which ones you should leave alone? Here are some helpful tips so you can decide what’s best for you and your brand:
Do Your Research
This is important. Just because a trend is popular doesn’t always mean it’s for a good reason. Take note of how others respond to this trend, look at comments, and try to find the trend across platforms from different industries. Different audiences may perceive trends differently. Ask your friends and family for their thoughts, too!
TikTok has a great resource for exploring what’s currently trending, from hashtags to audio and more!
Is the Trend Time Sensitive?
Some trends are very time sensitive/topical (think TV shows, events in the news, etc). Trends related to this need to be completed within 1-2 weeks of the event.
For example, the popular AppleTV show Severance had a lot of trending content as episodes from season 2 were released in early 2025.
If people started participating in these trends now, it would be old and outdated. Hold onto your ideas until season 3 comes out!
Is the Trend Too Niche?
Oftentimes, the algorithm can get really specific to the point where we are in our own little silos of content. It’s important to ask your peers and check online to see if others are seeing or participating in the trend.
Does the Trend Put Your Brand in a Positive Light?
Any trends that are harmful to others or do not display your brand’s values should be an automatic no.
Be Creative
The point of participating in a trend is to make it your own!
Using the Severance example above, here’s an example of how the account @movieluts used their niche to participate in a trending conversation.
Ultimately, you have to use your best judgment when deciding whether participating in a trend is right for you. These tips can help you make an informed decision and keep trendy content what it should be: positive, entertaining, and uplifting!
Bri Garr-Bland
ACCOUNT COORDINATOR