Trendjacking Secrets: How Small Businesses Go Viral And Double Their Reach
Trendjacking with Caution
In this modern era, people are running after social media trends. Trends are meant to come and go, but for a few days, they bring a whole new vibe to the internet. One day, a hashtag on X starts trending, and then a popular soundtrack follows. It’s become old news after a few days. Copying a trend is known as trendjacking.
Small business owners love to jump into trends. It’s a good opportunity to gather lots of likes and comments. Since people are following the trend, the algorithm favors your content as well. You will feel pressure to jump. After all, trendjacking from your own brand can expose your company to new markets.
Ever heard about trendjacking? Don’t worry, we will see it in detail. The catch is that not all trends are appropriate for your brand. If you choose the wrong one, you risk appearing outdated or even tarnishing your reputation. Still, trendjacking is a powerful tool that lets you express your individuality. You can interact with the target audience if you know how to ace it.
Let’s look into it in detail.
What is Trendjacking?
Using popular topics, memes, or hashtags to market your brand in a way that seems relevant and natural is known as trendjacking. This is a way to borrow attention from a popular moment and connect it to your company.
Let’s understand with some examples. Sometimes a TikTok sound becomes popular. Any cafe can use it to create a humorous reel that shows their barista struggling to make 100 iced lattes. Since the sound is trending, your video will get more reach.
Food brands get into the viral “corn kid” meme. They shared their own humorous posts featuring corn-related puns. Participating in the cultural moment without pressuring yourself is vital. People will interact if it is consistent with your brand voice. But if it’s contradictory, they will consider you meaningless.
How is Trendjacking Effective?
Trendjacking works so well for small businesses for a few reasons:
- It gives you immediate visibility. Viral sounds and trending hashtags spread quickly. Participating increases the likelihood that people will see your content.
- It gives your brand a contemporary feel. Consumers prefer “in the loop” brands over stiff or antiquated ones.
- It promotes involvement. Content that people already find humorous or relatable is more likely to be shared, liked, or commented on.
- It displays individuality. Trendjacking lets your brand’s human side shine through, which helps build trust and relatability.
How to do Trendjacking?
It’s dangerous to try every viral moment. This is not what your brand’s page should show. Create a strategic plan to follow trendjacking. Here’s a blueprint that small business owners can use:
- Observe trends every day. Take a few minutes every day to look at popular Reels on Facebook and Instagram, viral sounds on TikTok, and trending hashtags on X.
- Check whether this ties back to your brand voice. It’s pretty simple: a lawn firm cannot follow the dancing trends. But they can work well for a coffee shop.
- Go quickly, as trends tend to lose their appeal quickly. You’ve most likely missed the window if you’re three days late.
- Be true to yourself. Avoid distorting a trend to the point where it seems phony. Your audience is aware of this.
- Don’t include any delicate subjects. Not all viral moments are safe for a brand. Businesses that attempt to make light of tragedies or contentious news will face criticism. Always err on the side of caution.
7 Tips to Help Small Business Owners Become Experts at Trendjacking
1. Begin by considering your audience
Ask yourself, “Will my customers actually enjoy this?” before following a trend. Perhaps a LinkedIn post with a creative twist is more effective than a TikTok dance if you’re aiming for busy professionals.
2. Maintain a consistent brand voice
Playful memes are a natural fit for brands known for their humor. Instead, focus on providing insightful commentary on industry trends if your brand voice is serious and professional.
3. Make use of the appropriate platform.
X (Twitter): Ideal for joining hashtag discussions or providing succinct, clever answers.
Reels on Facebook and Instagram: Excellent for quick, humorous, or behind-the-scenes videos
TikTok: Ideal for imaginative, lighthearted uses of viral sounds.
LinkedIn: Limit your posts to industry news, professional insights, or lighthearted remarks about workplace culture.
4. Choose the appropriate time
Please take advantage of the trend while it’s still popular, but don’t rush it so much that your post comes across as sloppy. Quality is important.
5. Add your own special touch
Don’t just do what other people are doing. Include the viewpoint of your brand. For instance, a bakery might offer “croissant or bagel” in place of generic options if the “this or that” trend is strong.
6. Experiment and gain knowledge
Take note that all trends will be successful. Don’t get disappointed. It’s alright. Keep an eye on what your audience is interested in and adjust your plans accordingly.
7. Prepare for criticism
Trendjacking can occasionally backfire. It happens even with the best of intentions. If that occurs, you have to react with professionalism and humor when appropriate. Never disregard criticism.
8. Work on original and trending content
Trends shouldn’t dominate your feed. Trendjacking is good, but anything in excess is bad. The majority of your content should focus on your main point. You can use trends as a spice to keep your brand fresh.
Wrap Up!
Trendjacking is a fast-and-furious game. You must have an active social media team that can keep up with it before it gets old-school. This is a golden opportunity for small businesses to make their brand image. Their content will reach thousands of people who will learn about the brand and make a purchase. This way, you can stand out from the intense competition.
The purpose is not limited to growing virally. The content you create will represent your brand image, so be careful. Create content that is relevant to your business. To get more help on securing leads through social media, talk with Carolina Web Consultants.
