Yeah, it always starts with good intentions. You want your brand to feel fun online. Like you’ve seen it for yourself, this seems to make businesses succeed, and yeah, there’s that relatability factor too. So, you see a trending meme, whip up a quick version with your product slapped on it, and chuck it on Instagram or TikTok with a caption that feels “on point.” Next thing you know, the likes are dead, the comments are either confused or sarcastic, and someone’s asked, “Is this a joke?” Well, that’s the curse of trying too hard to be trendy. Here are 8 good reasons why you should hold being “too trendy” and all those viral “funny memes”, like the latest cheating scandal at a Coldplay concert, up to a reality check.

By Team Savant

Pretty much every small business has crossed the thin line between good and bad taste at least once. Really, who hasn’t? Like, to a degree, there’s the expectation that you’re supposed to do it anyway. So, what you thought would make people laugh ends up feeling awkward or, worse, pushes away the very people who’d actually buy from you. Just generally speaking, it’s just not ideal, right?

Trying to be Trendy Can Blow Up in Your Face

You know this, honestly, at this rate, who doesn’t know? But yeah, the internet’s brutal. For starters, people can smell desperation from miles away. For the most part, a perfectly decent brand can spiral into cringe territory overnight just by trying to jump on every trend like an excitable puppy.

Besides, you have to keep in mind that trends move at lightning speed. What’s funny this morning is over by tomorrow afternoon. You think you’re being clever and topical, but by the time it’s posted, everyone’s bored of it. Even worse, you confuse your audience. People follow your business because they like what you offer, not because they expect you to be doing TikTok dances or meme wars.

Just generally speaking, folks notice when a brand flips from helpful and genuine to flailing around for attention. Seriously, it’s not fun, it’s just a bit embarrassing.

The TikTok Chaos will Wear You Out

Yes! Yes! Yes! Seriously, just think about this one for just a moment, please! TikTok’s a special kind of monster. Essentially, trends explode and die in hours, not weeks. Small businesses get sucked into thinking they’ve got to post every day, jump on every sound, and somehow be part of every viral moment.

What actually happens? You waste time making content that burns out faster than a cheap sparkler. You post weird videos that have nothing to do with your product. For example, one day you’re running a chill candle shop, the next day you’re lip syncing in your stockroom, looking slightly dead inside. People don’t look at that and think “what a fun business,” they think “are they alright?”

Being Funny Online Doesn’t Always Work

Sure, humour’s great. Honestly, a well-timed joke can make your brand stand out. But if you’re a small business selling accountancy services or high-end skincare, forcing TikTok-style comedy is… awkward. Sure, if you’re Wendy’s, Moon Pie, or even Nutter Butter, like, it’s totally acceptable. But overall, your audience knows when you’re forcing it.

They followed you because they care about what you offer, not because they’re desperate for you to join the latest meme trend. Sometimes it’s alright to be the useful brand, the sleek brand, or the one people trust to get stuff done, instead of the one making cringey jokes no one asked for.

You’re Confusing the People Who Actually Buy from You

It’s obvious enough, but yeah, small businesses survive because of loyal customers. The regulars who come back again and again, who tell their mates about you, who trust you. Those people don’t care about whatever sounds trending on TikTok today. They care about your product, your service, and your updates.

So, when you start flooding your socials with random memes or reels that don’t make sense, those loyal customers start drifting off. They think you’ve gone a bit off the rails. If every third post makes them go “what’s this about?” then your marketing’s working against you.

You’ve Not Got Time to be Trendy 24/7

Yeah, it’s easy for massive brands with a full team to stay on top of trends. They’ve got people paid to scroll, plan, film, and edit every day. But you’re a small business juggling everything from orders to customer service to stock checks. The time you spend planning your next viral moment could’ve been spent on stuff that actually drives sales. Seriously now, instead of stressing over TikTok dances, you’re better off using that time to talk to your actual customers, share useful tips, or show off your products in ways people actually care about.

You’re Better Off Sticking with SEO

Sure, sure, people love to chase the quick wins, but viral content doesn’t usually help with long-term visibility. It’s not even 15 minutes of fame, it’s three seconds, and that’s that, like, nothing else. Besides, trends disappear, but search results stay put. When people need your product, they’re Googling it, not scrolling through your six-week-old meme.

You’re way better off just focusing on SEO, better yet, look into getting an SEO agency to help you out rather than trying to DIY everything yourself. In all seriousness, though, SEO is definitely worth its weight in gold and sticks around way longer than that one-hit wonder video you made.

Evergreen Content Always Wins

Well, this circles back to what’s being said above, but viral trends are like junk food. Fun for five minutes, but no one remembers it by tomorrow. The posts that really work are the ones that hang around. A handy guide, a product how-to, a funny but relevant story about your business, that’s the stuff people come back for.

But a reel that made five people laugh isn’t as helpful as a product demo that keeps pulling in views every week. Focus on posts that stay useful. A few laughs are fine, but your bread and butter’s the content that sticks around.

Trust Beats Trendiness Every Single Time

Overall, the brands people love are the ones they trust. The ones that know who they are, that show up consistently, and offer something useful. Yeah, being funny’s great when it feels natural, but trust lasts longer than any dance trend. Your customers aren’t interested in you chasing the next viral sound; they’re interested in why your product is worth buying. Meaning, that you need to just show up, be helpful, be genuine, and the right people will stick around.