When Should You Join a Trend?

In a world driven by likes and shares, it’s easy to get caught up in whatever is trending. But when should you, as a business owner, join in on a trend?

Your primary concern should be making decisions that support both your business’s current needs and future growth. Chasing every trend—whether it’s the latest viral TikTok or a new product—can lead to distraction and inefficiency. Instead, consider the value of the trend and how it aligns with your long-term goals.

Social Media Trends: When to Jump In

If you're trying to grow your social media presence, participating in trends can help boost engagement. These trends are usually easy to join—just follow what’s popular in videos. However, it’s crucial to balance trend-driven content with original, evergreen content that reflects your brand and services. While trendy videos can drive quick engagement, they can become irrelevant overnight.

To maximize your social media strategy:

• Act quickly on trends to catch the wave of engagement.
• Combine trends with evergreen content that doesn’t lose relevance over time.
• Select trends that resonate with your brand, ensuring your content reflects your business values.

Business Trends: What to Pay Attention To

Trends aren’t limited to social media—business operations are full of them. While “get rich quick” trends are risky and often unsustainable, there are valuable shifts happening in the business world today.

Here are a couple of key trends worth considering:

• Customers Want to Know You’re a Good Company Buyers are doing more research before making a purchase. They want to know if your company values sustainability, supports the community, and has a positive reputation. It’s important to authentically showcase these qualities, not just for PR, but because today’s customers value businesses that align with their values.
• Remote Work vs. In-Office: What Works Best? The pandemic changed the way we work, and now business owners must navigate the balance between remote work and in-office productivity. Some employees love remote work for the flexibility, while others thrive in the office environment. The key is understanding what your employees value and finding a balance that boosts both productivity and satisfaction. After all, happy employees are more efficient employees.

Wrapping It Up

Like many things in business, whether or not to join a trend depends on the context. For social media, you’ll want to act quickly to capitalize on trends—but only if they align with your brand. For operational trends, like remote work, take time to carefully consider what works best for your team and business. The key is figuring out what fits your unique situation and goals, and not blindly following the crowd.