SMM Anti-trends: What No Longer Works in 2024

With the emergence of the concept of «SMM promotion», most global companies and local brands realized the importance of their presence on social media. At that time, no one really understood how it all worked, so it was more of a trial-and-error method.

Today, SMM is a separate world of research and debates, with its dark side being the anti-trends that can definitely thwart all efforts.

1.Stock Photos

Using stock photos is a budget-friendly and quick way to fill your profile with content, but will it yield good results? Definitely not.

People are tired of perfect photos of an ideal world, this artificiality no longer evokes emotions. Therefore, it's essential to remember the golden rule: stock materials — no, crafted content — yes!

Add to this a unique visual style without «noise», and your profile becomes a magnet for attention.

2.Brand Without Philosophy:

Audiences care about what and where they buy:

• What values does the brand have?
• Does it have an active civic position?
• Does it engage in charity and support fundraising?

Those who lack a specific «message» and their own philosophy do not resonate with users and do not inspire a desire to follow them.

3.«We Don't Want to Work with Video»

While your fears prevent you from looking into the eyes of the master of organic promotion, others are incorporating video content into their social networks and exploring the world of UGC.

The TikTok phenomenon shook the world of SMM, as the audience made it clear that they prefer consuming videos instead of static layouts. Instagram quickly caught this wave and opened an additional path for organic promotion through reels.

It is predicted that in 2024, the UGC format (user-generated content) will be particularly popular because it involves «live» videos without artificiality, showcasing the personal experience of other users — a small step towards audience loyalty.

4.«Hello, Is Anyone Alive Here?»

Any efforts and attempts to develop social networks will crash against the rock of «dead» communication. Not responding in direct messages? Ignoring negative comments? Having a templated response for all life situations? You are on the right path to becoming a part of cancel culture.

5.Lack of Strategy

The previous points can be considered the tip of the iceberg because every professional SMM agency knows that working on SMM promotion without a strategy is futile.

This is a complex and meticulous process that involves many steps:

Each component of the strategy is crucial because everything works in synergy: the audience enters the page and pays attention to the attractive visual, starts viewing posts, and enjoys texts with a successful tone of voice. The presence of a rubricator and systematic posting maintains constant contact with users, and successful promotion scales the audience.