![The Top Social Trends Published Monthly [+ Insights from the Semrush Social Team]](https://static.semrush.com/blog/uploads/media/2c/b8/2cb830356915b2af58066fb9e8840784/62a828e80fdfe89b6a8338ecd7c70b7e/the-top-social-trends-published-monthly.svg)
Looking for social media trends and insights? You've come to the right place. We gather the latest trends, insights, and strategies so you can succeed on every platform.
Global viral hits: See what's taking Reels and TikTok by storm this month.
- Social spotlight: Get inspired by our top-performing posts every month.
- Content creation tips: Learn how to effortlessly craft and publish with Semrush Social.
We analyze trending reels and TikTok videos so you don't have to! Save hours on research —just pick the idea that best fits your product.
Note: Post creation difficulty is indicated by the number of stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trends for November ‘24
#1 Helpful Stranger ⭐️
Concept
A video clip showing someone fixing your poster advertising a sale or discount.
Use it to
Promote your sale
Steps for adapting
Try to get a friend or staff member to pose as the stranger.
- Partially hang a paper poster/flier advertising your sale/discount on the wall.
- Get your friend to walk past and fix it.
- Zoom in on the poster and show the sale.
Pro tip: A well-designed flier over a plain wall will get more attention.
Example post
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAUmrGMBN4p/
Resources
Flier and a friend
#2 The clumsy customer ⭐️
Concept
A funny video clip justifying a large purchase as a phone glitch
Use it to
Promote your offerings.
Steps for adapting
- Screen record a video of you zooming in, selecting, and adding some items from your online store to your shopping cart.
- Keep your phone on the counter and start playing the video.
- Sprinkle some water on your phone just before your online store pops up on the video.
- Zoom in on the video playing on your phone.
Pro tip: Record at least 10 seconds of no-screen activity at the start to time the water splashing right. If you don’t have a product store, you can record a video clicking, for example, "Book now" on your services.
Example post
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-J5anMSt5m/
Resources
Phone with a screen recording app
#3 The "anti-Valentine's" twist ⭐️
Concept
A funny video clip promoting love for your services or products
Use it to
Humorously raise brand awareness
Steps for adapting
You will need a physical item that represents your brand. A bag with a logo is best, but you can also show product packaging or a staff member in uniform. You need two people and a camera in a fixed position.
- Person 1 shows a half heart.
- Person 2 taps the heart, and places your branded item in Person 1’s hand.
- Caption the video accordingly.
Pro tip: For service-based businesses, the second person can be a staff member wearing your branded uniform. They can hold person 1’s hand while looking away from the camera, and you can caption it with “You just need a cleaner from …” or “You just need a haircut from …”.
Example post
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_S0szbSIl7/
Resources
Physical item showing your brand, a friend
#4 Surveillance camera footage ⭐️⭐️
Concept
Surveillance camera footage shows an attempted robbery with a twist—it's an honest customer.
Use it to
Appreciate customer loyalty in an entertaining way
Steps for adapting
You need two people and a camera in a fixed position. If you don’t have a surveillance camera, you can always use a regular camera positioned at a height in the corner of the room, above your checkout counter.
- Person 1 (You or a staff member) pretends to be asleep.
- Person 2 (You or a friend) walks in and picks up an item from the shelf.
- Person 2 takes the POS machine and makes a payment.
- Person 2 shows the paid receipt to the camera.
Caption the video with statements like ”Our loyal customers always find a way to pay.” OR
“Our customers are the best!”
Pro tip: Person 2 can be dressed more suspiciously, like with a ski mask, face covering, hat, etc., for more drama.
Example post
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBbcWneIQB4/
Resources
Camera in the right position, a friend
#5 Public poster reveal ⭐️⭐️
Concept
You unroll a physical poster promoting a launch, sale, or discount in a public place.
Use it to
Promote an upcoming event
Steps for adapting
Record from a fixed camera position.
- Stand in a public place (like a signal crossing, bus stop, or shopping strip) with your rolled-up poster, looking at the camera.
- Unroll it.
Caption the video with the event date and time if applicable.
Pro tip: Make an attractive poster with large visuals and less text. Record in a place that's relevant to your event.
Example post
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBQxDqgsAHH/
Resources
Poster
#6 Dropped Lipstick ⭐️⭐️
Concept
A person purposely drops an item to show off thir newly manicured nails (or your product/service)
Use it to
Showcase a personal care product or advertise your nail care and salon services.
Steps for adapting
Record from a fixed camera position and apply the trending sound.
- A person says, “Oh no, I dropped my lipstick" and drops an item.
- The camera focus shifts to the hand. They bend and pick up the item.
- They look at the item and continue saying, “Oh no,” while showing off their nails or your product.
Caption as POV: You just got a manicure.
Pro tip: This is best for advertising jewelry, watches, makeup items, creams, personal care products, etc. If you don't sell a relevant product, you can have the person hold anything featuring your brand logo.
Example post
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_IfZ-eMeTy/
Resources
Physical product and a friend
Learnings for the Month
#Insider content resonates with audiences
If you want more engagement, create “insider content” that resonates with your audience. Posts with inside jokes, wordplay on internal terminology, or comments on stereotypes/challenges specific to your customer group get many more comments and shares and can even go viral!
For example, we recently shared a post on what marketers think about when they see certain words.
Not only did we get 200+ reposts, but the 2000+ comments were hilarious and made everyone laugh on LinkedIn. Audience participation is key to boosting engagement.
#Think outside the box for seasonal and holiday posts
You may have seen your social media feeds filling up with the usual spring/summer/fall/winter posts every year. Every business starts wishing their followers “Happy Holidays” or offers discounts, runs events, etc. Last month’s Halloween event probably filled your feeds with the usual posts with wordplay on fear, pumpkin photos, and fall discounts.
Repeating the same content won’t help you stand out from the crowd. Think outside the box to make your seasonal messaging more customized and engaging for your audience.
For example, our LinkedIn post on Halloween costumes for marketers got over 2000 likes while subtly promoting our Swag store. We boosted sales without boring our target audience!
#Create comic strips for sharable content
Everyone loves a good comic strip. You can use free tools like Canva Comic Strip Maker and Postermywall to quickly create strips your audience can relate to. If you have a few different buyer personas, you can customize messaging on the same strip for different subgroups and create a carousel post. Such a post motivates people to keep scrolling/clicking through your post and sharing it—increasing organic reach.
For example, our How to Scare comic strip went viral on LinkedIn. By tailoring the "scare" to different professions, we created content with broad appeal.
Special note— Remember to give credit to any comic strip creators you take inspiration from or reuse to customize.
Want to create social media magic like this? ✨
These posts resonated because we've taken the time to truly understand our audience—their needs, humor, and pain points. To get a handle on your social strategy ahead of the new year, you can connect with your audience on a deeper level with Semrush Social:
- Get to know them: Dive into their demographics, online behavior, and content preferences.
- Analyze your competitors: See what's working for them. Uncover their top-performing content by channel and identify trends you can leverage.
Trends for October ‘24
#1 You need a ⭐️
Concept
A video clip showing a secret message on a paper napkin.
Use it to
Innovatively advertise your product.
Steps for adapting
Prepare by writing a “You need a …” message on a paper napkin square. Keep it simple, e.g.,
“You need new shoes.”
“You need a new bag..”
“You need a babysitter.”
Adapt the message to the product or service you offer.
Then, record the below clip in one continuous shot—with the camera fixed over the table.
- Pour some water on the table.
- Put the napkin on the spilled water.
- Keep recording as the message appears.
Pro tip: Your video is more likely to get noticed if you accessorize your table aesthetically. Try to keep your product on the table if possible, or else have a potted plant or some flowers.
Resources
Paper napkin, pen, table (white preferred).
#2 Introduce yourself ⭐️
Concept
A video clip showing someone bumping into you. You are initially angry, then introduce yourself politely.
Use it to
Humorously introduce yourself.
Steps for adapting
Adapting requires a friend with a camera. Tell the friend to keep recording while walking towards you.
- Walk into the camera—fake bump the friend.
- Threaten the friend: “Bump into me one more time, and I’ll show you exactly who I am.”
- Get the friend to touch you.
- Reach out, shake hands, and politely introduce yourself and your business.
- End by saying, “Have a nice day.”
Pro tip: Try and record where your business operates— a mall, shopping strip, market, or the neighborhood where you usually offer services. Remember to mention the location in the video to make it more memorable.
Resources
Friend with a phone.
#3 Dancing trend⭐️
Concept
A video clip showing you or your team members dancing funnily. You can caption the video with an upcoming event or product launch.
Use it to
Enthusiastically promote your event/product.
Steps for adapting
Record yourself or any team member dancing in a funny/cool way to some catchy music.
Caption the video with a statement like
“Expo tomorrow!”
“25% discount on XYZ item.”
“New <product name> has arrived.”
Pro tip: Your video is more likely to get noticed if your outfit is unique and you do some editing, like two of yourself dancing or you dancing over an existing dance clip.
Resources
Music - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DALyKN1IpU0/
Dance tutorial - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAGhBozBVTu/
#4 I am the owner ⭐️
Concept
A video clip shows someone asking for free service, claiming they know the owner. You say you are the owner—shocking them.
Use it to
Show off your store/display or as innovative behind-the-scenes content
Steps for adapting
- Start with a shot of yourself checking out an item and stating the price.
- Shot of a friend/ yourself in different clothes saying they know the owner.
- Zoom in on your face—smile—“I am the owner.”
- Zoom in on the customer, who should have a shocked expression.
Pro tip: In the first shot, you can show your shop, display it in a zoomed-out shot, and then pan into you checking out the item.
Resources
A friend, although you can shoot it yourself with different clothes on and then edit the shots together.
#5 Commenting on others ⭐️
Concept
A video clip of you commenting on another video.
Use it to
Show off your expertise in a relatable and funny way.
Steps for adapting
- Find a video that shows a mistake/trend in your niche.
- Record yourself commenting on it.
- Edit it so your video plays in the corner of the original video.
Pro tip: Remember to shoot your video for the same time length as the original video. Match expressions with what's happening in the video. If you want to explain/educate, you can always record yourself talking for longer and use the pause effect on the other video.
Resources
Tutorial on how to make and edit a commentary video.
Learnings for the Month
#Free downloads increase engagement (and grow mailing lists).
Alongside entertaining and informational posts, consider educating your audience too. Prepare little booklets of informational content and share the link for a free download—but remember to redirect your customers to an email capture gateway. Give them access to the download via emails so you can continue nurturing leads for conversion.
For example, we recently shared the Anatomy of a Perfect Blog Post as a gated downloadable, resulting in 200 reposts and nearly 1000 new email captures!
#Instagram carousels can still be very effective if you know how to use them.
It can feel like Reels have taken over Instagram, but static posts still have their place. Use your carousel to share a story or humorous message your audience can relate to and watch your engagement soar.
For example, our Instagram carousel post received thousands of likes and shares. It involved a mean shooting star and marketing budget woes—something that resonates deeply with our audience. Feel free to reuse the graphics with your messaging!
#Current event memes are always popular.
Memes can seem frivolous but are popular among both young and older audiences. Try and find memes related to current events and adapt them to your context. Such content is quick to create and always popular.
For example, our Olympic meme was a huge hit on Instagram. Check out the comments—we love our audience!
Our Moo Deng Meme went viral on LinkedIn. Yes, we compared a pygmy hippo to the over-enthusiastic marketing professional.
We even had the LinkedIn team comment on our post!
Wondering how you can stay on top of trends while running a stressful business? Our new Social Content AI feature—AI Niche Trends—can help. Enter your domain name or business description for a customized content plan with all the latest trends!
| ⭐️Supercharge Your Social Media with Social Content AI⭐️
|
Trends for September ‘24
Social media trends for September 2024
#1 Crying girl meme ⭐️
Concept
A video clip showing a crying girl who starts laughing when she sees your product.
Use it to
Show off your product in a relatable and funny way.
Steps for adapting
Adapting requires some skillful video editing.
- Start with a shot of the crying girl.
- Insert footage of yourself looking at the camera as if you've just noticed the crying girl.
- Zoom in on the face of the crying girl.
- Insert footage of yourself showing your product to the camera.
- Show the girl's surprised and laughing expression.
Pro tip: Your video is more likely to get noticed if your outfit or accessories are unique and your product is showcased glamorously.
Example post
Resources
Take the original crying girl clip from TikTok and edit it with your own recording.
#2 Annoying salesman ⭐️⭐️
Concept
A stranger asks you (the business owner) about what you do. You respond by chasing them down, asking for contact details, and trying to make a sale.
Use it to
Poke fun at your hustle spirit (humble brag ;)) or at an industry stereotype.
Steps for adapting
- You can take the original video, but record your voice and dialog and edit the subtitles. OR
- Record yourself getting out of the car and chasing the camera, asking questions.
Pro tip: Your video will get more attention if you pretend to slip and almost fall like the original guy.
Example post
Resources
Take the original clip from Instagram. Remember to credit the original creator!
#3 Sales teleporter ⭐️⭐️
Concept
You are standing outside your storefront waving enthusiastically as a customer drives by. The camera pans, and you are now in the back seat of the car, smiling creepily at the customer and encouraging them to buy your product.
Use it to
Poke fun at your hustle spirit or promote a special discount or giveaway.
Steps for adapting
This requires some shooting effort.
- Record yourself waving outside your store, a busy shopping center, or an event venue. Ask someone to record you from within a moving car.
- Record yourself sitting in the back seat of the same car. Use a camera in the front seat for recording.
Pro tip: To create a creepy/horror video mood, act like you are threatening the driver in the last shot. You could also wear a creepy costume or enthusiastically promote your product.
Example post
#4 Board & paper ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Concept
Use a board and pen to share tips. Key information is hidden, and you uncover it in the video.
Use it to
Educate your audience with short tips that they can remember and implement.
Steps for adapting
Prepare the board and record yourself revealing key information. Try to keep the written content short and neat.
Example post
Resources
You will need a whiteboard, marker, and stickers or labels to hide some parts of your message.
Pro tip: Your video will attract more attention if you use a bigger board, neater handwriting, and colorful labels/stickers.
#5 Dangerous situation ⭐️⭐️
Concept
A special-effect video that shows you promoting your product or sharing a safety tip around a dangerous situation like a reversing car or a slowly oncoming bus.
Use it to
Educate your audience memorably or show your commitment to your product in a funny way.
Steps for adapting
This requires some video-editing skills and knowledge.
- Record yourself talking about your product with the product in your hand. Use a blank screen and background and record from a slight distance.
- Take just your clip and overlay it over another video of a car reversing or other dangerous situation.
Pro tip: You can record the car reversing or bus video outside your storefront if you have a physical store.
Example post
Resources
Free video clip - moving car
Free video clip - car crossing road
Free video clip - oncoming train
#6 Dancing ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Concept
Dance and show different product variations or product items to catchy music.
Use it to
Promote your products, showcase a new release, or humble brag about the different roles you play while running your business (manager, cleaner, cook, etc.).
Steps for adapting
Record the same dance movement with different clothes in the same spot.
Join the different clips so transitions look seamless.
Pro tip: Record with a tripod for maximum stability. Start at the exact same spot in the exact same pose for a smooth final video.
Example post
#7 Product Giveaways ⭐️⭐️
Concept
You meet a stranger and give away your product if they complete a challenge.
Use it to
Showcase your products or promote a discount, voucher, etc.
Steps for adapting
- Get a friend/colleague to act like a stranger, introduce yourself, and ask them to perform the task.
- The task should be related to or even using your product.
- Shoot the video with your hand camera so it looks natural.
Pro tip: Share some educational tips about using your product or on the subject. Keep the video shorter than 90 seconds for maximum impact.
FAQ of the month
Can I repurpose video content between Instagram Reels and TikTok?
| Absolutely! Reach a wider audience by sharing your videos on both platforms. Pro Tip: Aim for higher quality when creating videos for Instagram, then adapt them for TikTok. Don't forget to include relevant keywords in captions and descriptions to boost visibility. |
Try Social Poster to schedule your videos simultaneously on Instagram and TikTok:
- Identify optimal posting times for each platform
- Analyze and re-purpose your top-performing posts
- Use AI to schedule your social media calendar a month in advance
Learnings for the Month
#One-person marketing can be more successful than you imagine.
This reel about one-person marketing got over 35K views.
We think it worked because it combined a universal music reference (the music from Friends) with a classic marketing pain point. We know digital marketers struggle with wearing many hats in their roles, and acknowledging this reality in a comical way really hit the mark with our audience.
#Emojis are always popular.
Our #WorldEmojiDay posts went down a treat with our audience, getting over 5000+ reactions and 200,000 impressions on LinkedIn and Instagram.
 |  |  |
One person commented:
The key takeaway? Keep a calendar of important ‘National Days’ that align with your brand and target audience—and consistently celebrate those days with engaging social content. These are great opportunities to connect even better with your followers!
#Freebies don't have to be physical products.
Brands think they have to give away physical products to drive engagement. But sometimes, solving a problem for free or giving away ideas works just as well!
When we launched our Social Content AI, we released an interactive post that promised to give 30+ custom social media marketing ideas to anyone who asked.
We responded to every comment, skyrocketing engagement on LinkedIn.
An example list of ideas we shared:
Social Content AI can generate personalized content ideas and posts for your brand, too!
- Compelling social copy and captions
- Unique images and designs
- Videos and memes