Standing Out on Social Media: Embrace the Unusual

Trying to break the mold when everyone else is perfectly round and blue. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it. 😅

Playing It Too Safe Is the Biggest Risk in Social Media

As business owners and marketers, we often stick to the tried-and-true, crafting messages in committees and subjecting them to layers of approval. This cautious approach leads to content that’s boring, repetitive, and predictable.

We've all seen it: carefully crafted yet uninspired user-generated content (UGC) campaigns, branded hashtags, and social media posts that feel like they were spooned out of the corporate soup bowl. It’s a result of constantly worrying about brand perception, share of voice, and customer loyalty.

But if you always stick to the map, you'll never discover anything new or inspiring. Being witty and irreverent could be what your social marketing needs to get the attention you want—attention you might not currently deserve.

People love companies that go against the grain. A dose of irreverence and tasteful humor can increase a brand's likability. The best marketing—think of the very best you've ever seen—blends creativity, beauty, and salesmanship, rising to the level of art.

Ready to Level Up Your Social Media Playbook? Discover Proven Strategies to Boost Engagement, Attract Followers, and Drive Real Results!

Skittles Made ‘Unusual’ Their Whole Brand Message

Skittles is a prime example of a brand built on being unusual. Their iconic "Taste The Rainbow" campaign has been running since 1994, featuring countless quirky TV spots with themes like disease, anthropomorphic piñatas, and half-man, half-sheep hybrids.

We all have learned to Taste The Rainbow.

Innovative artists and seasoned comedians know which buttons to push, and the best marketers take significant risks to capture the brand's essence. Sure, many ideas fail, but the joy of winning keeps them coming back, daring to take risks again and again.

Not every piece of content needs to be over the top. Does your brand voice need to be consistent across every customer-facing touchpoint? Maybe that rule needs to be tested. The most successful brands on social media have been quietly breaking the rules for years.

Finding new perspectives... literally.

Meticulous Professionalism is Boring

People are inundated with similar advertisements, posts, and articles every day. Instead of sending out robotic, informational posts, try to entertain or captivate your audience. Injecting some fun into your brand can make your audience stick with you.

The key is to mix your content with different levels of unconventionality. Most brands play it safe, but breaking out of the mold more often can be beneficial.

You can develop a social media voice that’s distinct from your typical marketing voice without jeopardizing how customers feel about your products or services.

In fact, you might just spark curiosity and attraction.

Wrapping It All Up

Marketing is in the eye of the beholder. Choosing an out-of-the-box approach might feel uncomfortable, but that’s a good thing. Use good judgment, and you’ll be fine.

The worst that can happen is your idea flops. And then you try again. And again.

Ready to Level Up Your Social Media Playbook? Discover Proven Strategies to Boost Engagement, Attract Followers, and Drive Real Results!