Why Your Brand’s Social Media Feels Like a Dad Joke… and How to Fix It

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Let’s be honest: some brand accounts on social media feel like that one uncle at Thanksgiving who just discovered memes. You know the vibe:  outdated references, weird hashtags, and the digital equivalent of “How do you do, fellow kids?”

But don’t worry. If your social media presence feels a little… stiff, you’re not alone. Digital marketing moves fast. The good news? You can fix it and have fun doing it.

At Digital Cheddar, we believe your brand voice should be more party host, less infomercial. Let’s get into it.

1. Stop Trying to Be Cool. Start Being Human

You don’t need to jump on every trending sound or force Gen Z slang into your captions.

Instead, ask: What would your brand say at a dinner party?

• Chill brands can use humor and sass (think Wendy’s).

   

• Professional brands can be warm and insightful (think Notion or Grammarly).

   

• Edgy brands? Go bold. Just don’t be weird for the sake of it.

Pro tip: Write like you talk. Then cut 25% of the fluff. Voila! Relatable content.

2. The Meme-ification of Marketing

You’ve seen them: memes about work, niche TikToks that somehow sell software, and brands roasting themselves on Twitter/X.

Why does this work? Because funny = shareable. And shareable = organic reach. 

Just remember:

• Match your humor with your audience’s taste.

   

• Don’t be offensive (unless your audience is literally sailors).

   

• Always tie the joke back to your brand promise or product. Otherwise, you’re just doing stand-up for free.

Bonus: Reaction gifs still slap. Use responsibly.

3. Your Hashtag Strategy Might Be Haunted

Here’s the thing: #ThrowbackThursday was cute in 2014. Now? Not so much.

The era of generic hashtag dumping is over. What matters is intentional tagging that fits the platform:

• Instagram: Niche hashtags = discoverability gold.

   

• LinkedIn: Use 2-3 relevant tags per post (not 30).

   

• TikTok: Trends change hourly. Hashtags can help, but content drives reach.

   

Stop using: #Marketing #Business #Success #Innovation #FollowMe

Start using: #EmailMarketingTips #DTCGrowthHacks #ContentThatConverts

Make Marketing Fun Again

Your social presence should feel like a digital block party, not a brand hostage video.

Let go of the corporate tone. Embrace humor, human moments, and genuine engagement. Because the brands that feel like real people are the ones people actually want to follow.

 Need help giving your social voice a glow-up?  Digital Cheddar’s content team turns brand blah into brand bravo. Let’s talk.

 

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