Recently, I found myself in a mini soapbox moment with the Strella team about something that's been bugging me…and honestly, I haven't stopped thinking about it since.
I told the team, “I'm done” with the gratuitous or irrelevant holiday posts (more context on this later!) that I see on social media. And that sparked a conversation about all the other things—tactics that were once trendy and effective but now just feel dated—that our team collectively is tired of seeing on social media.
Without further ado, below are the five things we’re over, and what you can do instead to ensure your content actually connects, converts, and stops the scroll in 2026.
1. Holiday Posts With No Soul
Let me be clear: I'm not against acknowledging holidays. Some brands should. If you're a veteran-owned business, should you post about Veterans Day? Absolutely. If your nonprofit is running a fundraising campaign, should you post about Giving Tuesday? Let's go! And I'm not talking about heartfelt Memorial Day reflections or sincere Christmas wishes from a company’s founder.
I'm talking about mundane posts with a "Happy [Whatever] Day!" message slapped onto a generic Canva background and tossed into the feed like confetti. No context. No meaning. No strategy. So, if your "Happy Fourth of July!" post reeks of being auto-scheduled by a robot and gives your followers no reason to engage, what are you doing?
A holiday is an opportunity. Not a free pass to post without intention. This includes made-up holidays, such as National Pizza Day or Emoji Day. They used to be cute, fun, and whimsical, but now those special day-themed posts are often perceived as lazy content planning. For instance, posting about "National Pickleball Day" when your business has nothing to do with pickles, balls, or the game is a sure sign you were posting without intention.
It’s important to realize we've moved beyond calendar-based content as the backbone of a social media strategy.
Instead, ask yourself:
- Does this date actually give me a relevant angle to talk about something meaningful to my audience?
- Can I tie it into a current campaign, product, or belief?
- Is this just me trying to fill the calendar with something because I don't want to go two days without posting?
Don't force relevance; curate meaning.
2. "New Post Up!" on Stories With No Hook
This one gets me fired up.
You post a new reel. Then jump on Instagram Stories and say, “Hey friends, new post up—go check it out!”
Cool. Thanks for the status update, but that’s not going to make anyone tap.
Social media is noisy. You’re competing with vacation recaps, emotional reels, dog content, and babies in sunglasses. If all you do is announce that you posted, you’re basically whispering into a void.
Try this instead:
- Tease the post: "I just said something bold in my new post…and it might make you rethink your entire marketing strategy."
- Ask a question: "Are you team hard launch or soft launch? Just dropped a Reel with my take."
- Create urgency, emotion, or curiosity: That's what gets clicks.
Think of it this way…
- Story = Trailer
- Feed = Feature Film
Market accordingly.
3. Trending Audio with Zero Relevance
Let me guess. You saw a trending audio with 48k uses and thought, "This could work." So, you slapped some B-roll over it and added random text that kinda-sorta relates to your offer.
And then…nothing happened.
Why? Because it didn't mean anything.
We've all been tempted by the trend trap. But jumping on a sound (without a real idea behind it) just because it's trending is a waste of your audience's time and yours.
Instead:
- Let the message lead the format, not the other way around.
- Use trends as inspiration, not a crutch.
- Remix the audio so it has some distinction and feels like you, not everyone else.
Spoiler alert: originality always wins.
4. "This or That?" Polls with No Purpose
Coffee or tea? Dogs or cats? Pineapple on pizza?
These posts are fine if you’re handing over the reins of your socials during a team takeover or trying to warm up your stories. But if they reflect your primary content strategy, we need to talk.
Technically, this kind of engagement "boosts the algorithm," but if it's not helping your brand learn about your audience, drive conversions, or deepen relationships—then what's the point?
Here's a better angle:
- Ask "this or that" questions that tie back to your expertise.
- Use interactive features (polls, sliders, quizzes) to collect insight you can use in future posts.
- Make it personal (share your own answer and invite responses).
Engagement without intention is just noise. Ask smarter questions.
5. Hashtag Stuffing Like It's 2014
If you're still copying and pasting 30 hashtags like #blessed #growth #digitalmarketing #inspo #fun in every post…PLEASE, for the love of the algorithm, stop!
Hashtags aren't dead, but they're definitely not functioning the same way as in past years. Meta platforms, especially, are shifting more toward interest-based content discovery and AI-driven recommendations, not endless hashtag piles.
Instead:
- Use three highly relevant, specific hashtags: Think niche, local, or brand.
- Prioritize the caption: Your hook will work harder for your brand than your hashtags ever will.
- Track the hashtags that actually performs in your Insights: I’ll bet #girlboss isn’t one of them.
If you want to grow, stop clinging to what used to work and focus on what is working.
Social Media Has Changed. Your Strategy Should, Too.
We're no longer in the Instagram highlight-reel era. We're not in the "just post every day and you'll grow" era either.
Social in 2025 is about connection, clarity, and creativity—and that will continue in 2026. You can't autopilot your way into trust and traction. So, skip the fluff and forget the filler. Post with purpose and make your brand worth following.
