Copy, Content, and Customs to be Left Behind in 2017

So.  Over.  These.

It’s that time of the season.  We reflect.  We remember.  We embrace the coming of a fresh new year filled with an uncharted plethora of trendy idioms launched by our globe’s young sub culture, each catapulting a wave of usage across platforms, generations, and even continents, all spreading faster than word of George Michael’s Christmas Day passing (RIP the singing Greek).

And as we embrace the new, I hope you’ll please join me in saying an official sayonara to some current trends where time in the spotlight has most certainly come and gone.

AF
Why screw up a perfectly effective noun/verb/adjective/adverb by adding “As”??

Well played.
Overused., overplayed, and overhyped – down with it.

#truth
If it’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that there is typically little truth in whatever this hashtag is referencing.

One.  Word.  Sentences.
We already had this expression in speech.  It’s called the em dash.  Just–Google–it.

“__________ got me like…”
No person or thing “got you”.  So please, just stop with the “got”.

The struggle is real.
Is it real?  If it is, by all means carry on.  But if not…

I can’t even.
Yes, you probably can if you put your mind to it.  So go out, do it, and make the world a better place.

Fleek [on, off, in, whatevs]
Fleek simply is not a word.

Bae
Q: Was a 21st century abbreviation of baby or babe really necessary?  A: No, it wasn’t.

#preach
Are you delivering a sermon or religious address to a congregation?   If not, no need to be preachy and for sure no need to hashtag it.  Leave the preaching to the preachers, Judgy McJudgerson.

This ___________ [guy, kid, girl, boy, iguana].
This guy what?  We don’t know what you’re thinking.  And for sure, what we’re thinking and what you’re thinking are likely not the same.  So do everyone a favor and finish that thought.  This guy is amazing.  This kid is the best ever.  This iguana is the my favorite pet ever.

That ________ though…
See above.  Finish your thought and the clause.

Mad props.
99% of people over age 18 sound entirely ridiculous using this term.  A simple thank you is sufficient.  No need to go mad about it and make it overly complicated.

#hashtagsthataretoodifficulttoreadandtoouniquetoserveanypurposeatall
Hashtags are search tools designed to group posts of like topics.  Using them as random addendums to thoughts is both abusive and unnecessary.

#FOMO (the official #YOLO of 2015)…
Word to all.  You may in fact miss out on a few things.  It’s going to happen.  Never fear, you will be okay.

Basic.
Criticism of those who are on the straight and narrow is preachy and we’ve already addressed that the only ones who should be preachy are preachers.

Extra.
Similar to #truth, it’s also been determined that most items deemed extra are indeed lacking and could be considered even lesser than basic. I mean, if we were still using the term basic.

#Goals
No comment.

SQUAD
Thanks to Taylor Swift, young mothers of suburbia everywhere and inner city gangs now have something in common.

#Blessed
#Blessed = #Bragging.  You know it’s true.  😉

Five Undisputed Signs of Lazy Social Media Management

No one likes lazy, except cats. Take note and avoid each of the following signs of lazy social media management for optimal social success.  And remember above all else, stay social not stagnant.

1. Duplicating Content Across Channels
No no, and no. Here’s the thing: no savvy or novice social media user wants to scoot through channels and see the same photo with the same caption via FB, Instagram, FB, etc. As a general rule, duplicating identical content from one channel to another is strongly discouraged. Some times, in rare cases, particular content is important enough that it should in fact be cross promoted. To do so, mix things up. Use different images and different copy to convey the same message. If additional images aren’t available use different crop and filter formats to give the illusion of different captures. Keep it unique and interesting for your audience.

2. Never Taking a Risk
Because no one wants boring. No one wants stagnant. And no one wants redundant. Be creative. Mix in a new idea. Get unique with your posts and above all, take risks. Doing the same thing the same way, will always yield the same results. So to improve, one must dive in a take a risk from time to time.

3. Recycling Old Content
Similar to sharing content across platforms, there’s nothing worse than digging into the deep dark bowels of your old posts and recycling. Stay fresh! Remember you’re having a dialogue with your users. You’re speaking to them. You’re engaging with them. Picture yourself at a cocktail party circulating the room and telling those in attendance the same story you just told 30 minutes ago. You wouldn’t do it in person and you shouldn’t do it online.

4. A High Curate to Create Ratio In Content
Sharing is great. It’s a foundation of social media. However too much sharing, without enough unique original content again, looks lazy. A 1-4 minimum curate to create ratio is recommended so for every one post curated from another channel, plan to make four original posts.  Your voice and your message should be unique to your brand.

5. Using Stock Images
Stock images were great back in the day of film where a brand needed to have a photographer shoot a subject, have film developed, reviewed, and photos properly edited for commercial use. But those days are long gone and so is the constant need for stock imagery. Grab your phone and go original. Keep it unique to your brand and share original images. With a bevy of editing apps available, nearly anyone can capture share worthy images to be used in your social posts.