The 5 Scariest Things Brands Still Do in 2025

Even in 2025, some marketing habits just won’t die.

The ghosts of bad strategy keep returning to haunt brands that should know better.

So, grab your flashlight. Here are the five most terrifying mistakes brands still make… and how to exorcise them for good.

1. Posting without a plan.

“Let’s just get something up.”

Still the fastest way to haunt your own feed.

It happens every day. A blank content calendar. A quiet moment. Someone panics — and out goes a post with no purpose.

But content without context isn’t strategy; it’s just noise.

When you post just to fill space, you confuse your audience and waste your team’s energy. Every post should connect back to something bigger: a story you’re telling, a goal you’re working toward, or a value you’re reinforcing.

In other words, your content strategy should be derived from your brand identity.

You don’t need to post more. You need to post with meaning.

2. Chasing trends instead of truth.

If your brand voice sounds different every week, it’s not “versatile.” It’s lost.

Trends can be fun! They can help your brand stay relevant and human. But chasing every one of them is like trying to catch ghosts.

Your audience follows your brand because of what makes it unique. If you keep shifting your tone, visuals, or message to fit whatever’s popular, you’ll disappear into the noise.

The most magnetic brands know exactly who they are — and filter every trend through that identity. Before you jump on the next viral sound or meme, ask: Does this sound like us? If not, let it pass.

Authenticity outlasts any trend. Always.

3. Treating social like a sales counter.

Every post shouldn’t scream “buy now.” In fact, hardly any of your posts should.

Tell me why you exist first. Bring me value: often via entertainment, inspiration, or information.

Selling is important — but it’s not a strategy on its own. Nobody opens their favorite app thinking, I hope I see a sales pitch today.

The brands that win long-term use storytelling to connect with their audience first and foremost. They show their purpose, highlight their people, and give value before they ever ask for a conversion.

Think about it this way: sales posts request transactions. Storytelling builds trust. Trust leads to loyalty. And loyalty? That’s where the real ROI lives.

4. Ignoring the comments section.

You don’t build loyalty by talking at people. You build it by talking with them.

Social media is meant to be, well, social.

Yet so many brands still treat it like a digital billboard, a one-way communication with no dialogue, no engagement, and no personality.

When your audience comments, they’re inviting you into a conversation. Respond, interact, thank them, and make them feel seen. Your community is your most valuable marketing asset.

And listening to what your audience is saying in the comments leads to inspiring, bold, and resonant marketing campaigns. It also shows your brand truly cares about your audience, and isn’t just saying that it does in hopes that leads to conversions.

The best brands listen as much as (or, probably more accurately, far more than) they speak. Because loyalty isn’t built in your captions; it’s built in your replies.

5. Copying competitors instead of clarifying who they are.

There’s nothing scarier than looking just like everyone else — especially online.

It’s tempting to imitate what’s working for others. You see a brand in your space going viral, and suddenly your team says, Let’s do that too. But replication is rarely the path to relevance.

You can’t copy someone else’s playbook and expect the same magic. What makes a brand stand out is clarity — a deep understanding of who they are, what they stand for, and why people should care.

When you stop copying and start clarifying, your audience can finally recognize you.

The truth?
You don’t need potions, tricks, or viral spells to grow your brand.
You just need clarity, consistency, and courage.

Happy Halloween from Tewdilly — where we help brands come alive!