Fall is a busy time for business owners, and you have the chance to capitalize on it even further if you know how to use social media to your advantage.
But the cold and gloomy weather this time of year can limit your social media content opportunities. I’ve got you covered with these unique, easy, and, most importantly, indoor-friendly social media trends for October.
I’ll explain each trend, provide step-by-step instructions, and give you direct links to the sound you need to recreate it. Let’s get started!
TikTok Trend: The Firefighter Method
🎵 Trending sound: Tuesday’s Gone, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Firefighters prepare their gear in advance for emergency call-outs, and this social media trend for October applies the same principle to fashion. TikTok users have been creatively laying out their outfits “just in case” they get called to a last-minute social event.
The most glaring fit for this trend is fashion brands. Instead of using models to show off your next clothing line, why not try arranging them firefighter-style? This trend isn’t limited to one industry, though; it can be used to drive home how essential any product is for its target audience.
- Click the linked trending sound on a mobile device and tap “Use sound”
- Film a clip of your products set up on the floor in a ready-to-use position
- Add the text “Firefighter method in case… [add your hypothetical emergency].” Here are some effective examples:
- Athleisure brand: “in case the girlies want to go for a coffee after the gym”
- Tissue brand: “in case anyone asks me to watch a sad movie”
- Esthetician: “in case anyone texts me asking for last minute botox”
Instagram Trend: Running From a Murderer
🎵 Trending sound: Goo Goo Muck, The Cramps
We all know about stranger danger, right? This social media trend for October makes me not so sure. Instagram users have been imagining a scenario where a serial killer approaches them, but with a twist: after an initial escape, something makes them turn back around.
This trend is super adaptable and great for the spooky season. For instance, you could use it to show shared interests between colleagues, or a common customer mistake that you can’t help but correct. Many brands get their voluntary serial killer to hold up their latest product so that they can run back and swipe it from their hand.
- Click the linked trending sound on a mobile device and tap “Use audio”
- Film a video running away from the camera, then stopping and turning dramatically
- Add the text “when you’re running from a murderer but…” for the duration of the run
- Add text describing the thing that makes you turn. Examples I’ve seen from brands include:
- Coffee shop: “…but I realize they’re holding a vanilla matcha latte”
- Fragrance brand: “…but then I smell [scent] on him”
- Dentist: “…but I notice he needs some dental work”
Instagram Trend: Thinnest Reel Ratio
🎵 Trending sound: Find any trending Instagram audio that fits your Instagram Reel
If you use Instagram, you may have already seen the ultra-thin Reels that have been taking over the feed for the past week. This unique trend draws from Instagram’s latest social media update – its thinnest post format yet – to create stretched-out shots that instantly give posts a cinematic feel.
Brands of all sizes have jumped on this trend to capture their products in new ways, from realtors snapping wide-angle house videos to beverage brands lining their colorful cans in a row. Plus, the thin photo encourages users to stop scrolling and zoom in to get a better look at the post, making it much more engaging.
Top Tip 💡Given the different aspect ratio of this post format compared to Instagram’s grid, your Reel will appear zoomed in on your profile. If this preview disrupts your profile’s theme, you can remove it from your main grid by holding down the post and selecting “Remove from profile grid.” This will ensure it only appears in the Reels profile feed.
- Create content using the wide-angle lens available on most cell phones
- Use editing software such as Canva or CapCut to crop your content to a 5120 x 1080 pixel aspect ratio
- Download your content as an MP4 file and upload it as a regular Instagram Reel
- Add the trending social media sound of your choice
October Dates for Your Social Media Calendar
Trends are a handy way to fill content gaps and boost visibility, but planning a solid posting schedule is the real secret to achieving long-term social media success.
Here are the top marketing dates to consider adding to your social media calendar this month:
- Whole month: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Whole month: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Whole month: LGBT History Month
- Oct 1: International Coffee Day
- Oct 1: World Vegetarian Day
- Oct 2: Start of Yom Kippur
- Oct 2: International Day of Non-Violence
- Oct 3: National Boyfriend Day
- Oct 3: World Smile Day
- Oct 4: National Taco Day
- Oct 5: World Teachers Day
- Oct 10: World Mental Health Day
- Oct 11: National Coming Out Day
- Oct 13: Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Oct 16: World Food Day
- Oct 20: Diwali
- Oct 24: United Nations Day
- Oct 31: Halloween
I like using HubSpot to schedule and track my social media posts, since it has a handy calendar view and a mobile app, meaning I can edit on the go. If you use a website builder, it’s also worth checking what social media management tools they offer – GoDaddy has lots of AI-powered social tools already built in.
Top Tip 💡TikTok has released a Halloween-themed #TikTokTober content calendar packed with content ideas for every day of October. It’s worth checking out for even more spooky content ideas!
Predicting Fall Social Media Trends
October has already seen plenty of great social media trends for businesses to try, and we’re only one week in!
One pattern I’ve noticed this month is the resurgence of key social media trends from last October. With this in mind, I recommend looking back at last fall and winter and seeing if there are any older trends you can predict.
For example, it’s likely that the “ghost photoshoot” TikTok trend is likely to recirculate soon – it has been popular every October and November since 2022. Preempting the next big thing and acting on it before it’s oversaturated will always see the best results.
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