Posting a dollified version of yourself courtesy of AI? Taking your 18-year-old self for a virtual coffee? Or perhaps sharing heavily redacted screenshots of emails to make a bold point?

Creative? Absolutely.

Attention-grabbing? You bet.

Right for your business and your brand? Well… that’s the million-dollar question.

At Marketing Doris, we love a good trend as much as the next marketer. Inspiration is everywhere, and sometimes hopping on a cultural wave can create just the spark your brand needs. But not every trend fits every business – and forcing it can do more harm than good.

Chatting with a client earlier, they were questioning whether the recent ‘coffee with your 18-year-old self’ idea aligned with their brand. They saw it everywhere online – but something didn’t sit quite right for them. And they were right to pause and think.

Here’s the thing: great marketing isn’t about copying what everyone else is doing.

It’s about knowing your tone of voice, your audience, and your goals – and making choices that align with all three.

If your brand is playful, people-led, and full of personality? Then maybe that plastic-toy in customised packaging is bang on.

But if you’re all about trust, expertise, and a bit more traditional in tone? Then maybe not.

Following trends can be fun – but following your own path builds consistency, credibility, and real connection with your audience.

So before you jump on the next viral bandwagon, ask yourself:

• Does this reflect who we are?
• Will this resonate with our ideal clients?
• And… does it actually help move the needle toward our goals?

If the answer is yes – go for it. If not, don’t be afraid to do your own thing. It’s worked for plenty of trailblazers before you.

Need a sounding board for your next idea?

You know where to  find me and coffee (with or without teenage versions of ourselves) is always on the cards.