Last Updated on November 8, 2024 by Michael

Social Media Strategies That Actually Boost Engagement in 2024

How a 2-Legged Chair Became the Pinnacle of Social Media Success

Forget everything you think you know about social media. Actually, forget everything, period. This year, it’s all about unpredictability. If your content doesn’t resemble a 2-legged chair trying to balance while balancing your audience’s attention, you’re doing it wrong. Trust me, in 2024, weird is in. The stranger your content, the higher the engagement.

Imagine posting a chair that’s got only two legs and saying nothing else. No context, no caption, just pure confusion. Is it art? Is it a metaphor for modern life? Is it an auction post for a failed carpentry project? Your audience will wonder. They’ll comment, they’ll share, they’ll tag their friends with the infamous “What in the…”. That’s engagement gold. Embrace the chaos.

Don’t just stop at chairs though—try posting inanimate objects that can’t possibly serve any useful function. A pair of sunglasses for a chicken, a toaster plugged into a cactus, or a napkin soaked in pickle juice. Weird stuff gets attention, and attention is the new currency. You want engagement? Make them question their life choices.

The Art of Posting at the Worst Possible Time

Oh, you thought you had to carefully analyze the best time to post to reach your audience? That’s so 2023. Let’s get real, folks. In 2024, it’s all about posting when no one’s expecting it. Midnight? Sure. Sunday morning at 5 am? Perfect. Why? Because your audience is probably sleep-scrolling or waking up confused, and that’s when they’re most vulnerable. Hit them when they least expect it and watch your engagement metrics skyrocket.

There’s nothing more relatable than confusion. When your audience sees a post at 3:43 am, they’re going to think: “Why on earth am I seeing this?” But more importantly, they’re also going to think: “Why on earth are THEY posting this now?” Bam—instant connection.

Don’t forget to be deliberately mysterious about it. Post a picture of an empty street with the caption: “It’s time.” No explanation. Confuse them, get them thinking, and before you know it, the engagement rolls in. Every like you receive is a trophy for doing absolutely nothing comprehensible.

Trolling Yourself: The Next Big Trend

Forget trolling your competitors—this year, it’s all about trolling yourself. Nothing builds rapport faster than showing you’re willing to roast yourself. Post a video of yourself failing at making a simple sandwich, paired with the caption, “Social media strategist by day, disaster chef by night. Engage at your own risk.” Boom—instant relatability.

People love when brands or creators are self-aware. Are your videos glitchy? Post about it. “We’ve invested our entire budget in this one glitch effect. You’re welcome.” Are your photo editing skills nonexistent? Own it. “Spent 7 hours in Photoshop to add this one extra star in the sky. Worth every second.” Self-trolling makes your audience feel like they’re in on the joke, and nothing says loyalty like letting them laugh at your expense.

The trick is not to be subtle. Be loud about it. Go ahead and make a montage of every typo you’ve ever posted. Make it flashy, add ridiculous sound effects, maybe throw in a rubber chicken noise for good measure. If you’re not making a fool out of yourself, someone else will—might as well get those likes while you’re at it.

The Aggressively Nonchalant Giveaway Tactic

Everyone loves free stuff. But everyone also hates desperation. That’s where aggressively nonchalant giveaways come into play. Instead of hyping it up, play it cool. Way too cool. Post something like, “I guess we’re giving away a car or whatever. Comment if you feel like it.”

The more indifferent you are, the more curious people get. They’re thinking, “Wait, are they serious? A car? Just like that?” Yeah, just like that. Or maybe not. Who knows? Keep them guessing. The key here is to make them want to participate because your attitude suggests you couldn’t care less if they do. It’s reverse psychology at its finest.

Maybe don’t even describe what the prize is. “Giving away something. It’s in a box. I don’t know, do you want it?” What’s in the box? Is it worth it? Who knows—that’s why they’ll engage. Suspense is better than clarity. Besides, if they think you don’t care, they suddenly care a lot more. It’s a beautiful, twisted mess of human nature and it works.

Weird Flex, but Make It Completely Useless

Bragging rights on social media can get annoying, right? Wrong. Bragging is the secret sauce to engagement—but not just any bragging. We’re talking about the kind of flex that makes absolutely zero sense. It’s not even humble, it’s just pointless, and that’s why people love it.

Post about winning an award no one’s ever heard of, like “World’s Slowest Speed Walker 2024.” Or maybe it’s your lifelong achievement of successfully making microwave popcorn without burning it. The more trivial, the better. People will comment, “This is the content I signed up for.” They’ll tag their friends because everyone has a pointless achievement they want to share.

If you don’t have any weird accomplishments, make some up. “Official record holder for most socks lost under the bed in one month.” Who’s verifying that? Nobody. Do you care? Absolutely not. It’s all about engaging your audience with things that are so absurd, they can’t help but laugh, question their existence, and then hit that share button.

The Influencer Collaboration That Makes Zero Sense

Everybody loves a good collab, especially when it makes no sense at all. You think influencer collaborations have to be well thought out and brand-aligned? Forget that. In 2024, it’s all about collaborating with the least likely person possible. Are you a fitness page? Collab with a knitting influencer.

Post a workout video while your knitting influencer partner crochets in the background, occasionally commenting about the strength of the yarn. Caption it: “Strength comes in many forms. Knit, squat, repeat.” The crossover audience will be baffled, amused, and above all—engaged. Nobody saw that coming, and that’s precisely why it works.

Reach out to influencers who have nothing to do with your industry. Are you a food brand? Collaborate with someone who reviews antique furniture. Set up a picnic on a Victorian fainting couch. Eat your granola bars while awkwardly talking about how comfortable the couch is for exactly three minutes straight. Make sure there’s palpable silence in between comments. It’s uncomfortable. It’s weird. It’s pure engagement magic.

Comment Section Chaos: Incite Friendly Feuds

The comment section is where all the action happens. But instead of being a passive bystander, stoke the fire—incite a friendly feud. Post a simple, controversial opinion: “Pineapple belongs on pizza. No exceptions.” Sit back, relax, and let the chaos unfold.

But don’t leave it there. You need to get involved too. Reply to comments with exaggerated enthusiasm. Someone says, “Pineapple on pizza is an abomination”? Hit them with, “And yet, here you are, looking at my delicious pineapple-covered pizza. Coincidence? I think not.” Keep it lighthearted but feisty. The more you engage, the more others will join in.

Pit two things against each other that have no business being compared. “Who would win in a fight: a hotdog or a taco?” Go into the comment section yourself and argue passionately for one side. When people see the brand itself involved in the madness, they can’t help but jump in.

Or post an image of a cat and a dog, captioned: “Who wore it better?” Just be ready for the cat people vs. dog people battle of the century—which, by the way, is exactly what you want. Controversy (the playful kind) gets people typing, and the more they type, the more the algorithm loves you.

Meme Inception: Memes Within Memes

If you’re not already in the meme game, you’re behind. But we’re not talking about your everyday memes—we’re talking about memes within memes. Think about a meme that reacts to another meme. It’s meme inception, and it’s bound to leave your audience puzzled and amused.

Post an image of the “Distracted Boyfriend” meme but with a twist. The boyfriend is looking at the “I should be working” meme, while ignoring the “9 am Zoom Meeting” meme. Layers. People love layers. And by the time they’ve figured it out, they’ve already shared it, commented on it, and tagged three coworkers who are also avoiding their 9 am meeting.

Memes are about being relatable, but meme inception takes it to another level. You’re not just relatable—you’re hyper-relatable, showing that not only do you get it, but you get it on a meta level. It’s like an inside joke within an inside joke. And when people get it, they feel smarter—and they want everyone else to know they’re smart too. Cue the engagement avalanche.

The 3-Second Video That Ends with No Explanation

Forget long-form content. In 2024, people’s attention spans have reached negative values. The more abrupt and confusing the content, the better. Make a video that lasts exactly three seconds, and make sure it ends without any explanation.

Film yourself opening the fridge, staring blankly at it, and then cutting to black—no conclusion, no punchline, just a moment lost in the void of existence. Caption it: “Anyone else?” It’s short enough to keep them curious and ambiguous enough to keep them questioning everything.

Another option is to start a tutorial and then just cut it off halfway. “How to tie your shoes properly:” Video starts, you pick up the laces, you’re about to demonstrate, and then—BAM—video ends. No further information provided. People will comment, “Wait, where’s the rest?!” That’s engagement, my friend. You’re living rent-free in their minds and taking their likes and comments with you.

Conclusion: Throwing the Rulebook Out the Window

If there’s one thing to take away from social media strategies in 2024, it’s this: forget the rulebook, throw it out the window, set it on fire, and then livestream the whole process. Conventional wisdom is for the boring. Engagement is all about surprises, confusion, and letting your audience in on the madness.

Keep them guessing. Keep them laughing. And most importantly, keep them questioning what exactly it is they’re even engaging with. When they can’t make sense of your strategy, that’s when you’ve won.