March Madness is back and it’s lived up to its name. From Iowa’s historic upset over defending champ Florida to the viral firestorm surrounding Penn’s “elitist” band chant, this month has proven that one raw, unscripted moment can outperform a huge campaign. Whether it’s Illinois’ Zvonimir Ivisic shattering backboards and social metrics simultaneously or Purdue’s Oscar Cluff becoming a meme for his “Queens is in New York” gaffe, the message is clear: authenticity is the only bracket that doesn’t break.

You don’t need a perfect play to win on Instagram or TikTok; you just need to be in the conversation. By leaning into real-time trends and showing the human side of your business, you can win customers.

Bowe Digital is here to help! We share monthly updates on what’s trending in video and audio, so all you have to do is get behind the camera. If you need help getting started on TikTok, check out our TikTok ebook. We also offer Studio Days, where our team will join you for 4 or 6 hours of video recording at a great price.

 

Why You So Obsessed With Me Video Trend

What should your clients be absolutely obsessed with? You? Your new product? Whatever it is, get their attention and literally make heads turn by using this trend. Here’s how you do it: Video an unsuspecting group of people and shout in their direction as you walk past so that they look at you, then immediately strike a pose by yourself and add a caption related to what you do, like “new homebuyers are obsessed with working with me.” Or, show off your product like Papa John’s did here. 

 

“What Do You Want to Say to the First Person” Video Trend 

You’ve heard of the game telephone—this trend is a little bit like that, and it’s an easy way to get your whole team involved. Start by going up to one person and asking, “What do you want to say to the first person?” Repeat their response to the next person without context, and do that same thing over and over. Not following? Check out these examples from the Dallas Mavs and @lounsburychev.

 

The Goo Goo Dolls’ 90s Audio Trend

Hollywood stars like Reese Witherspoon and Jesse Metcalfe have used this trending audio of The Goo Goo Dolls’ song “Iris” to showcase flashback photos from the 90s, but we think you can use it for any decade. Flip it to highlight your business’s history. Add the text “What was [Company Name] like in the [insert decade]?” Then, rather than using photos of yourself, upload flashback photos from your company’s early years. 

 

Keep This Thing Alive Audio Trend

People have turned a seemingly negative comment from Timothee Chalamet into a positive audio trend on social media, and we’re all for it! They’re pairing his diss of the Opera Ballet with things they love, appreciate or want to “keep alive,” despite not always seeing support from everyone. You can use it to highlight the things in your industry that you think are important but sometimes undervalued. Check out this example about ballet and this one about reading. 

 

Tom the Lizard Yelling CapCut Template 

Tom the Lizard is a major character in the new Disney & Pixar animated film Hoppers, and he is trending everywhere right now. He’s got a bit of manic energy, so pair this CapCut with anything that makes you scream your head off.

 

I’m Totally Not Angry CapCut Template

This is for the moments when you totally are angry, but put on a brave face in the name of professionalism. Use it to poke fun at the things your coworkers or clients do that push your buttons or trigger you.

The 2026 Hashtag Playbook: It’s About Search, Not Spam

In 2026, the “hashtag dump” is officially a relic of the past. Social platforms have evolved into sophisticated search engines that prioritize Social SEO, meaning the AI reads your captions, listens to your audio and scans your on-screen text to decide who sees your content. Hashtags now act as secondary filing labels rather than primary growth hacks.

Here is the “less is more” strategy that’s actually working right now:

• Instagram & TikTok: The Power of Five. Stick to 3–5 highly specific tags. Instead of broad terms like #marketing, use niche phrases that actually describe your video. On TikTok especially, make sure your tags match the words you’re saying out loud—the AI is cross-checking them for “authenticity” in 2026.
• LinkedIn: Keep it Clean. Stick to 3 tags at the very bottom. Use “PascalCase” (like #SocialMediaTrends) to make them easier to read. It keeps your professional brand looking sharp and accessible.
• Facebook: Event Only. Honestly? Use them sparingly. Save hashtags for big cultural moments, like #MarchMadness2026, to help your post land in the right public conversation.

The Real Secret? Keywords.

Your caption is more important than your tags. Write for humans first, use natural keywords and let the hashtags be the final “nudge” to tell the algorithm where you belong.