The “Supposed To Look Like” trend is gaining traction across TikTok and Instagram Reels.
The trend opens with a text overlay such as “This is what marketing is supposed to look like,” followed by visuals that either reinforce or contradict that expectation.
Most creators lean into humor, satire, or relatable commentary.
Videos commonly highlight the gap between industry perception and day-to-day reality. In marketing content, this often means polished brand imagery contrasted with messy workflows, constant revisions, analytics dashboards, or behind-the-scenes footage.
Videos are typically under 15 seconds and structured for immediate recognition.
Why The ‘Supposed To Look Like’ Trend Matters
This trend performs well because it relies on cognitive contrast. Viewers instantly recognize the expectation being referenced. The visual payoff then delivers either validation or comedic reversal.
That structure encourages completion and replay.
The format also scales easily across niches. Nearly every industry has widely understood stereotypes or misconceptions. The trend converts those assumptions into engagement triggers.
Because the storytelling is visual, creators can communicate commentary quickly without explanation. Relatability and recognition drive performance more than production quality.
How To Do The ‘Supposed To Look Like’ Trend
Here is a beginner guide on the ‘Supposed To Look Like’ content idea:
Step 1: Pick A Funny Stereotype
Start by identifying a belief, stereotype, or polished perception tied to your industry. Strong expectations reference outcomes, lifestyle, productivity, income, or daily work experience.
Avoid vague ideas. The expectation must feel concrete and familiar.
Ask a simple question: Would most people in my audience instantly understand this statement? If not, refine it. Specificity improves clarity. “Marketing is easy” lands better than “Marketing is misunderstood.”
Step 2: Add Visuals
Select visuals that clearly reinforce or challenge the expectation.
You can exaggerate the stereotype or reveal reality. Effective footage includes workflows, dashboards, revisions, meetings, stress moments, repetitive tasks, or behind-the-scenes clips.
Avoid random b-roll. Every visual should strengthen the contrast. The viewer must interpret the message without explanation. If a clip needs context, replace it. Straightforward visual storytelling is critical.
Step 3: Add B-Roll and Clips
Place the overlay at the opening frame. Hold it briefly. Cut sharply into visuals. Keep clips short, typically one to two seconds. Maintain rhythm through variation.
Remove filler, redundancy, or slow transitions. Limit runtime to 7–15 seconds.
The contrast should land quickly. Avoid captions that restate the joke. The visuals must carry the message.
Our Key Takeaways
The “Supposed To Look Like” trend relies on expectation-versus-reality contrast to drive engagement. Viewers respond to recognizable industry assumptions.
Performance depends on clarity, pacing, and visual communication. The format is adaptable across niches.
- The trend centers on highlighting gaps between perception and reality through short-form video.
- It spreads because audiences instantly recognize familiar expectations.
- You implement it by choosing a clear assumption, reinforcing contrast, and keeping execution tight.
You may also want to check out some of our other social media trend updates.
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