Top 10 Dirty Tricks the Best Brands Use on Social Media (And Why They Work)
Ever wonder why some brands can’t stop winning online?
They drop a post, and BOOM—100K views in 24 hours. Comments flooding in. Shares going viral. Sales going crazy.
It’s not luck. It’s not magic. And no, it’s not just great content.
It’s strategy.
The biggest brands play dirty. They use psychological warfare, attention traps, and algorithm-jacking secrets that make their content impossible to ignore.
Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on the 10 dirtiest tricks they use—and how you can steal them to grow faster, smarter, and harder than everyone else.
1. They Use "Invisible Hooks"
You scroll. You stop. You don’t even know why.
That’s an invisible hook.
Brands plant curiosity bombs in the first 1–2 seconds. They create open loops—tiny mysteries your brain has to resolve.
Example: “Don’t make this mistake in your first post… like I did.”
Why it works:
Triggers curiosity without giving away the punchline
Keeps people reading, watching, or clicking
Algorithm thinks, “Ah! This post holds attention.”
Want this in every post you publish? Multipost Digital builds scroll-stopping content daily. Book a free call.
2. They Weaponize Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
Limited-time deals. Exclusive offers. Only 7 spots left.
They’re not just selling. They’re pressuring.
Great brands inject urgency into their posts without sounding desperate. They tap into your survival brain: act now, or lose forever.
Why it works:
Makes people feel like they’ll regret NOT acting
Triggers impulsive reactions
Boosts conversions like nothing else
Pro move: Add countdowns, real-time “only 2 left” comments, or time-sensitive language.
3. They Create Fake “Casual” Content
It looks like a selfie. Or a behind-the-scenes photo. Or just some random thought…
But it’s engineered. Scripted. Crafted to feel authentic—because fake casual beats obvious corporate any day.
Why it works:
Lowers sales resistance
Makes you feel like you’re in the room with them
Gets shared more because it feels personal
Don’t just post like a brand. Post like a person with a plan.
4. They Start Fights (On Purpose)
Hot takes. Controversial opinions. Industry “truth bombs.”
They say something bold. Then sit back and watch people argue in the comments for days.
Why it works:
High engagement = more reach
Comments boost algorithm signal
People love taking sides—it’s tribal
Be polarizing. If everyone agrees, your content is too safe to matter.
5. They Piggyback Trending News
The best brands move fast. They don’t wait for the weekly content calendar.
When something breaks—celebrity news, a new feature drop, a viral meme—they jump on it instantly and make it relevant to their audience.
Why it works:
Rides the wave of existing traffic
Feeds the algorithm with relevance
Makes your brand feel modern and plugged-in
Timing is everything. Speed = relevance = reach.
6. They Steal From Comments
Yes. They go into their own comments—or their competitors’—and look for questions, objections, or compliments.
Then they turn those into new content.
Why it works:
Content is literally built from audience demand
Creates a feedback loop that makes fans feel heard
One comment can turn into 10 high-engagement posts
Multipost Digital does this for you on every account we manage. It’s our secret sauce for organic growth. Book a call now.
7. They Show the Ugly Stuff
Perfection is boring. What gets attention?
Struggle. Mistakes. Chaos.
Brands who win show the process. They reveal what didn’t work. They post flops. They say, “This sucked. But here’s what I learned.”
Why it works:
Builds trust through transparency
Turns pain into relatable content
Converts more because people root for underdogs
If your content feels too polished, it’s probably too forgettable.
8. They “Comment Hack” Big Accounts
This one’s sneaky.
They follow huge pages in their niche. As soon as that page posts, they drop a clever or helpful comment—fast.
Thousands see it. Click the name. Boom—free traffic.
Why it works:
Hijacks attention from accounts with 10x your following
Builds brand awareness through association
Grows your audience without creating new content
Want this done on autopilot? That’s what our social growth team handles at Multipost Digital.
9. They Break the Pattern
The scroll is a warzone.
The best brands break the visual pattern every few posts. They flip the format. They go from color to black and white. They post a huge text block, or a silent video.
Why it works:
Disrupts the scroll long enough to stop the thumb
Keeps content feeling fresh, not recycled
Algorithm notices unusual behavior = boost
Never let your feed go stale. Predictability kills growth.
10. They Always Leave an Open Loop
Here’s the filthiest trick of all.
They never “close” the content. Instead of telling you everything, they say:
“Tomorrow I’ll reveal the full strategy.”
“I’ll show you the results in the next post.”
“Wait until you see what happened next…”
Why it works:
Triggers dopamine anticipation
Makes people follow or subscribe just to see what happens
Turns casual scrollers into daily followers
Humans are addicted to answers. Never give it all away at once.
Final Take: Play Smart.
You don’t need a big team or a big budget.
You just need to know the game behind the game. These 10 tricks? They’re being used right now by the biggest names on your feed.
And now you’ve got them.
Ready to use them like a pro? Let Multipost Digital run the playbook for you. We’ll build your brand into a viral machine, one sneaky move at a time. Let’s get started today.
