If you‘ve been on Instagram recently, you‘ve likely come across the wildly popular "this or that" story trend taking over feeds everywhere. Users answer lighthearted prompts choosing between two options, often using fun templates to share their picks. The simple format is hugely engaging and offers a peek into friends‘ personalities and preferences.
Everyone from casual ‘grammers to big brands and celebrities have hopped on the "this or that" bandwagon – and it‘s easy to see why. The templates are quick to complete, infinitely customizable, and a great way to encourage interaction from followers. Chances are your feed is full of them right now!
The Psychological Appeal of "This or That"
What is it about this basic binary decision that‘s so irresistible? Turns out, our brains are wired to love this stuff. Studies show that making choices, even unimportant ones, activates the reward centers in our brains. We get a little hit of dopamine every time we declare a preference.
"Humans are deeply motivated to express themselves, their identity, and their opinions," says Dr. Anna Graybeal, professor of neural psychology at Stanford University. "Social media trends like this provide a quick, low-stakes way to put that self-expression impulse into action and feel good doing it."
Plus, seeing others‘ responses taps into powerful social comparison instincts. We can‘t help but hold our own choices up against the rest of the herd to see how we align. All those Me too! and How could you possibly?? reactions pour gas on the engagement fire.
By the Numbers: "This or That" Template Usage
If your feed feels flooded with "this or that" posts lately, you‘re not imagining it. The trend has absolutely exploded in a short time. Let‘s break down some mind-blowing statistics:
• Related hashtags like #thisorthat, #thisorthatinstagram, and #thisorthattemplate have grown by 350% in the last 6 months. (Source: Instagram Hashtag Analytics)
• Over 7.2 million "this or that" templates were shared on Instagram in Q2 2023 alone. That represents a 580% increase from the same period in 2022. (Source: Hootsuite Digital Trends Report)
• Accounts that regularly use "this or that" templates see an average 45% lift in overall engagement rate compared to those that don‘t. (Source: Sprout Social Data Report)
• An estimated 62% of Instagram users have posted at least one "this or that" story so far this year. Of those, 35% post them weekly or more. (Source: Instagram Trend Survey)
Graph showing explosive growth of "this or that" template usage on Instagram over time. (Source: Hootsuite Digital Trends Report)
The numbers don‘t lie – this format has taken over the platform at record speed and shows no signs of slowing down. So what‘s the secret sauce behind these simple templates‘ viral success? We picked the brains of some all-star creators to find out.
Tips from the Pros on Mastering "This or That"
To learn how to really crush this trend, we went straight to a few Instagram stars known for serving up can‘t-miss "this or that" content on the regular. Here are their top tips and tricks:
Make It Visual
@thisorthatgame, an account with 500K followers dedicated to the trend, stresses the importance of eye-catching visuals. "Templates with clean designs, punchy colors, and easy to read text perform best," says founder Jenna Davis. "If it looks slick, people are way more likely to share."
Keep ‘Em Guessing
Surprising, offbeat prompts are key to spurring lots of comments and discussion. "My most popular posts are the ones with choices you wouldn‘t expect, like tacos vs. sushi or skydiving vs. bungee jumping," says Davis. "The weirder the matchup, the more people have to react."
Hop on Trends, But Bring a Twist
@pollsfordays, an interactive poll account with 1.3 million followers, is all about tapping into the zeitgeist. "Timeliness is huge," says founder Mike Chan. "If a new meme or pop culture moment is blowing up, find a way to fit that into a template. Just try to add your own spin so it‘s not identical to what everyone else is posting."
Spark (Friendly) Debate
Controversial opinion matchups are guaranteed conversation starters. "Pitting two highly contentious choices against each other, like pineapple pizza vs. plain cheese, is an engagement goldmine," says Chan. "People love any excuse to explain their stance on divisive topics. Just keep it relatively lighthearted to avoid things getting too heated!"
Create Your Own "This or That" Templates Like a Pro
Now that you‘re armed with expert insights, let‘s talk about leveling up from template user to template maker. Putting your own spin on the trend with custom designs is a surefire way to stand out from the "this or that" crowds.
Follow these steps to create high-quality, share-worthy templates of your very own:
Brainstorm a strong theme. Focus is key for catching attention in busy Insta feeds. Pick one clear topic to center your template on, like fitness, food, beauty, TV shows, or travel. The more specific, the better.
Write punchy, provocative prompts. Remember what the pros said – surprising matchups spark the most engagement. Lean into the drama of making people pick between two equally great (or terrible) options. Don‘t be afraid to throw in a few curveball Qs, too.
Design an eye-catching visual. Clean, bold, easy-to-parse design is the goal. Use a template creator tool like Canva for fool-proof results. Stick to 1-2 fonts max in high-contrast colors. Add in brand elements like logos, mascots, or signature color schemes to boost recognition.
Include a clear call-to-action. Don‘t make people guess what you want them to do. Include an instruction like "Tag me in your story so I can repost!" or "Share with a friend and compare answers!" to get the engagement ball rolling.
Post consistently. The nice thing about templates is that you can make a bunch in advance and roll them out on a schedule. Commit to sharing a new "this or that" post on a regular cadence, like every Monday and Thursday. Making it a recurring series builds momentum and keeps fans coming back for more.
Putting It All Together: Your "This or That" Toolkit
You‘ve read the research. You‘ve seen the numbers. You‘ve heard from the experts. Now, it‘s time to get out there and put all these "this or that" tips to work for your own Instagram presence!
As you dive in, remember:
✓ Engagement is everything. The magic of "this or that" posts lies in their interactivity. Every element, from design to captions, should be crafted to spur maximum shares, saves, comments, and DMs.
✓ Personality is key. Generic, bland templates need not apply. Flex your unique voice and POV in every aspect of your "this or that" content to forge meaningful follower connections.
✓ Creativity is queen. Standing out in a sea of similar templates requires fresh ideas. Don‘t be afraid to put a new spin on a classic format if you have a stroke of genius. Your followers crave originality!
Armed with these principles and all the juicy insights you‘ve soaked up, you‘re well on your way to establishing yourself as a "this or that" tastemaker. Get ready to watch your engagement rates soar as you serve up piping hot takes and thought-provoking choices on the regular.
Now, You Tell Us: This or That?
True to form, we‘ll end with a little "this or that" action of our own. Here‘s one for you:
Crush this trend like a boss 😎 —– or —– Sit on the sidelines 😴
Something tells us you‘ll pick the first option – and you‘ll be glad you did as the likes, comments, and new followers roll in. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start serving up some serious "this or that" fire to your feed…we‘ll be double-tapping along with the rest of your fans. 🔥
