Make Tacos Not Bombs

Do you ever get something stuck in your head, playing on repeat constantly? Most of the time it is a line in a song, but this past week it has been a few thoughtful words from our fearless leader, the incomparable Joy Youell.

A few days ago, she posted a video on TikTok discussing clients who wanted to try something different in the form of a viral trend. Her advice was to not necessarily be afraid to step out of your comfort zone but to keep in mind your business’ voice and audience.

If you have read any of my previous posts, you know that I am a big analogy guy. So as Joy’s clip has lived rent-free in my head, something hit me. The concept of making tacos – not bombs.

You may be asking yourself, what in the world does that mean and how does it relate to creating a social media strategy?

I will happily explain.

Tacos > Bombs

This isn’t going to be an earth-shattering revelation, but your audience wants(and needs) nourishment. They crave content that is a combination of relevant, interesting, and impactful.

Buy why a taco?

Tacos are an amazing food category. The ingredients can change, but each time it is a familiar vessel, with a somewhat predictable flavor profile. You can mix it up each day. Perhaps you want to avoid carne asada burnout, maybe one day you want to throw in some added spice or go with a fusion approach depending on your mood.

With a strategy built around tacos, your audience knows that each day, week, or whatever social cadence you choose, they will be in for a tasty treat that will ultimately keep them coming back for more.

A bonus – tacos are easy to make. With just a few ingredients you can have something that is incredibly engaging. I have had clients that stress over each social media post because they are trying to make a big splash, when had they just handed out tacos, they could have generated better results in a fraction of the time.

But why avoid making bombs? When you think of a bomb, it’s designed to have a massive, immediate impact. In the context of social media, these "bombs" are the flashy viral trends or shock-value posts that might draw attention, but often for the wrong reasons. A risky post may grab views, but it can also lead to unintended controversy or damage to your brand’s credibility.

Bombs are inherently unpredictable. One wrong move, and you can alienate your audience or cause a backlash that’s hard to recover from. Rather than banking on a single, explosive moment, a steady, reliable stream of taco-level content keeps your audience engaged without the risk of blowing up in your face.

This brings me back to the wise words of our Master Jedi. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be great, but it’s essential to stay rooted in your brand’s voice and values. When you’re building your content strategy, tacos (or consistent, engaging content) are the perfect way to do that. They allow you to experiment and add variety without straying too far from what your audience loves and expects from you.

You can play with new ingredients—add a little spice, try a fusion approach—but the foundation remains the same. As Joy said, don’t be afraid to experiment, but always keep your business voice and audience in mind. The goal is to feed your audience, not shock them.

So, what’s the lesson here? Next time you're planning your content, think about serving up tacos. Make it flavorful, consistent, and authentic to your brand. Don't stress about making a viral "bomb" that could potentially backfire. Instead, focus on delivering content that nourishes your audience and keeps them coming back for more. After all, in the world of social media, it’s the steady, reliable meals that build the strongest connections.