#viral-marketing

#viral-marketing

If you've never heard the term, ragebait marketing is simple: a brand does something polarizing or controversial - sometimes accidentally but often intentionally - with the goal of going viral by wreaking havoc in the comments and inspiring think pieces and millions of dollars in free publicity. And the truth is, it works - at least on the surface, if you measure the success of a campaign in views.

When NFL coaches started holding up laminated menus to hide their play-calling, nobody expected it to become the internet's favorite football meme. But this fall, one unlikely object has completely taken over football culture: the humble laminated menu. And now, Denny's is turning this viral moment into marketing gold with a campaign that's as brilliant as it is absurd. From Playbooks to Pop Culture: How Laminated Menus Became Football's Hottest Accessory The phenomenon started innocuously enough.

Gap unveiled a new marketing collaboration starring Katseye, a girl group composed of members from the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States, last week, including a 90-second video of the group dancing to "Milkshake" by Kelis clad in Gap denim. The group's diverse background, and Gap's statement the ad highlights "cultural diversity" and "individuality," have prompted some comparisons online to Sydney Sweeney's controversial American Eagle ad, which was championed by conservatives after some criticized it for appearing to promote eugenics.

Consider the recent excitement around Labubu dolls as a prime example. These bug-eyed elves, designed for the sole purpose of being attached to a bag or clothing, helped their parent company, Pop Mart, triple its profits in 2024 to a total of $920 million. The fever is still raging, with fans clambering to buy new colors and styles-and even potentially dangerous knockoffs.

The American Eagle advertising campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney led to a stock price increase of over 15%, boosting the company’s market valuation by approximately $310 million.

Mark Barrocas emphasized how SharkNinja's rise in marketing success is attributed to the effective utilization of social media, which is now their primary tool for outreach.

Scarcity creates exclusivity and a sense of belonging to a community. Being one of the few lucky people to get their hands on a Labubu helps them feel elite and connected.

Liquid Death has redefined the perception of water packaging by using humorous, edgy marketing tactics that resonate deeply with millennials and Gen Z consumers.

The combination of chocolate and pistachio, rooted in Dubai's dessert scene, has captivated a wide audience, elevating its presence in global markets.

We decided to turn the campaign itself into the ultimate test, by trying to make someone completely unknown famous.

Saratoga Spring Water became a sensation after influencer Ashton Hall's unique morning routine went viral, dominating the Milken conference with its presence.