Marketing News
Like dozens of other “Twitter killers,” Bluesky has sat in limbo since its launch– thanks mostly to an invite-only policy. But when the micro-blogging site went public last month, it skyrocketed to an estimated 4 Million users almost overnight. That kind of growth can be chum in the water for marketers. But is the social media startup worth your time? I sat down with HubSpot’s Manager of Brand Social Strategy and Analytics to find out. But first, let’s jump back a bit for those who don’t know what Bluesky is. What is Bluesky? Bluesky is one of dozens of social media apps that have popped up in the hopes of X (formerly Twitter) dying off. It joins the ranks of micro-blogging sites like Mastodon, Threads, Plurk, Cohost, Compost, Sparklefyre, and Snuffleupagus. (Admit it. You have no idea which of those I just made up. That’s how many X-alternatives there are.)
If you’re a marketer, you cannot ignore meme culture. No, I’m not talking about making tone-deaf corporate memes that shout “How do you do, fellow kids?” I’m talking about real, organic viral trends. They might seem silly on the surface but– when timed right– jumping on the right meme can mean marketing magic. Case in point: The Gen Z caviar bump. A TikTok trend that’s helping brands tap a $465 million global market. A caviar what now? If you’re not familiar with the caviar bump, you’ll be thankful to know it has nothing to do with snorting fish roe. A caviar bump refers to the growing trend of licking a dollop of fish eggs off the back of your hand. But while it may be trendy, it’s actually not new. Culinary experts say that this is the preferred method of caviar connoisseurs, because it allows you to taste only the
“Google is getting worse” is almost a meme at this point. Go into any forum or subreddit that mentions search results, and you’ll find someone complaining that SEO has ruined Google Search. Joke’s on them. SEO has been ruining Google Search for 26 years. I was there for keyword stuffing, cloaking, and link farms. The idea that Google is somehow getting worse is a claim I’ve rolled my eyes at in both my official capacity as a marketer and as a consumer. Only now, marketing news headlines are breathlessly claiming that a study from Germany has proven Google is getting worse. See here, here, and here. Like everyone else on the internet, I want to insist I’m correct in the face of evidence that I’m not. So, I turned to one of the smartest SEOs that I know and asked her who was right. But first, let’s take a look
Dry January. It sounds like the next scary impact of climate change. In reality, it’s part personal challenge and part social movement. Dry January refers to the growing trend of taking the month off from drinking alcohol. Consider it a four-week vacay for your liver. But it’s not meant to be a detox. Instead, the creators say the goal is to reframe your relationship with alcohol as “a conscious choice, not a default.” It might seem like bad news for alcohol sales– already reeling from the post-holiday slump– but actually, Dry January is one way booze sellers can tap into a half-billion-dollar market. Why ask why? Try going dry. Though the Dry January trend is currently having a moment, it’s actually existed in some form for decades. In 1942, Finland promoted “Raitis Tammikuu” or “Sober January” as a way to ration resources. It took its current shape in 2013 when
It was an interesting year to be a marketer. Expectations were high, budgets were low, content moved at the speed of light, and marketers had to make magic happen through it all. As 2023 comes to a close, I polled the HubSpot Media Team to see what their favorite marketing campaigns of the year were. Check out the full run-down below. HubSpot Media’s Favorite Marketing Campaigns of 2023 The Barbie Movie Let’s start with the obvious: Barbie owned the first half of 2023. To promote the summer blockbuster, Warner Bros. and Mattel teamed up to execute one of the most robust, well-rounded marketing campaigns we’ve ever seen. The “Barbie” movie’s marketing engine, from experiential activations to product collaborations, had it all. Some of the highlights include: Ken’s Malibu Dreamhouse that was listed on Airbnb Barbie-themed co-branded products with brands like Crocks, XBOX, BEIS, and Homesick Candles An experiential Barbie-themed boat
Content makes the world go ’round (at least for marketers), but it can’t create itself. This week we’re exploring the top creator economy predictions for 2024 that marketers need to know. Chances are, your brand has worked with creators in the past and likely will again. Currently valued at $250B, the creator economy is expected to reach $480B by 2028. This growth is fueled by increased cash flow from brands and higher demand for content. Per a recent study by IAB: 44% of advertisers plan to increase spend with content creators in 2024 Brands anticipate increasing creator content budgets by 25% in 2024 39% of consumers watch more content now than the year prior Creator content is no longer just a top-of-funnel play. In 2024, a well-rounded marketing strategy has content embedded throughout, and strong relationships with creators are essential to making these strategies work. Here are the top predictions
It’s been an eventful week for Spotify. As reported by our sister newsletter The Hustle, the company announced a round of layoffs just days after the launch of its annual campaign Spotify Wrapped. While The Hustle talked about the business and employee implications of Spotify’s recent layoffs immediately following Wrapped, I’d like to take a look at this series of events from a marketing perspective. The Marketing Power of Spotify Wrapped Wrapped is to Spotify what “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is to Mariah Carey — a sure bet for engagement at the end of each year. Since it began in 2016, Spotify Wrapped has given users a detailed analysis of their listening habits each year. While Wrapped was initially distributed in email format, its popularity exploded when social media sharing was added to the mix. The idea to turn Wrapped results into sharable social media stories was
A car fire ignited a viral marketing moment for the Stanley brand. On November 15, TikTok user @danimarielettering posted a video showing the aftermath of her car catching on fire. Though the car was totaled, her Stanley Quencher tumbler was intact and still had ice in it. @danimarielettering Thirsty after you catch on fire? @Stanley 1913 is like no problem i gotchu #fyp #carfire #accident #stanleycup ♬ original sound – Danielle The video quickly went viral and has gone on to rack up more than 84 million views. Two days later, Stanley President Terence Reilly stitched Danielle’s original video offering to send her some new tumblers and to replace her car on behalf of the brand. This response has earned over 32 million views, quickly becoming the feel-good story of the season. @stanleybrand #stitch with @Danielle ♬ original sound – Stanley 1913 The comments to Reilly’s response are filled with
The instrumental to Missy Elliott’s “Pass That Dutch” is blaring through your speakers while Lindsay Lohan is on your screen walking through the halls of North Shore High School. Did you just transport back to the early 2000s? No, chances are you were just served Walmart’s latest Black Friday ad. The movie Mean Girls has been a pop culture classic since its release in 2004. Nearly 20 years later, Walmart is capitalizing on the film’s enduring popularity with a Mean Girls-themed Black Friday campaign. Walmart’s series of ads features five of the film’s original cast members reprising their roles and even includes a cameo from Missy Elliott herself. Instead of the notorious “burn book” featured in the original movie, the Walmart ads are centered around a “deal book” highlighting discounts the retailer is offering this holiday season. Today we’re breaking down why this campaign is brilliant marketing by Walmart. Want
The social media boom of the last decade is over. It’s not that people are no longer using social media — they are. They’re just using it less, and engaging differently. In 2022, the average daily time spent on social media declined globally leading to a drop in organic reach for brands and creators. Per GWI, 54% of people use social media to connect with friends and family, and 27% of people use social media to keep up with news. What they aren’t necessarily hopping on social media to do is be sold to. However, social media platforms need users to spend as much time on their apps as possible and to continue buying from advertisers in order to remain profitable. In other words, social media users want to socialize and social media platforms want to sell, leading to a misalignment between a product and its customer base. Here are