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We live in an era where algorithms are all-encompassing.
And why not?
The technology has allowed brands to track the efficacy of their campaigns based on results, producing more significant ROI.
But here’s the catch: relying on programmatic performance marketing is bad for your brand in the long term.
What's the happy medium, and how do you tap the algo while still growing brand equity?
Did you know that 81% of consumers say they need to be able to trust a brand to buy from them?
And that 71% of consumers claim that if they perceive that a brand is putting profit over people, they'll lose trust in that brand forever.
These statistics paint a clear picture: when it comes to building a brand, trust isn't just a nice-to-have – it's a must-have.
Like every other good thing in the world, all great brands were built over a long period with precise actions aligning with the brand’s larger vision.
However, when we rely too heavily on algorithms and performance metrics, we lose sight of the bigger picture. Here's what I mean:
1. Loss of brand identity: When all your marketing efforts are driven by algorithms, your brand can lose its unique voice and personality. You blindly chase what the data says, rather than what truly represents your brand.
2. Decreased customer loyalty: Performance marketing is great at driving one-time purchases, but that doesn’t mean it’ll guarantee that the customer will come back again to buy from you; rather, the platforms like Instagram and Facebook (Meta) will drive the traffic to any brand that’s willing to pay more for the ad space. Hence, the process lacks the ability to build the kind of emotional connection that keeps customers coming back.
3. Value transfer to platforms: As we become more dependent on digital platforms for our marketing, we're essentially handing over our customer relationships to these intermediaries. This shifts value away from our brands and towards the platforms themselves.
Now, you might be thinking, "Okay, but aren't those immediate results worth something?" And you're right, they are.
But here's the crucial point: sustainable business success requires both short-term results and long-term brand building.
Think about the last time you made a purchase decision. Sure, you might have clicked on an ad or responded to a promotional email. But chances are, your choice was also influenced by your overall perception of the brand.
Do you trust them?
Do their values align with yours?
Does the brand make you feel something?
These factors - trust, values, and emotional connection - they're what create lasting brand loyalty.
And they're built over time through consistent messaging, quality experiences, and yes, human attention.
The Biggest Marketing Success Stories Are Driven By Brand
If you think about the biggest success stories lately, they are not programmatically driven; they are brand-driven. The success stems from a clear and concise understanding of who they are as a brand.
We find these brand and business success stories across both emerging and established brands that bring their strong sense of self to Social Media and the Creator Economy to drive immense value and market share.
Some samples of these success stories include Duolingo, Prime, Dunkin, Pepsi, Olipop, etc…
See how these brands have crushed it as of late via my two recent blogs -
How Marketing Can Be Your Difference Maker and Game Changer
How Big Brands Are Winning In Social Media
So, how do we harness the power of algorithms and data without losing the human touch?
Build your Brand Fundamentals
Ideal Customer Avatar - Who are you marketing to? You may have more than one type of customer, so define them well to connect with them.
Your Why? - What is your purpose beyond the products and services that you sell? How are you tapping a higher moral ground that connects with your customers more intimately?
Archetypes - Defining and knowing your core archetype is critical to catching your customer's attention. Which one of the archetypes do you lean toward, or are you a combination of 2 or 3?
Tone & Voice - What do you sound like? Are you clever, funny, witty, approachable, or smart--you can’t be all things to all people, so narrow it. Like a good friend, you are developing a personality that has consistency and familiarity.
Look & Feel - Define your colors, font, mood, logo, and imagery so that you show up visually in the same way.
The most successful brands of the future will be those that can harness the power of data and algorithms while still maintaining a human touch.
They'll use technology to enhance their marketing efforts, but they won't let it overshadow the fundamental importance of brand trust and human connection.
In a time where algorithms are becoming increasingly sophisticated, paradoxically, the human element of marketing and storytelling becomes more important than ever.
By striking the right balance between data-driven tactics and brand-building strategies, we can create marketing that not only performs well in the short term but also builds lasting brand value.
Now, I get it, all this sounds a bit overwhelming. Not a one-person job at all.
But rest assured, with the right partner to assist you with your marketing ventures, you can strike the right balance between algorithmic marketing, brand consistency, and human touch.
The team of leading creative strategists and talent at Socialtyze has helped over 250 brands over the past 17 years to build substantial brand value without compromising on the perks of performance marketing.
We have a 5-part strategy to build out your brand fundamentals and a process for creating compelling on-brand stories that allow you to win in social media.
Want to learn more. Book a complimentary exploratory call.
Last year Mr. Beast made $80 Million, according to Forbes, for his ability to make eye-catching vids that go viral.
My series, Be Like Mr Beast, is designed to help creators learn the tricks and hacks that he uses to be so successful, so that you can achieve incredible success in social media.
Here are 3 more ways in which you can tap the algorithm and go viral.
Throughout all of MrBeast's videos, you'll notice the same familiar faces popping up again and again. It's a clever strategy that adds depth and appeal to his content. Here's why it's pure genius:
Mr Beast often talks about how three things determine if someone clicks on your YouTube video: the topic, the title, and the thumbnail. Here's how to master the visual hook that could skyrocket your views:
Mr. Beast says, in an interview, that he usually makes two or three different thumbnails for each video. If one doesn’t work, they switch it out—sometimes within minutes of the video going live.
Playing with extremes is one of Mr. Beast's go-to strategies.
He crafts titles that pit two wildly different options against each other, creating an irresistible curiosity gap. Take his hit video "$1 vs $1,000,000 Hotel Room!" – It's the promise of a mind-bending comparison that hooks viewers instantly.
This contrast tactic taps into our brain's love for novelty and resolution. It's like dangling a puzzle in front of our eyes—we simply can't look away until we see how these extremes measure up.
The key is to make the comparison interesting enough to draw people in without resorting to empty clickbait.
Keep the content satisfying, provide value and you’ll not only boost clicks but also keep your viewers happy.
And that’s a wrap!
If you’d like more, click here for Be Like Mr. Beast 1.0.
We, at Socialtyze, closely monitor and study these tactics to help our partner brands make the most out of creator-led social media revolution.
If you are a business looking to leave your mark with compelling creator campaigns, book an exploratory call with us.
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Mr. Beast has amassed billions of views across his videos, making him the biggest YouTube giant - Literally a BEAST when it comes to going viral.
According to Forbes, he made $80 MM last year.
You don’t achieve something like that without knowing what it takes to make the algorithm tick.
In our Be-Like-Mr. Beast series, we help you to be a beast too by adopting the strategy and tactics he uses to go viral.
By following his unique blend of ingenious editing techniques, you can keep your viewers longer and tap the algo expanding your reach, awareness and revenue.
In this blog, I break down exactly that editing style into three core areas. Excited? Let’s dive right in.
Mr. Beast knows how to always start with a bang. He grabs attention using high stakes and dramatic scenarios right from the get-go.
In the video below, titled The World’s Deadliest Obstacle Course, the scene opens with a contestant nervously making a massive jump hundreds of feet above the ground, that too without any harness. If this doesn’t hook you, I don’t know what would.
These hooks are meticulously planned, often hinted at in the video thumbnail and title.
The key here is to promise viewers a thrilling experience right from the very start.
For instance, in the video "I Spent 50 Hours Buried Alive," the title alone makes viewers curious about how such a feat will be achieved and the potential dangers involved.
This approach ensures that the audience is glued to the screen, eager to see how the high stakes play out.
A hallmark of Mr. Beast’s editing style is the rapid pace.
His videos feature constant visual changes, keeping viewers engaged from :01.
Even simple walking transitions are typically sped up, to maintain a dynamic flow. This technique ensures that every second is packed with some movement or other.
Jump cuts are also heavily used by his editors. These cuts not only keep the pace brisk but also eliminate any dull moments, focusing solely on the most exciting parts.
For example, in the video "I Gave My 40,000,000th Subscriber 40 Cars," the action never stops. From the initial surprise to the final giveaway, the rapid cuts keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Another very cool trick in his arsenal is the use of zoom cuts and close-ups.
By jumping from wide shots to tight headshots or zooming in on important details, the videos remain visually stimulating.
Mr. Beasts uses a mix of cinematic music and sound effects to heighten the viewing experience.
The music choices are consistent and often feature epic scores that quickly build anticipation and excitement.
Also note how he strategically makes use of silence. By suddenly stopping the music at key moments, he emphasizes the importance of what’s happening on screen.
This silence can make dramatic scenes even more impactful. For instance, in "$10,000 Every Day You Survive In A Grocery Store," the sudden silence before the cash pull makes you even more excited about the whole situation.
Sound effects like booms and whooshes add another layer of thrill.
Last but not least, every few seconds, there’s a "dopamine hit" – a moment designed to give viewers a burst of satisfaction. This could be a witty remark, a visual gag, or a sudden, unexpected event. These hits re-engage viewers, ensuring they stay invested in the video.
By focusing on these elements, you can create videos that are not only engaging but also memorable and retain a higher watch time.
As you implement, slowly and steadily, you’ll start reaching a larger audience and build a following of loyal viewers.
Now, we get it. Even with all this knowledge, putting up videos primed to go viral takes nuanced skills and an enormous amount of time.
If you feel, you got it, we wish you the best of luck.
Are you curious about receiving additional support? Then, schedule an exploratory call with us. We’d be happy to help.
At Socialtyze, we have a deep and experienced team of specialists across creative strategy, videography, data insight, and media execution.
Are you posting video after video but not getting the attention you deserve on social media?
If so, you’re not alone - 34 Million new videos are posted every day on TikTok alone.
So you’re competition is pretty damn tough.
How do you stand out and finally go viral?
Glad you asked -
The short answer is, focus on improving your “Watch Time”.
If you want a longer and more detailed answer, stick around. We'll review everything and then share our secret, step-by-step formula for going viral.
Source - Backlinko, 2024
This metric shows how much of your video people actually watch on average. And platforms like TikTok and Instagram love it when viewers stick around.
The longer someone stays on their platform, the more money they make. It's that simple.
So, these platforms will push videos with higher watch times because those make them more money from advertisers. They want to keep eyeballs locked for as long as possible.
For you, higher watch time proves your content is engaging and people are actually watching rather than just racking up fake views.
“The Hook” – Nothing else matters if you don’t get this right.
The internet is packed with content and creators.
And you just have under 3 seconds to grab your audience’s attention.
And what you say or do in these first seconds is the hook of your video.
The million-dollar question is: How do you craft a hook that instantly glues eyeballs to the screen?
While there are many ways to go about it, here are 3 of my favorites -
An example that combines all three is given below. It’s a prank in which, in the opening shot, we see our creator putting a bun in a coffee cup. We know it will be a coffee prank but are curious how it would turn out. The creator gave no introduction and jumped right into the prank, and c’mon, who puts a bun in a coffee mug?
Okay, so you captured your audience’s attention with your awesome hook, and now they’re watching. Fantastic!
Your next job is to make sure they keep watching for at least 15 seconds or more. Remember, the longer the watch time, the more your content gets pushed to a larger audience and the higher your chances of going viral.
Let’s revisit our coffee spill prank example and see how famous creator Dritan Alsela keeps your attention by building suspense.
Once he puts the bun in the cup, he doesn’t instantly go for the final cut; he puts a spoon in the cup’s handle and slowly takes the cup in the air, shaking and wiggling it, to show it won’t fall.
This clever trick buys him another few seconds and keeps you all waiting.
Finally, it’s time to deliver on what the hook promised, unveiling the mystery, putting the last piece of the puzzle together, and showing the precious reaction that your viewer was patiently waiting for.
For the coffee spill video, the payoff is the moment when Dritan goes around the ladies and in the moment you’d least expect, fumbles the cup, making it look like he spilled the coffee on a woman.
As you may anticipate, the woman jumps and screams before realizing it is just a wholesome prank.
Pro tip - End your video within 2-5 seconds of delivering the payoff; don’t let your video linger. This will help increase your video’s repeatability, and you’ll have a higher chance of retaining full watch time, leading to better exposure and increasing your shareability, another key metric for going viral.
And that’s a wrap!
This magic formula is just one of our many strategies to take your social media to the next level.
Our leading creators and content strategists have helped over 250 leading brands build better social media.
Interested in learning what we can do for you? Book an exploratory call with us. In 20 minutes, we’ll develop 2-3 angles to help your brand go viral.
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You know how there always seems to be some brands just killing it with their marketing?
Like they've tapped into something special that has people obsessed with their brand?
Well, there's actually a pretty simple reason behind their success.
They've mastered the art of storytelling.
Think about it - when was the last time you got really hyped about a product just because some ad listed off all its features and specs?
Probably never, right?
When Dunkin’ wanted to be on top of their audience’s minds, they didn’t release videos telling all sorts of things they put in their donuts.
Instead, they made Ben Affleck play as a Dunkin employee and crafted multiple funny skits with compelling UGC narratives.
The result? The viewers couldn’t get enough of it.
The brands creating the most buzz aren't just rattling off capabilities.
They're crafting full narratives that completely suck you in and make you feel something.
The key is to skip the boring "all about us" content and instead focus on telling stories that entertain, inspire, and add value for your audience.
But your job doesn’t just end with some creative ideas.
You need to really understand the kinds of content and personalities your particular crowd is super into.
Of course, just having a few good stories isn't enough either.
You need a consistent, long-term strategy for pumping out fresh, engaging content month after month.
From my experience, it typically takes 3-6 months of that dedicated effort before you really start gaining traction.
The most successful brands crush it by taking that strategic, sustainable approach to storytelling across all their marketing channels - social media, ads, you name it.
They team up with awesome creators who can bring their narratives to life in an authentic way that truly connects.
And let me tell you, the payoff is huge when you nail it. It's marketing gold - and very few brands are going after it.
But this prime opportunity for storytelling-led growth isn't going to last forever.
The brands pushing those boundaries now are quickly separating themselves from the pack.
If you want a piece of that action, you need to get started ASAP before the window slams shut.
Want to hear all about it and much more?
I was recently invited to talk about EXPLOSIVE BRAND STORYTELLING on “The Remarkable Podcast” hosted by Eric Eden.
Go check out the full episode and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
If you’d like some help building explosive storytelling for your brand, send me a message, and we’ll set up an exploratory call.
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