Real-time marketing: Leverage trends and make your posts viral

“Make it go viral” is an infamous yet elusive goal in the marketing world. It can refine our approach to real-time marketing, affiliate marketing, and content creation. Although striving for virality is not the ultimate aim for social marketers, understanding the dynamics behind viral posts and campaigns can provide valuable lessons for increasing brand awareness, engagement, and loyalty. 

Real-time marketing, which involves leveraging current trends and events to promote your brand, has become an essential strategy for businesses looking to engage with their audience more effectively and make their posts go viral. Let’s dive into the essential steps that you need to consider while planning your content.

1. Read the room and understand your audience

Knowing who you’re trying to reach is foundational. Dive deep into your target audience’s interests, behaviors, and the external factors impacting them. Tailor your content to resonate with their current state, much like the cute animals during the lockdown, which captivated millions by simply spreading joy.

2. Optimize timing and platform choice

The success of your content heavily depends on “when” and “where” you post it. Each social platform caters to different audiences and purposes. Determine where your target audience spends their time and when they’re most active. Leverage platform-specific data to schedule your posts for optimal engagement. Include trending holidays like Star Wars May 4, etc.

3. Forge emotional connections

Emotionally charged content, whether it tugs at heartstrings or induces laughter, can significantly boost engagement. Align your content with the values and emotions you want to be associated with your account. Starbucks UK’s #WhatsYourName campaign brilliantly exemplified this by promoting inclusivity and acceptance, resonating deeply with audiences.

4. Focus on quality over quantity

In the quest for virality, don’t compromise on content quality. A well-crafted post has a better chance of going viral than numerous mediocre ones. Adhere to platform-specific posting frequencies to avoid overwhelming your audience and weaken your message.

5. Embrace authenticity

Authentic content speaks volumes and can naturally lead to virality. Ensure your content is genuine and reflective of your business’ identity. Authenticity resonates with audiences, as demonstrated by Get Baked’s candid response to #Sprinklegate, which significantly boosted their social media following.

6. Leverage user-generated content (UGC)

Encourage your audience to create content related to your brand. User-generated content (UGC) enhances authenticity and engagement. The #IceBucketChallenge is a prime example of how UGC can lead to widespread awareness and support for a cause.

7. Ensure shareability through utility

Content that is informative, educational, or highly relevant has a higher shareability factor. Utilize formats like infographics, short-form videos, and interactive posts to make your content more engaging and easy to share.

8. Collaborate with content creators

Influencers and content creators can amplify a brand’s reach and authenticity. Choose partnerships that align with your brand’s values and target audience to maximize impact, similar to Taco Bell’s collaboration with Dolly Parton for their Mexican pizza campaign.

9. Stay trend-aware but selective

While it’s crucial to stay updated on current trends, selectively engage with those relevant to your brand and audience. Chipotle’s successful engagement with the #corn trend exemplifies how a timely and well-executed response to a trend can enhance brand visibility and engagement.

By applying these principles, brands can enhance their real-time marketing efforts, making their content more likely to resonate with their audience—whether it goes viral or not. Incorporating these strategies within affiliate marketing and content creation can lead to a more cohesive, engaging, and potentially viral marketing campaign.

If you want to know how affiliate marketing can lead to increased sales in your business, reach out to our team at welcome@convertsocial.net