From popular media ads to trending Olympic memes, here's a summary of the month's most discussed online events.
Brat Summer (Charlie XCX)
"Charli XCX heats up the summer with the release of her latest album, Brat. Brands use it as a marketing tool to resonate with the younger demographic. The song "Apple" and the album's lime green look are popular, creating excitement and interest through marketing efforts.
This integration of music and marketing is not just about utilizing a popular album; it's about embodying the song's attitude and aesthetics into the brand's messaging. It's a strategic move to create an authentic connection with Gen Z, who value originality and boldness in the brands they support.
campaigns to attract Gen Z to take part
In July, the new Presidential Candidate, Kalama Harris, appealed to Gen Z with creative marketing strategies. Her social media team revamped her profile and posted content inspired by the Brat album. This campaign is a stark difference from traditional marketing used by presidential candidates. Harris’s use of social media and internet culture to broaden campaign reach is not something we’ve seen before.
The involvement of figures like Kamala Harris in such trends indicates a crossover between popular culture and political engagement, with the potential to garner support from a demographic that is highly active online but traditionally less engaged in politics.
By tapping into the Gen Z humor, language, and platforms, marketers are crafting campaigns that are not just seen but actively participated in by this younger audience.
Olympic trends
The Olympics have always been an opportunity for companies to pick up major athletes to represent their brands. But this year, the most viral moments have been absolutely free. With Snoop Dogg holding the Olympic Torch for no reason other than the fact that it's Snoop Dog.
Snoop has also been caught in the front row of the stands at different sporting events sitting there like a proud father of the Olympians. (insert pic) Occasionally getting up to the Cripp walk with gymnastics star Simone Biles.
And of course, being asked to do commentary on the sports, (insert video link here)
Stephen Nedoroscik, now known as the "horse pommel guy," has become a meme sensation with his impressive performances at the Olympics. On the USA men's gymnastics team, Nedoroscik’s only job was to participate in the horse pommel, the last event. He took off his glasses and delivered an outstanding performance after sleeping on the Olympic floor while waiting for his turn.
Nedoroscik, the sleeping gymnast, gave the men's team an Olympic medal for the first time since 2008. While waiting for his turn went viral with a wave of memes and social media buzz around him. Stephen went from just another gymnast to a sensation overnight. Even sports channels like NBC have had their fun jumping on this sensation.
Social Media Platform Update
July has brought significant updates across social media platforms, aimed at enhancing user experience and offering new tools for marketers. The following updates include algorithm tweaks, new content creation features, and analytics enhancements brought to us by Socialmediatoday.com
- New York seeks to ban algorithmic feeds. Legislation is underway in New York to make the algorithm less addicting.
- Allowing you to have up to 20 tracks in a reel.
- Superlike instagram strories (like tinder?).
Youtube
- Teaming up with Google and testing image-based search on YouTube via Google Lens.
- Testing AI-generated radio stations for YouTube Music.
Threads
- Still down in numbers compared to other social media platforms.
- Added MLB scores to encourage engagement.
- Developing an easier way to access liked and saved posts.
Tiktok
- Developing an AI chatbox called “Genie”.
- There’s a new option to now download your Titkok videos without the watermark.
- Implements restrictions on ads targeting teens.
- Launched an app center to connect small and medium-sized businesses with helpful tools to enhance their reach.
- Reporting higher revenue (probably because their ads are so expensive) and record levels of engagement.
X (Twitter)
- Data suggests X is still far from profitability (sorry, Elon).
- X is moving their headquarters from their San Francisco location .
TRENDING SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING TRENDS AND AUDIO
The role of trending videos and audio on social media platforms as marketing tools cannot be overstated. Thousands of businesses are leveraging viral challenges, popular soundbites, and influencer partnerships to increase their reach and consumer engagement. These trends provide a powerful avenue for brands to create content that feels organic and engaging to the user, often leading to increased shareability and brand awareness.
The key to success lies in a brand's ability to authentically integrate these trends into its marketing strategies, ensuring that they resonate with their target audience while staying true to the brand's core values and messaging.
Here are some trends that are influencing marketing this month:
- Lime Green brat post.
- You can use this trend with your business name or even something you offer as a service. Here is an example of a company using the lime green brat summer.
- Not everything is a two-person job
- you can use this for engaging, relatable, and funny content.
Trending Audio
- Charlie XCX - Apple
- You can use this audio for your business either by just doing the dance with a CTA for your business or you can add a pun with it like the video linked above.
- Blink blink
- You can use this sound to show off examples of your work. Find examples and audio here.
- Paging Dr. Beat Emergency
- You can use this audio to showcase different products, even though it's often used to highlight various outfits for the week.
- Also… I don't know
- You can use this audio to be relatable and funny, like the ones below:
See you soon!
As July gives way to August, it once again makes room for the next trends. Entertaining marketing trends and innovative ways to market political campaigns packed July. As we transition into August, we'll be here to guide you through the upcoming cultural moments. Stay tuned for our comprehensive recap of August's most noteworthy events, ensuring you're always up to date on the current trends.
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