October brought us some seriously memorable marketing campaigns, showcasing the power of influencer collaborations, seasonal branding two months ahead, and humor that resonates with younger audiences. Two standout brands—Skims and Mucinex—brought unique approaches, each tapping into what gets their target audiences to engage and share. Let’s break down how these brands made it to the forefront of people's minds this month!
Skims, the shapewear and apparel brand co-founded by Kim Kardashian, made a brilliant seasonal play by combining influencer marketing with festive, wintry aesthetics. Collaborating with singer and Gen Z icon Tate McRae, Skims managed to not only capture attention but also ignite holiday vibes before Halloween was even over.
This campaign featured McRae posing in Skims cozy-wear amidst a magical snow-covered backdrop, complete with faux polar bears. The imagery evoked a whimsical winter wonderland, setting the scene for a cozy yet high-fashion winter. However, the true power here lies in Skims’ choice of influencer: McRae has a dedicated fanbase, mostly composed of young adults and teens, who actively follow her music and style. Leveraging her appeal bridges the connection between Skims’ cozy wear and the effortlessly cool, relatable vibe that McRae embodies.
The comments on this brand campaign were all positive. Whether or not the negative comments were being closely watched and deleted, we don't know, but that in itself is a genius marketing tactic. If everyone in the comments is swooning over it, you should too.
This campaign demonstrates how pairing seasonal visuals with an influencer who resonates with the target demographic can amplify reach. Skims combined their winter-ready products with an influencer who appeals to the holiday mood—a smart move to use social media marketing to kickstart Christmas shopping mindsets.
Photo by @mrmucasofficial
In an entirely different tone, Mucinex decided to dive headfirst into the humor-driven marketing pool with their latest campaign featuring Mr. Mucus on Tinder. This green, slimy mascot went beyond his usual germ-fighting promotions and turned into the ultimate “ick” on Tinder. Mucinex cleverly positioned Mr. Mucus as a ‘typical bad date’ by having him do all the things that trigger "icks" in the dating world, like posing with fish or taking bathroom mirror selfies.
The campaign hits right on trend, as many Gen Z and millennial audiences love to talk about and share their dating “icks.” Mucinex tapped into this trend with humor that’s instantly recognizable, funny, and relatable to anyone who’s dabbled in online dating. The campaign made waves on social media platforms as people shared the cringeworthy, yet hilarious, Tinder profile of Mr. Mucus.
Humor and relatability are necessary tools for reaching younger demographics. Mucinex showed that even a brand typically associated with something as unglamorous as cold medicine could attract attention and engagement through humor.
October’s campaigns by Skims and Mucinex reflect two golden rules of effective marketing:
Skims’ Strategy: Marrying seasonal vibes with an influencer campaign that directly appeals to their target audience sets them up as the “must-have” cozy wear for the winter months. The campaign resonates by being visually stunning and influencer-driven.
Mucinex’s Strategy: Using humor and relatability through a familiar character allowed Mucinex to tap into current trends, making a topic like medicine more shareable.
Both campaigns prove that brands willing to get creative—whether by capitalizing on the holiday season early or poking fun at dating norms—are the ones that win big with online audiences.
Here are some trending audio picks that can work across nearly any niche or industry, perfect for creating engaging, relatable content. Pair these sounds with your unique spin to connect with younger audiences, show your brand’s personality, and keep your content creation looking fresh and fun. By using these in your marketing strategy, you’ll stay relevant and show off your brand’s playful side!
With this catchy song trending, you can use it to show off your products or use it on an informative video to increase reach potential customers.
There are many ways to use this audio. If your business sells products you can use it to show products with the text “always wanting more *insert product*”. If you work in an office setting, you can use this audio on your coworkers highlighting something they always do or need.
Do You Know You Have 30 Minutes?
One of the ways you can use this audio is if you're selling a product. If the product is a hot commodity you can display it in a video with the audio implying the consumer has 30 minutes to purchase it before it's gone. If you work in an office you can pair this audio with a coworker working on a project - implying that they only have 30 minutes to finish it.
Gen Z writes your script - still trending
This trend made waves back in September and is still going strong thanks to its hilarious, relatable appeal. To make the most of it, team up your youngest Gen Z employee with the most seasoned pro in the office. This fun mix of generations is a recipe for instant viral content!
collage made by Mike Hadge
With social media apps always changing, here are some updates that took place in October:
October flew by with standout collaborations, humorous campaigns, and viral trends paving the way for even more exciting marketing moves.
We’ll be right back here next month with another recap! Looking for fresh ideas for your next social campaign? We’re ready to help!
Stay ahead by signing up for updates and following us on social—there’s a lot more trending ahead! Don’t miss out!