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Brands like JetBlue and Dr. Pepper went viral on TikTok not by producing their own content, but by actively commenting on and engaging with user-generated trends that mentioned them. A minimal posting schedule is sufficient if the brand is consistently active in the comments section.

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Duolingo avoids a one-size-fits-all video strategy. They use TikTok for capitalizing on trends due to its virality mechanics. YouTube Shorts, which favors original content, is used for building out the mascot's lore. Instagram serves as an informational hub and a home for 'millennial-core' content.

Actively coach the algorithm by following top creators in your niche, engaging with their viral content, and marking irrelevant videos as "not interested." Within minutes, your feed will transform into a curated stream of high-performing content ideas to model for your own channel.

A single viral video on TikTok, without any paid media support, can generate enough consumer demand to sell out a CPG product nationwide. This proves organic creative now holds more direct sales power than massive, traditional campaigns.

Brands jumping on viral memes may see a temporary spike in views, but it's a hollow victory. Consumers remember the trend itself, not the brand's participation in it. This common social media tactic fails to build brand equity or impact the bottom line.

Five years ago, success on TikTok came from quickly hopping on trends. According to Duolingo's Zaria Parvez, that strategy is now saturated. Brands that stand out today prioritize unique creative that isn't trend-dependent, as consumers have grown tired of seeing dozens of brands doing the same thing.

To create high-performing videos, don't invent from scratch. Find viral content in your niche and replicate its structural elements—the on-screen headline and the first few seconds of the spoken hook. Then, deliver your own unique insights within that proven format.

Platforms like TikTok have shifted the paradigm where success is tied to each post's individual merit, not the creator's follower base. A single viral video can generate massive reach and sales, even if other posts have low engagement, a trend now adopted by LinkedIn, YouTube, and others.

Retail buyers are actively monitoring TikTok for viral brands. Achieving virality can bypass traditional, costly slotting fees, as retailers like Target will dedicate shelf space to trending products, confident that the online buzz will drive high in-store sell-through.

The most successful organic posts are not born from a strategic plan but are discovered through constant, high-volume posting. Breakthrough success in content comes from putting in the 'reps' and observing what resonates, rather than waiting for a single brilliant idea.

Creating viral content requires a formula: identify a dominant fandom driving conversation, understand the target platform's user base, and find a brand-relevant angle within hours. It's a strategic process of connecting cultural moments to your brand in near real-time, not a random act.