Handshakes, Coldplay, Time Stamps
Trending audio allows for a bit of fun, everyone is talking about Coldplay Kiss Cam, and how some time stamps create a great opportunity to showcase all elements of your brand. Plus, why summer ending soon will be more than just a shift in the season.
This is the week ahead.
Use this week's trends
Handshakes, Time stamps, and Astronomy
My name is Pink trending audio
Another week, another bunch of reels hopping on a trend stemming from trending audio. While this trend is on the tail end of its cycle, it does offer a bit of fun for the start of the week if you'd like to hop on right before the trend dies.
Here are a few examples
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLQw_KzAs-d/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLSsG4FJIIV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Simple, fun, and on the tail end of a cycle so your audience will understand the concept.
For Brands & Businesses
While this is a fun trend that can run across a gamut of different scenarios, we would most recommend this one for brands that offer a product or product-based service rather than one that focuses on strictly services.
If we're going to be honest, this one is a bit tricky to implement for all brands simply because there is a the line, "it feels illegal." So make sure whatever you do passes the sniff test and a couple of your grumpy coworkers sign off on your idea as okay and not putting your brand at risk. So we probably would not recommend this trend for car dealerships or lawyer offices who might be under added scrutiny for this line.
But for all others, the way to implement this for success is simple, as it is best used to showcase any deals or specialities that your business offers. For example, restaurants can use this with the caption "POV you hear about our brunch special," while fashion brands can use it to showcase new & stylish summer wear.
Check out this fun one from a real estate agent:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLlKJBVyKkn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Or this other one from a creative agency who is showcasing their agency:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLaePMNpbD9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Or the city of Phoenix:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL3GqRfzscS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
For Creators
A lot of creators have used this one to showcase travel buddies or creative partners, but not a whole lot of them are doing what we should be doing, and using it to showcase our gear! For artists & gear enthusiasts alike, this is a great opportunity to show off a piece of gear you love and highlight its benefits in an effort to get that eventual brand sponsorship. Pad out that portfolio!
Coldplay Kiss Cam
Everyone knows this by now: the Coldplay Kiss Cam that unveiled the affair of Astronomer's CEO & head of HR. It's messy, it's viral, and it's a hot enough topic right now that we can capitalize on it. How do we do that?
By doing variations on what the Phillies are doing:
Let's dive into how we can copy this.
For brands & businesses
(Please don't have affairs.)
For businesses, we think this is a good opportunity to showcase your product or service by just capitalizing on this moment. For lawyers, PR agencies, or anyone who is involved on the human side of things, all you need is a POV and a post that shares your authentic opinion. Or you can go the entertainment route and go with a POV reaction post.
For those who are selling a product or those who are selling food, simply pan your camera around to a coworker who is using / eating that product, and have them react in a way that shuns the camera. Add in a caption & your favorite Coldplay song, and you're a part of the trend.
Or simply photoshop your product into a meme.
For Creators
For those who are able to, it's probably a great time to jump onto the reaction train and make a small skit or something similar to help with your niche. A bunch of marketers and technology creators have jumped on the train, and whether it is humorous or serious, make sure to make your voice early before this trend dies.
For all other creators, our recommendation is follow in the footsteps of the Philly Phanatic, and do it with your favorite piece of gear, your dog, or whatever item that you think could give you a couple of laughs and a couple of likes.
Day to Night: A new twist
This has got to be one of the best executions of a split screen in a while, while also one of the smartest ways to showcase the services, the atmosphere, and the hours of this cafe.
What I love is the simplicity; a series of repeated shots, yet nothing other than that. The text doesn't change, only moment and the feeling. Beautiful and elegant, a catchy combination these days. Let's dive into how to make this your own.
For brands and businesses
For restaurants, the answer is obvious. But for all other businesses, this could be a great opportunity to show the prep work / behind the scenes that goes into a successful business day. Whether it is showcasing the difference between 9AM & 5AM, or showing the back of the room set up for the front of the room, this is an opportunity to make something that stands out.
Imagine a car dealer showing cars coming into the lot and cars leaving the lot; customers going in and out of different cars, or cars getting serviced and leaving servicing. It gives a quiet moment while saying so much.
For creators
The name of the game here is BTS; think of this as a way of showcasing day in the life of moment without much more hard work than a couple of match shots at the beginning and end of your day. For a music producer, this could be setting up the mics to using the mics, opening up a can of Red Bull to a couple of crushed cans, and the first track to the final timeline.
Reels like these showcase that originality is not dead on social media, but is alive and well with just different iterations of key ideas.
Looking ahead
Once summer is gone, how will I feel?
Summer is halfway over, and before you know it, we'll be going into a busy season of banking holiday posts and hoping that winter staves off just one more week to keep our continuity. As we come to just over the halfway point of the year, it's the time when brands start reevaluating their budgets, reorganizing their priorities, and rethinking their strategies.
All markers are showing that businesses everywhere have taken a slight hit and/or are uneasy; markets have shifted, and despite some high moments, the looming question of tariffs have made leadership uneasy. Add in the general stress of geopolitics or domestic politics, the continual daily rise of AI, and the general economic outlook of your average young person (student loans 😦 ), and you've got yourself a generation that is looking to escape.
Therefore, as we look ahead, we're going to see a couple of trends in the market. First, we are going to see a continual build of quiet sharing; posts that are long form, friendly over flashy, and simple in nature. Where as the fast pace cuts were to get attention, we are entering a world where slowness holds attention; presentation styles will be less polished and more conversational and friend-like; the 30 second quick explainer will turn into a 60 second story that feeds into a 15 minute vlog. The world is seeking people persons, those personas who give them a chance to escape with a friend and forget about the world for a while.
While one of the bigger trends right now is the TV-Channel Model of social media– where brands and creators expand to a network model of social media to drive interest and engagement– we think it will be better to focus on growing your audience by showcasing the person or people more than just a polished persona or product.
Ask yourself: would you rather have 15 one-minute moments, or one 15-minute moment with a friend?
Creator of the Week
@yanooppa
This creator on Instagram has been showcasing a bunch of interesting shot setups, all done with an iphone. There is always an eternal debate whether is the about the gear or about the idea, and what @yanooppa does better than most is showcase that sometimes all you need to do is experiment and create. What's not to love about interesting ideas?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIEtqNKBAAT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
That's all for this week; share with a friend or an enemy, and use this newsletter to make some great things this week.