Slam Dunk πŸ€

July 21, 2021

SLAM DUNK

Space Jam just schooled us all in marketing

Never thought we'd say this - but we should all be taking notes on the new Space Jam movie. Specifically how the 2021 revival collaborated with other brands.

To promote the film, Warner Bros joined forces with 200+ partners, according to a Boomerang tally. Some of the product tie-ins include McDonald's Happy Meals, Amazon-branded boxes, and BarkBox chew toys.

As a result, the film was an instant hit. The franchise raked in $90.4M at the box office alone opening weekend (despite the really mixed reviews). And that's partly because everyone and their dog knew about the movie.

Warner Brothers be like...

But this winning play is nothing new. The OG Space Jam team scored $70M in tie-in partnerships. And it produced over $230M in global box office sales and $1.2B in merchandise revenue.

Of course, this kind of shameless commercialization is the foundation for the franchise. In fact, the 1996 film starring Michael Jordan was inspired by a Nike Super Bowl ad that ran in 1993.

But more importantly, it's a perfect example of flywheel marketing. AKA the strategy where a brand creates this looming sense of being everywhere all at once - typically through smaller initiatives like partnerships.

For example, this past month, you couldn't watch the game, go to the mall, or scroll through social media without seeing somethingΒ SpaceΒ Jam-related.Β 

And creating this flywheel effect doesn't need to mean spending millions on fancy partnerships (although it can). It can also mean partnering with fellow small businesses who share your target audience.Β 

For example, you might swap blog posts, cameo on their social accounts, or bundle your products together. Basically, you'll do whatever you can to get in front of their audience (and get them in front of yours). That way, when someone is ready to buy whatever it is you're selling, you'll be top of mind.

πŸ‘‰ See all of Space Jam's marketing strategies.

FREE EVENT

The training secrets that top brands rely on

Are you busy today at 1 pm EDT? Take your lunch break with Trainual CMO Jonathan Ronzio, Starbucks Media Content Manager Eric Pokorny, and Century 21 Canada's VP of Marketing Chiyoko Kaikino.

We're chatting through all things remote onboarding. Because - let's be real - training new hires was already hard. But now that most of us are remote, it feels downright impossible.

So, hear about the challenges we faced, the best practices we picked up, and the tech stack we use to make remote training easy.

πŸ‘‰ Save your spot.

πŸ‘‰ Can't make it today? Sign up anyway - and Vimeo (AKA our gracious host) will send you the recorded conversation after!

I'LL PAY YOU

Facebook’s bribing creators to stay with $1B

Zuck is getting desperate. And we can't say we blame him - TikTok was the most downloaded app in the first half of 2021. YouTube was the most-used social site in 2020. And Facebook is trying to figure out where everyone went.

But they have an idea to get the few folks left to stay with them. They'll pay $1B to select content creators thanks for using specific Facebook and Instagram features. Namely, their copycat features like:

  • Reels (AKA Instagram's version of TikTok)
  • Facebook live streaming (popularized by YouTube in the late 2000s)
  • IGTV (YouTube-style videos that live on Instagram)

The invite-only offer works like this: use the feature, get paid. Use the feature more, get paid more. Plus, content creators also get a bonus for allowing Facebook to show ads on their content.

Facebook wants you to take all of their money

But even the strategy of bribing (we mean "paying") creators is a copycat move. In the last three years alone, YouTube has paid $30B+ to content creators using their platform. And TikTok launched a similar program where anyone on the app can make a few bucks. Meaning, Zuck (per usual) is super late to the party.

However, his mistake can be your business' win. Because throwing money at creators likely won't be enough to keep them on the platforms if engagement doesn't follow. And Facebook is still going to throw everything they've got at making it work. This includes adding Reels to Instagram's homepage to encourage organic activity.

That's where you come in. By focusing on using these features in your company's social strategy, your content gets put front and center. Meaning, you're more likely to see an uptick in organic engagement.Β 

Plus, businesses perform best on Instagram, compared to other social platforms. So, it's statistically your best shot at having your brand's content go viral.

Double plus, there's nothing that says your business can't sign up for Facebook's content creator program, too (we checked). So, you could take home some extra Zuck bucks while you're at it. Making it a win-win (where you get both wins).

NEW PODCAST

How one SMB reached $1M ARR in just 4 years

Listen to the latest episode of the Fastest Growing Companies podcast, today!

Almost 15 years ago, the marketing agency DSM was founded with $5k, a laptop, and no business plan. And its ride has been a remarkable series of small business wins and challenges.

DSM grew its revenue to $500k within two years and $1M within four. The company's headcount expanded by 300% in less than three years, only to be cut back. And refocusing on its goals, it built the team up again - this time, better than ever!Β 

On the latest episode of the Fastest Growing Companies, DSM founder and President Darren Magarro shares his inside scoop on the company's journey and the lessons he's learned along the way!

πŸ‘‰ Get the scoop (26-mins).

P.S. Never miss an episode! Follow FGC on your favorite streaming service today.

TL;DR

This week's highlight reel

  • Is that a yes? After learning that Iceland has 4-day work weeks, 40% of Americans said they'd love to do the same. And 35% said they want to stick with a 5-day schedule.
  • Time's up! That's why Google Meet is limiting group calls to 60 minutes for free Gmail users (which is still longer than Zoom's 40-minute limit).
  • Speaking of Zoom… Zoom just acquired Five9 for an eye-watering $14.7B. The company's first major acquisition is its latest play to expand its offerings.
  • Can't stop, won't stop. Despite threats of government bans in several countries, TikTok became the first non-Facebook mobile app to reach 3B first-time downloads globally.

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