Introduction

Five brands went viral this week by being funny, fast, or slightly chaotic. Here’s what worked and why it spread.

What’s the problem it solves?

Most brands try too hard to be perfect, polished, and serious online - and that makes people scroll past. This article shows how small risks, quick reactions, and playful ideas can get massive attention instead.

Quick Summary

Tom Orbach’s weekly roundup shares the best creative marketing moves that got people talking. The first example is “keyboard smashing” posts - random nonsense text that feels real and human. The New York Giants, LEGO, and even Lady Gaga have used it to spark engagement. The point: a post that looks messy or accidental often feels more alive than one written by AI.

Next, Lovable teased a product launch by censoring the partner’s name, driving people wild with guesses until they revealed it was Shopify. That mystery made followers part of the story. OpenAI turned “account age” into a badge of pride, getting users to brag online about how early they joined. Böcker, a crane company, saw a news story about thieves using a crane in a jewel heist and posted a witty caption within hours - pure real-time marketing. Finally, Google took a playful shot at Microsoft by launching a “Business Continuity” plan for when Microsoft 365 crashes, turning competitor weakness into a marketing win.

Key Takeaways

• Imperfection can boost authenticity and engagement.
• Teasing or hiding details creates curiosity and participation.
• Giving users status symbols makes them promote your brand.
• Real-time posts need speed, not perfection.
• Lightly roasting competitors can be effective when it reflects real frustrations.

What to do

• Try posting something messy or “broken” to grab attention.
• Tease new releases by hiding or censoring key info first.
• Reward early or loyal users with visible proof of status.
• React fast to trending news that connects to your product.
• Call out known market problems with confidence and humor.

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