No, I’m not suggesting you rip off your mask in public.
But let’s face it, we’re all spreaders. When we like something, we tell others. It’s human nature to spread the word. You’ve got to try this restaurant or Netflix show.
It’s almost impossible to break through the clutter, much less create a buzz. So, we rely on word-of mouth. Nothing has more impact than a personal endorsement.
When something does ignite, it’s propelled into our cultural jet stream. Like a pebble breaking the surface of a pond, the buzz ripples outward and takes on a life of its own. It reverberates, which is why this blog is called REVERB.
Traditionalists still rely on commercials – which usually land with a thud. Worse yet, ads are too contrived to resonate, much less go viral. We’re hungry for authenticity. Spontaneous, unrehearsed moments that are offbeat and honest.
Everything that commercials are not.
Here’s my take. You’ve seen this TikTok clip of the guy riding his skateboard while cruising to Fleetwood Mac and drinking cranberry juice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVGN7r1aAY0
Everyone came out a winner. Sales of Ocean Spray exploded. Fleetwood Mac is topping the charts again, and the dude scored a new truck.
So, why did this video captivate us?
Maybe watching someone enjoy life’s simple pleasures is just what we need. It’s got a fun, relaxed vibe with no hype, no agenda. Ocean Spray appears as an afterthought. Somehow, he made cranberry juice cool, without even trying.
So, not all spreaders are a petri dish for the coronavirus. Going viral is a good thing if you use discretion. Otherwise, we end up with crap like the Macarena and Gangnam Style.
