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The Spooky Pulse
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Measuring the pulse of social media through headlines
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Boo! Did we scare you?
Welcome to the Halloween edition of The Pulse! An excuse for us to make puns so bad, they’re terrifying.
But what’s even more terrifying is what brands can come up with this season to celebrate Halloween. The headlines are also not to be underestimated.
Issue #13:
–
Alkeo Taga &
Tea Hysenshahaj
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Our Favorite Halloween Campaigns Over The Years
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When Halloween comes around, brands get to show off their wild side on social media. Here are six campaigns that made the season a whole lot spookier, wittier, and way more fun! 👻
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IKEA’s “Fearniture Collection” (2021)
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You know that feeling when your furniture looks a little too creepy in the dark? 👀 IKEA tapped right into it for Halloween 2021, turning a stool, desk chair, and clothes rack into spooky silhouettes of a monster, ghost, and spider. 👻
Using clever angles and lighting, their “Fearniture Collection” showed that even everyday items can give you chills, and grab attention. This campaign was a brilliant reminder that no matter how “ordinary” your industry, there’s always room for some creative engagement that leaves a lasting impact. ✨
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Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola: Halloween Edition (2013)
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For Halloween 2013, Pepsi went all-in on humor with a creative featuring a Pepsi can “dressed up” as Coca-Cola, complete with a red cape and the line: “We wish you a scary Halloween.”
The joke? Coca-Cola was the “scarier” soda, making Pepsi the friendly choice.
But there’s more… 🤭
A Coca-Cola fan tweaked the ad & posted it on social media. He swapped the text to “Everybody wants to be a hero” and x the logo to Coca-Cola, while keeping everything else the same. Just like that, a Pepsi ad turned into a Coke ad! The post went viral, flipping the whole campaign in Coke’s favor. Talk about the power of passionate fans and social media!
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Burger King Dressed as McDonald’s (2016)
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In a legendary prank, one Burger King in Queens, NYC “dressed up” as the ghost of McDonald’s. Yep, it was covered in a big, white sheet with spooky eyes, and the sign outside teased, “Boooo! Just kidding, we still flame grill our burgers.” That was a personal hit. 🤣
Customers even shared photos on social media of hilarious, creepy, custom packaging for orders. There’s nothing like a well-timed troll and a good old rivalry. 🙌
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McDonald’s Brilliant Creatives 🍟
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McDonald’s doesn’t need to troll its competitor to make an impact. When you’ve got globally recognized products and one of the most iconic logos around, the possibilities for creative campaigns are endless! McDonald’s knows how to have fun with this, especially during Halloween. 😈
Whether it’s a ghost cheeseburger or vampire teeth fries with bloody ketchup, they take their brand and turn it into something playful and creative, making every campaign a treat. It’s all about making the audience laugh and engaging them in a fun way!
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Heinz “Heinz Smiles” (2024)
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This Halloween, Heinz embraced the messy side of ketchup with its fun “Heinz Smiles” campaign, celebrating die-hard fans who aren’t afraid to get a little messy. Featuring images showcasing ketchup-covered smiles, Heinz encouraged everyone to embrace the chaos of their favorite sauces. 😋
With the catchy slogan “It Ha-Ha-Has to Be Heinz,” the campaign reminded us that true ketchup lovers are willing to go all-in, even when it gets a bit gruesome. It’s Halloween, after all! 🎃
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Skittles’ #DareTheRainbow Challenge (2019)
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For Halloween 2019, Skittles dared fans to try their new limited-edition Halloween launch “Zombie Skittles,” which had flavors like “Rotten Zombie” hidden among regular ones. The challenge? Eat one and try not to gag. 🤢 🍬
Fans posted their reactions with #DareTheRainbow, making this campaign equal parts gross and hilarious. Halloween is the perfect time to for a good social media challenge and Skittles nailed it! ✅
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Halloween is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your brand’s personality and creativity on social media. Whether you choose humor, engagement, or a little bit of messiness, let your campaigns be a reflection of what makes your brand unique! 💚
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But let’s not forget what’s been happening with social media this October. 🎃
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We’ve got a cauldron full of social media news, from X threatening social media tools, to AI employee-hunting assistants, and spooky insights into the TikTok algorithm.
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X/TWITTER
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X Makes Developers Scream with Increased API Fees!
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X is raising once again the fees for accessing its API which could significantly impact third-party apps and services developers have created based on X’s API.
The surprising change will also affect social media management platforms like Publer, and in case you’re wondering what’s going to happen to your X account on Publer, Ervin recently shared some news on the topic.
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LINKEDIN
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LinkedIn’s AI Recruiter: Time For Your CV AI Upgrade?
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The future of recruitment is here, and it’s powered by AI. LinkedIn is currently testing an advanced AI designed to help recruiters find and attract top talent. This AI tool can analyze job descriptions, identify qualified candidates, and even personalize outreach messages.
You’ll no longer need to impress actual human recruiters to get an interview, you’ll need to appeal to AI-based systems. This seems a bit concerning if jobseekers can use AI to work out what the system is looking for and make their profiles more appealing.
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INSTAGRAM
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Logos on Reels Are Totally Ok.
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There’s been a lot of speculation lately but Instagram is clarifying its stance on including your own logo or watermark on your Reels.
According to a recent announcement, adding your branding to your Reels is perfectly fine, as long as it is not logos from other apps.
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INSTAGRAM
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Instagram Now Tells You What’s Working
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Speaking of Reels, some screenshots recently surfaced online that show new notes from Instagram being added to your best-performing Reels.
The new notes provide insight into the reasons why your Reels are performing well. Tap through on the prompt and it provides a specific breakdown of performance notes.
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THREADS
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Meta’s Guide to Spooktacular Threads Success! ️
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Want to make a splash on Threads? Meta has released some helpful tips to help you grow your presence on the platform. Essentially, to increase your visibility and build a thriving community on Threads, you’ll need to:
- Find your niche: Identify your target audience and tailor your content accordingly.Engage with your community: Respond to comments, ask questions, and build relationships with your followers.Share high-quality content: Post visually appealing content that is relevant and engaging.Use relevant hashtags: This will help your posts reach a wider audience.Experiment with different post formats: Mix up your content with text posts, images, and videos.
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TIKTOK/INFOGRAPHIC
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Unlock the Secrets of the TikTok Algorithm (Infographic)
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Ever wondered how the TikTok algorithm works? Look no further! A recent infographic has shed light on the factors that influence the visibility of your TikTok videos.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Video quality matters: Make sure your videos are clear, well-lit, and engaging.Sound is key: Use popular sounds and create your own to attract more viewers.Hashtags are helpful: Use relevant hashtags to increase discoverability.Captions are crucial: Add captions to your videos to make them accessible to a wider audience.Consistency is key: Post regularly to keep your audience engaged.
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STUDY
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Teens Still Love Instagram and TikTok: Shocking, Right?
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A recent study has revealed that Instagram and TikTok remain the most popular social media platforms among teens. Despite the rise of new platforms, these two giants continue to dominate the social media landscape.
According to the annual survey of more than 13,000 U.S. teens, Netflix ranks slightly higher than YouTube in daily video consumption, while TikTok beat out IG as the most liked social app. – Yet, in terms of usage, Instagram is still number one.
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