7 Ways to Use Ripples to Successfully Leverage Trending Social Media Content

If you’re managing a social media account you know how important it is to stay consistent online. Being a part of your customers’ daily routines keeps your brand top of mind when they’re ready to make a purchase. And one fantastic way to do this is by jumping on trending content!

So, let’s talk about why leveraging trending social media topics is a must for brands, with seven examples of cafes (and one fantastic multimedia artist) using Ripples to easily and seamlessly become a part of online trends. 

1. Increased Visibility When you join trending conversations, you attract a massive audience, giving your brand a significant boost in visibility. More eyes on your content mean more followers, higher engagement, and increased brand awareness.

Genius artist Rudy Willingham used Ripples to create stop-motion animation art in honor of this fantastically popular show.

2. Relevance and Connection: Engaging with trends shows that your brand is current and in tune with your audience’s interests. It’s not just about being present on social media, but actively participating in conversations that matter to your target audience, creating a strong connection with them.

Brands around the world are OBSESSING over the new Barbie movie. We’re obsessed with how well Vivi&Co in Glasgow tied in their own brand messaging with this simple on-trend post.

3. Viral Potential: Trending topics have the potential to go viral. When you create compelling content around these trends, it’s more likely to be shared, regrammed, and talked about by a broader audience, leading to organic growth without heavy advertising costs.

Real-time marketing in action! Alexandra Lourdes, owner of Ripples-enabled coffee shop Café Lola, created her own tongue-in-cheek reference to the Grimace shake TikTok trend.

4. Real-Time Marketing Opportunities: Trends pop up unexpectedly, presenting real-time marketing chances. Being quick to adapt and create content related to these topics lets you capitalize on the moment’s excitement and urgency, engaging your audience right when it matters most.

San Remo Bakery went all in to support their local NHL team. Let’s go Leafs!

5. Audience Engagement: Participating in trending topics allows you to interact with your audience on topics that are timely and relevant. Aligning your messaging with what they’re already talking about helps capture their attention and encourages likes, comments, and shares.

Swifites of the world unite for the Eras tour – and for lunch at Carrera Café.

6. Competitive Edge: By actively leveraging trending topics, you demonstrate agility and responsiveness in your marketing. This can give you a competitive edge over rivals who might not be as quick to join current conversations, showing that you’re on top of your game.

Red Maple Café joins the world in mourning a legend.

7. Cultural Relevance: Social media trends often reflect broader cultural shifts and conversations. When you join in on these trends, you show that you understand and value the cultural context, building a positive brand image and connecting with customers who share your values.

Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea celebrates the start of AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Heritage Month in a very Disney way.

In a nutshell, leveraging trending social media topics is a game-changer. It boosts your visibility, keeps you relevant, and lets you connect with your audience in real-time. Adding Ripples to your toolkit gives you the opportunity to join these ongoing conversations in a matter of minutes, and is an easy way to respond and expand on trends by creating content that truly speaks to timely events and your target market’s ever-evolving interests.