Newsjacking Drives Virality

A discussion about how to leverage current events and trending topics to create viral content, demonstrated through a case study of a viral video application for the All-In Podcast CEO position.

Key Elements of Successful Newsjacking

• Take popular narratives and "blunt force your way into the conversation"
• Timing is crucial - needs to be while topic is still relevant
• Content should be both entertaining and relevant to the current conversation
• Adding humor helps content spread more effectively
• Important to understand the audience and context of the situation

Case Study: All-In Podcast CEO Application

• Created parody job application video for All-In Podcast CEO position
• Video got 1.1 million views on Twitter
• Format mimicked traditional job application but included humor and roasts
• Key components:
  • Started serious to hook viewers
  • Gradually introduced comedy elements
  • Included subtle roasts of podcast hosts
  • Ended with disclaimer about being a joke

Lessons Learned

• Twitter has a lower bar for humor - "even an 8 out of 10 can crush it"
• Creating comedy content is more challenging than conversational content
  • Harder to judge if jokes will land
  • More nerve-wracking than podcast format
  • Requires different skill set than casual conversation

Impact & Results

• Generated significant engagement (1.1M views)
• Got response from podcast hosts
• Created conversation around the original topic
• Demonstrated effective way to join trending conversations
• Showed power of well-executed newsjacking strategy

Tips for Implementation

• Monitor current events in your space
• Look for opportunities to add unique perspective
• Don't force it - content should feel natural
• Be willing to take creative risks
• Understand tone and context of original conversation