#VIRAL, The Newsletter
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#VIRAL, The Newsletter: October 22, 2024

#VIRAL, The Newsletter: October 22, 2024

The latest content trends for politicos

Girl and the Gov®
October 22, 2024

Happy Tuesday and welcome to #VIRAL, The Newsletter, which shares need-to-know content trends and concepts for political social media, digital, and comms professionals. Dive into this week’s trends and content ideas below [and share with a social media manager in your network].

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TIKTOK CONTENT TRENDS

Give these a whirl

“LISTEN, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING” AUDIO: This audio is evergreen tbh, and through its verbiage that goes “listen, let me tell you something,” it provides an opportunity for a creator to literally tell a viewer that they have something to share with them + what it is they have to tell them. That can be done at least three ways:

A solo video with the creator acting out the verbiage + dropping what they have to tell the viewer via text on the video
A multi-creator video where one person is acting in a tizzy about needing to tell another person [featured] that they have to tell them something + text on the video formatted as “POV: when you need to tell your friends about Project 2025”
A carousel post using graphics or images to slow-reveal a message like this

“ADD TO CART” AUDIO: Shop-a-holics, this audio will resonate. It can be used to show a merch collection for a campaign/org, etc. Variations on how that can be done cover the gamut – from a carousel style like this or this, to a skit-style video showing creators adding more and more merch items to their ‘cart.’

“OH YOU GUYS ARE AT THE WRONG RALLY” AUDIO: VP Harris left no crumbs with this clap back turned audio, calling out MAGA hecklers at a recent rally of hers. The audio automatically reminded us of those times when your TikTok content especially gets pushed to the wrong side of the algorithm, and you get mismatched/heinous comments as a result. In the same vein, it also could be used to point out a weird/out of step comment on one of your videos from a troll at-large or literally connected to a specific comment like this – highlighting that they’re on the wrong side of algo.

“YOU MIGHT THINK I’M CRAZY…” AUDIO: This audio can be used to point out a POV or belief that you have that you stand ten toes down, BUT know that other people may be rattled by. The video style can be simple like this with the text added sharing your “take” on something, or add in a reaction piece like this.

CAPCUT TEMPlATES

Give ‘em a whirl

Use this template to get in the Halloween spirit and highlight a political occurrence you stay far away from/exit the premises when you see happening.

Use this template to highlight something that you will probably end up doing [politically-speaking] that you’re mulling over.

Use this template to highlight an occurrence in politics that’s an absolute no-go.

Use this template to highlight a situation that you’re going to do anyway, regardless of what anyone says [ex: vote for a Democrat no matter what you’re husband says].

STITCH THESE TIKTOKS

Jump into the convo

Stitch this video [for senators] after “imagine being a U.S. Senator” and introduce yourself and discuss how U.S. Senators should conduct themselves.

Stitch this video after “my best pitch to voters is” and fill in the blank, sharing your pitch as a candidate, as human-to-human, etc.

Stitch this video and share something that you trust more than Donald Trump.

INSTAGRAM TRENDS

Creative content concepts to try

“DIRTY CASH” AUDIO: If dirty cash makes you think of Elon Musk, well then it looks like we have the same train of thought. This audio could be used to share an example or examples of dirty money being used in politics. Elon is an easy example right now, but opensecrets.com can provide loads more to utilize. Use the audio with the clip of those that you’re pointing to, or a screenshot overlaid onto a neutral video, for an easy bit of content with a big point attached to it.

“1, 2, 3, AND…” AUDIO: Perfect for Reels that will share a ‘reveal’ of some sort, this audio provides that build up with a ‘1, 2 , 3’ and then a beat drop. Stylistically, a resulting Reel could come together like this to highlight multiple facets of a reveal [ex: voter stats from a report] or like this for a singular bit of information.

“I’M TALKING” AUDIO: Every group of canvassers and organizers has a next level yapper in it – it’s just facts. And this audio can be used to highlight trying to get the stage ten yapper out the door and onto the next conversation/task/place they need to go. An example to follow style-wise is this one and this one.

“HAVE YOU EAT TODAY” TREND: If you’re not aware, “to eat” is “to slay” is “to look fantastic.” That’s the translation. In this trend, one friend asks the other if “they’ve eaten yet today” which is followed by a reveal of them “eating” i.e. showcasing their outfits/make-up/full beat, etc. This could work for two politicos in this exact sense [with this audio in the background] OR be used ironically and show the two politicos ACTUALLY eating at an infamous restaurant/eatery in the district that they’re campaigning in.

“WE ARE NOT THE SAME PERSON” TREND: If you or members of your team have roles that often get confused or intermingled by people, you’ll appreciate this trend. The trend seamlessly has two participants point out their job titles and that they’re not the same. The caption further clarifies what each position actually does. This could work for campaign positions, and/or really educating on any roles that get confused across the political space. Test it out by using this audio as the video’s base.

AESTHETIC INSTA REELS AUDIOS

Use these over setting videos

AUDIO → evan jacobson original audio

AUDIO → LOSE MY BREATH X FEMININOMENON (ALTÉGO MIX)

AUDIO → APT.

THREADS TO THREAD

Reply or Repost to these digital notes on Threads

The Thread → Reply OR repost sharing what swing state you’re going to next to campaign/canvass/organize, etc.

The Thread → Reply OR repost sharing your latest political read and why you recommend it in this current moment.

The Thread → Reply OR repost sharing a group of people you have a group chat with in politics – ex: “digital strategists of the hill.”

The Thread → Reply OR repost with “in the clerb, we all” + something you unite/relate over. Ex: in the clerb, we all have our voting plans ready to go.

The Thread → Reply OR repost with a waterway/boat related infrastructure projected that was recently funded or completed.