Exxon's Sponsored Brand Trip?

The TikTok Slam Dunk

Duke's basketball guard Jared McCain has captivated over two million fans on TikTok with his entertaining mix of singing, dancing, and basketball content. Securing brand partnerships with Downy, Dreamworks, Celsius, and more, McCain stands out by embracing his unique style, from painting his nails to singing fun melodies and not really caring what others have to say about it.

McCain has guided his team to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, setting up a showdown against #1 Houston this Friday night. Undoubtedly, he’ll document the journey on TikTok for all to see. With talent on and off the court, this is a name you’ll be hearing more often.

Scream Queen

Addison Rae collaborated on Charli XCX’s track “The Von Dutch Remix,” showcasing her vocal talents and delivering a scream that left fans in shock. The song’s name is a salute to the iconic Y2K fashion brand, Von Dutch, that took the 2000s by storm. Celebrities were seen daily wearing Von Dutch t-shirts, jackets, and most importantly, trucker hats.

Charli XCX shared a live recording on TikTok capturing Addison’s spontaneous adlibs, including the unexpected high-pitched scream that took everyone in the studio by surprise. Recently, Addison Rae has been separating herself from social media lately to pursue acting and singing.

Are you up for an all-expenses-paid adventure to visit an Exxon Mobil oil rig? A viral TikTok trend involves creators pranking the men in their lives with a fake brand trip offer to an oil rig, poking fun at the luxurious Tarte brand trips and the lengths influencers will go to for a sponsored experience. With oil rigs being one of the most dangerous, hardworking jobs in the country it’s safe to say Exxon might hold off on this one for a while.

There aren’t many companies or people that can afford TikTok’s $100+ billion price tag. Here’s a list of parties that have shown interest:

• Microsoft - as more tech brands dive into VR, having a massive database of younger users could be key to longevity.

• Oracle - what better way to expand consumer business?

• Google - because why not own YouTube and TikTok?

• Meta - two words. Mark. Zuckerberg. Need I say more?

• Bobby Kotick, the previous owner of Activision-Blizzard. Would need to gather more funding, but a visionary that could ensure TikTok doesn't turn into the next Vine.

While the future of TikTok is uncertain, there are a few probable paths the attempted ban might take. Here are four likely outcomes regarding how everything will play out:

Outcome 1: The Senate votes to send the bill to President Biden (who already agreed to sign it). TikTok has six months to sell the company. If they don’t, it will be removed from all US app stores.

Outcome 2: The Senate votes to kill the bill and TikTok is business as usual.

Outcome 3: The bill passes and TikTok sells to one of the previously mentioned buyers or another party.

Outcome 4: The bill passes, but ByteDance and TikTok challenge in federal court. This draws the process out for years.

Align your captions with your objectives: Before drafting, clarify your post's goal, whether it’s encouraging comments, driving traffic, or expanding reach. Focusing on one objective per post enhances message clarity.

Grab attention with a hook: In a world of fleeting attention spans, start your caption with a compelling hook to halt scrolling and entice users to read on. Humorous or relatable one-liners often prove to be effective.

Incorporate clear calls-to-action: Guide user action with explicit CTAs, making them visually distinct within your caption. Whether directing users to your bio link or subtly inviting engagement, clarity trumps cleverness for conversion.

Optimize with keywords and hashtags: Enhance discoverability by integrating relevant keywords and niche hashtags into your captions. Strategic SEO and hashtag usage broaden your content's reach and engagement potential.

When in doubt… disclose! If you’re not sure about disclosing a brand deal or paid partnership, it's always better to err on the side of sharing.

Remember, communicating a deal or promotion is far more in your favor than risking the consequences by staying silent. If you don’t know if you need to add #ad, do it!