Creating viral marketing moments doesn’t require millions.
It requires speed.
With the right timing, you can turn cultural moments into viral gold for less than your AWS bill.Â
Just ask Aviation Gin, who spent $0 on media and got 13 billion impressions in 72 hours by using the fastvertising growth strategy.
Let’s dive into how to hack the internet’s attention span into viral growth. 👇
📌 Key Takeaways​
- 72-Hour Window: Viral moments lose steam after three days—move fast.
- Cultural Relevance: Join conversations people are already having for massive reach.
- Lean Teams Win: A social listener, content creator, and decision-maker are all you need.
- Create, Don’t Sell: Clever, timely content beats ads every time.
- Not Every Trend is Yours: Pick your battles and avoid unnecessary risks.
🧠What is the Fastvertising Growth Strategy?
Fastvertising is the art of using speed and cultural moments to outpace big competitors who move at a turtle’s pace.
Instead of spending months planning perfect campaigns, you monitor trending conversations and strike with lightning-fast creative while topics are still hot.Â
No massive budgets.Â
No endless meetings.Â
Just pure cultural timing.
Think of it as your startup’s rapid response team.Â
When a viral moment hits your industry, you launch clever content within hours – turning cultural trends into massive brand exposure.
The secret?
While your competitors are still scheduling their first meeting, you’ve already joined the conversation—and started trending.
đź’Ľ Why Does Fastvertising Works?
Fastvertising works because it taps into fundamental human psychology and modern internet behavior.
When something is trending, our brains are already primed and receptive – we’re actively seeking more content about that topic.Â
By joining these conversations at their peak, you’re meeting users exactly when their attention is highest.
First, it leverages our natural desire to share what’s current.Â
When content feels timely and relevant, we instinctively want to be among the first to spread it.
Second, it hits the sweet spot between novelty and familiarity.Â
People love fresh takes on topics they’re already invested in – and they’ll share content that makes them look clever for spotting the connection.
But here’s what makes it truly powerful:
You’re not fighting for attention – you’re joining a conversation people already want to have.
🦄 How Aviation Gin & Oreo Mastered Fastvertising
🍾 Aviation Gin’s $610M Play
When Peloton’s controversial holiday ad sparked outrage, Aviation Gin, led by the marketing genius of Ryan Reynolds, spotted their moment.
Within 72 hours, they launched a video response featuring the same actress, turning internet backlash into marketing gold.Â
Without spending a dime on media, they generated 13 billion impressions from a single video – a move that helped drive their $610M acquisition by Diageo.
🌱 Oreo Super Bowl Blackout
When the stadium lights went out during the 2013 Super Bowl, Oreo wasted no time.
Within minutes, they tweeted a simple yet brilliant image of an Oreo cookie with the caption, “You can still dunk in the dark.“
The post exploded online, earning over 15,000 retweets and widespread media coverage—all without spending a dime on ads.
It was a perfect example of Fastvertising, proving that speed and creativity can turn even unexpected moments into marketing gold.
đź’ˇ Your Fastvertising Playbook
Step 1: Build Your RadarÂ
Find scalable data sources you can turn into search gold.
Cast a wide net for cultural moments, not just industry news.
Look for topics sparking widespread conversation that you can add a relevant twist to.
But choose carefully – controversy can be gold or dynamite.
The sweet spot lies in entertainment, viral social moments, and brand mishaps.
Stay far away from politics, social issues, or personal tragedies.
Aviation Gin wouldn’t have struck gold if Peloton’s ad sparked political debate instead of playful mockery.
Step 2: Create Your War Room
You need three key players:
A decision-maker, a content creator, and a community manager.
That’s it.
Bigger teams mean slower responses.
Your goal is a 15-minute approval system where content creator spots trend, decision maker gives instant yes/no, and community manager handles distribution.
Step 3: Craft Quick-Strike Content
Don’t make ads – create entertainment.
Your content should feel like a clever friend joining the conversation, not a brand pushing product.
Test different formats from witty memes to quick reaction videos, but always stay true to the platform’s native style.
Keep your brand voice guide to one page with clear do’s and don’ts.
In a viral moment, you don’t have time to flip through a 50-page guidebook.
Step 4: Maximize Viral Potential
Time your releases when conversations peak – usually within 24 hours of a trending topic.
Start on one platform where the conversation is hottest, then amplify across channels based on performance.
Remember: true viral success isn’t measured in likes – it’s measured in earned media. A winning Fastvertising moment should generate press coverage worth 10x your normal marketing budget
⚠️ Watch-Outs & Pitfalls:
Timing vs Taste: Being first means nothing if you hit the wrong note. Don’t rush to react just because something’s trending. Aviation Gin’s Peloton response worked because it was playful, not mean-spirited.
Know Your Context: Always understand the full story before jumping in. DiGiorno’s infamous #WhyIStayed pizza tweet shows how not knowing a hashtag’s meaning can become a PR nightmare.
The Golden Rules: Keep humor light and clever, never mean. Avoid politics or divisive topics completely. And remember – if you have to ask “Is this too edgy?” it probably is.
The biggest danger? Thinking every trend needs your take. Sometimes the best Fastvertising is knowing when to sit one out.
♻️ The Fastvertising Growth Loop Explained
The Fastvertising strategy isn’t a growth loop in the traditional sense and shouldn’t be treated as one—it’s neither a traditional growth strategy you can rely on for sustained, long-term growth.
Instead, it’s designed to capitalize on fleeting cultural moments, creating rapid but short-lived spikes in visibility and engagement.
While the impact is temporary, it allows your brand to stay relevant, spark conversations, and leave a lasting impression in the minds of your audience.
Found value in this Fastvertising strategy breakdown?
Share it with other founders ready to turn fleeting moments into massive opportunities.
Sometimes the key to rapid growth isn’t chasing trends endlessly – it’s mastering the art of striking while the iron is hot.
Let your speed and creativity do the heavy lifting! ⚡
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