In this shortened video clip posted on Twitter, we see how the U.S. Marines repurposed their own Black Friday (the day when recruits meet their drill instructors for the first time) to connect with a commonly recognized event. Instead of taking a more expected approach of just tweeting about Black Friday, the social media manager took this video and contextualized it by layering on some cheery, but slightly off key holiday music. It's equal parts hilarious and awe-inspiring.
Successes
The original video, posted on YouTube, was much longer, so slicing it down to just a snackable 30 seconds really works for the platform and for the audience. The shortened video features a familiar scene which brought back strong memories for the audience, so the engagement was strong. Retweets included Marines trying to identify if they were seeing younger versions of their comrades and seasoned Marines looking back on the experience with some pride. It gave a bit of old content new life and a new purpose in front of a new audience.
Missed Opportunity
A minor hit, but there is a missed opportunity to have shared the link for the full video as a response to those who commented. With so many audience members reacting positively, there was a cross-promotion opportunity left on the table.
Lessons Learned
With a little imagination and some creative use of musical overlay, it's possible to connect an easily recognized event, such as Black Friday, to your organization instead of arbitrarily posting about it. Contextualizing and personalizing it helps your audience to connect and engage.
It's okay to repost some content when applicable and reframed, so start digging in those archives.