When Ads Become Entertainment 🎬

Hey Nerds! 🎉 Welcome back to The Ad Nerd—where marketing feels less like rocket science and more like your cool friend spilling the secrets.

Let’s dive into this week’s treasure chest of marketing wisdom

In The News 🗞️

How SNL50 Turned Ads Into Entertainment

For SNL’s 50th anniversary, brands ditched boring ads and became part of the show. From custom sketches with SNL talent to interactive fan experiences, they made marketing fun, engaging, and impossible to ignore.

Read more →

Pete Davidson & Reformation

The eco-fashion brand tapped Pete as their “Official Boyfriend” in a Valentine’s campaign, playfully bringing their oversized “boyfriend” apparel to life. Fans could even “apply” for their own Reformation boyfriend on TikTok.

Read more →

Nerd Tip of the Week 🎯

Entertain, Don’t Just Advertise

We live in the era of the “skip” button. People ignore boring ads, but they love good entertainment. That’s where branded entertainment comes in—making your brand part of the fun instead of an unwelcome interruption.

How to Make It Work for You:

1️⃣ Know What Your Audience Loves

What shows, games, or influencers do your customers follow?

Example: If they’re obsessed with true crime podcasts, could your brand sponsor a mystery segment?

2️⃣ Find the Right Partner

Collaborate with a content creator, show, or platform your audience already enjoys.

Example: A local bakery teaming up with a food vlogger for a “secret menu” reveal video.

3️⃣ Make It Fun & Natural

Your brand should feel like part of the story, not a forced sales pitch.

Example: Mercedes-Benz didn’t just run an ad in Jurassic World—their SUV was literally the hero’s escape car!

4️⃣ Start Small

You don’t need a blockbuster budget. Try a simple Instagram skit, a themed contest, or a YouTube collab.

5️⃣ Measure Engagement, Not Just Views

Look for shares, comments, and brand mentions. If people talk about your campaign like it’s content, you’ve won.

Real-World Example 🔎

Hellmann’s Super Bowl Magic

Hellmann’s nailed this strategy with their When Harry Met Hellmann’s Super Bowl ad.

They reunited When Harry Met Sally stars Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, added Gen Z icon Sydney Sweeney, and turned a classic rom-com moment into a hilarious mayo-themed sketch.

The result? Fans were talking, not skipping.

The Lesson: Make your brand part of a story your audience already loves, and they’ll love you for it.

Tool of the Week 🛠️

Collabstr

This week’s "Tool of the Week" is Collabstr, chosen for its ability to find the perfect influencer or content creator for your budget and niche. No guesswork, just results.

Check it Out →

Recommendation of the Week

MODULR Minute

Marketing tools for small teams

Level up your marketing, one minute at a time. Our take on the latest on marketing tools, systems, and repeatable revenue strategies.

Marketing Mythbuster 🧠

“People Ignore Sponsored Content”

Not true! Research shows 69% of consumers trust influencer recommendations more than a brand’s own messaging. The trick? Make the content valuable, entertaining, and authentic. If people love it, they won’t skip it!

Just for Fun 😂

Did you know? The Guinness Book of World Records started as a marketing stunt! Back in 1955, Guinness (the beer company) created it as a giveaway for pubs to help settle bar debates. It became so popular, it turned into a best-selling book. Talk about a marketing win!

That’s all for this week, Nerds! 🤓

Keep building, experimenting, and having fun with your marketing. Got questions or tips to share? Hit reply and let me know—I might feature you next week!

PS: Don’t forget to share The Ad Nerd with a friend who needs some quick marketing magic!

Keep learning and growing,