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#22: Seizing the Moment—Lessons from Nike's Viral Scheffler Ad

The StoryBrand Podcast · June 2, 2025 · 24 min

Summary

This episode breaks down how Nike leveraged a timely cultural moment with golfer Scottie Scheffler to create a viral ad. It highlights the power of immediate, relevant messaging to capture attention and resonate with an audience, demonstrating how brands can effectively seize opportunities for impactful communication to drive engagement and brand affinity.

Key takeaways

Themes

brand & content

Topics covered

timely marketingcultural relevanceviral marketingbrand messagingagile marketingemotional marketing

Episode description

Attention is the name of the game in today's market. If you want to stand out, you need to move fast, think creatively, and tap into what your audience is already talking about. Whether it's a funny meme, a strategic shoutout, or a well-timed post, the brands that win know how to seize the moment and jump into the spotlight. So how do you identify those moments and use them without sounding corny or out of touch? In this week's episode, Don and Kyle unpack the power of real-time marketing using Nike's viral Scottie Scheffler post as a prime example. They contrast it with Skechers' missed opportunity and break down how brands can mine attention, play off cultural angst, and create moments people can't ignore. You'll learn how to identify what your audience cares about, how to speak their language, and how to turn attention into action. Listen in to discover how to make your brand impossible to overlook. Nike's "The Verdict Is In" Post from May 18th 2025 referenced in the show. -- Unlock the power of a framework that works—the StoryBrand Framework at StoryBrand.ai. It's like having the world's best copywriter create high-converting marketing whenever you need it. Start your free 7-day trial at StoryBrand.ai. Learn how to make your marketing and messaging work using a proven framework in the updated book, Building a StoryBrand 2

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Frequently asked about this episode

What does this episode say about brand & content?
Monitor current events and cultural conversations for opportunities to inject your brand's message in a relevant way.
What does this episode say about brand & content?
Develop a clear, concise brand message (soundbite) that can be easily adapted to various contexts and timely events.
What does this episode say about brand & content?
Act quickly to capitalize on viral moments; speed to market is crucial for relevance and impact.
What does this episode say about brand & content?
Focus on emotional resonance in your messaging to create a deeper connection with your audience.
What does this episode say about brand & content?
Pre-build adaptable creative assets or messaging frameworks that can be rapidly deployed when opportunities arise.

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