Real-World Case Play #002: A Beverage Brand Launch
The Problem
A mid-market sparkling water brand was stuck. They had 12 SKUs, decent distribution, but their social ads blended into the noise. CTRs hovered at 0.7%, and cost per click (CPC) was creeping above $2.10.
The Shift
Instead of running another “refreshing taste” campaign, they leaned into Vibe Marketing. They used AI to scan TikTok + Instagram for emerging micro-trends. One insight popped: the phrase “Main Character Energy” was surging +120% month-over-month.
The Play
Scan Culture with AI → AI tools flagged “main character” memes as spiking in Q2 among Gen Z.
Prototype Emotion Fast → AI generated 15 ad variations: “sip like the main character,” “be the vibe,” “sparkle louder.”
Test for Resonance → They A/B tested across TikTok. The “Be the Vibe” concept outperformed the control creative by:
- CTR: 2.1% vs. 0.7% (+200%)
- CPC: $0.92 vs. $2.10 (–56%)
- Engagement (comments/shares): 3.4x higher
Why it Worked
They stopped selling “sparkling water” and started selling the vibe of being noticed. AI gave them speed + volume to test emotional angles, without bloating the creative budget.
👉 Your Move: What “micro-vibe” is your audience tuned into right now? Use AI to surface one trend → draft 10 emotion-first creatives → run a micro-test this week.