Start Training Your Algorithm
How to use the algorithm for content ideas, Taco Bell's A+ response, Swatch's application-style drop, the grocery store's content series that gamifies the shopping experience
What’s up, everyone! World Cup Final weekend!
Coming up with content ideas isn’t easy. Coming up with them under pressure is even harder, and today I’m sharing how I’ve been training my algorithm to come up with ideas. Literally, I’ve built it brick by brick to feed me the content that helps me out with my 9-to-5. And I’m diving into everything else that caught my eye this week:
Taco Bell’s post that might be the smartest brand move this week
Swatch is making watch fans fill out an application for a chance to buy an exclusive collaboration
The NBA and WNBA announce a social-first partnership with TikTok
A few post formats to try this week
Let’s get it!
FAVORITE CONTENT OF THE WEEK
Ahead of the World Cup Final, Adidas recreated Martin Scorsese's “absolute cinema meme with players from Argentina and Spain. I appreciate when brands dig into the archives of internet culture.
BRANDS, COLLABORATIONS, & CULTURE
Taco Bell's first post since being centered in a health and safety controversy ( a Cyclospora outbreak tied to Taylor Farms lettuce ) won over its audience with a simple note. It worked extremely well. I think the approach felt real, like they wrote it in the Notes app. They took accountability, shared their next action, and showed consideration for their audience. The comment section is overwhelmingly positive, with people appreciating the approach. Sounding human wins every time.
The NBA & WNBA partner with TikTok to bring exclusive content to its platform, including posts from marquee league events such as All-Star games and in-season tournaments. It also combines creator access to events and highlights with live-game discovery through TikTok GamePlan, and advertiser opportunities with TikTok Pulse Premiere. As I mentioned before, Sports is one of the last remaining cultural institutions that bring all communities and interests together, from music, fashion, gaming, etc. I dive into this on an episode of GOOD THINKING.
Following their super-hyped collaboration with Audemars Piguet, Swatch is back with another hype campaign promoting its MoonSwatch 1969 — created to mark the anniversary of the first moon landing in 1969. The limited-edition chronograph features a dial, hands, crown, and pushers crafted from OMEGA’s 18k Moonshine™ Gold, with only 1,969 watches available for purchase. What really stood out to me was the release mechanism for customers to land a watch. Swatch dropped an application via ESTA for customers to apply for the chance to purchase. This is smart and adds to the lore of the collaboration.
Suno just got caught red-handed. Leaked internal files reportedly confirm the AI music generator scraped over 2 million clips from YouTube Music alone, plus tracks from Deezer and Genius, to train its models — undercutting its fair-use defense in the ongoing RIAA lawsuit.
Retail media isn’t just about ad slots anymore — it’s becoming a content studio. Albertsons just dropped a 22-episode branded series with P&G called “Rico’s Tacos,” and Instacart launched its own in-house creative arm, signaling retail media networks are moving from targeting data into full content production.
Hollywood doesn’t just want creators anymore — it’s buying them outright. Between two YouTube-born horror films nearing half a billion dollars combined at the box office and PE firms raising money to acquire meme IP like Skibidi Toilet, creators are muscling into studio territory, though insiders warn there’s a real ceiling on how many can make the leap.
THE SWIPE FILE
A peek at what went into my saves folder I keep thinking about:
The *item* _ _ _ > *the activity* format is an easy way to associate your product with culture & lifestyle. Nice work, Starbucks.