Bad Marketing: The Psychology Behind Viral Social Media Posts

Bad Marketing: The $7 Chicken That Went Viral and Forced a Corporate Policy Change

What started as a $7 rotisserie chicken turned into over 2 million organic views across Threads, Facebook, and TikTok… and eventually triggered a corporate memo at a billion-dollar company. In this episode, I introduce the concept of Bad Marketing — the idea that some of the most criticized posts on social media are often the ones generating the most attention, engagement, and organic reach for brands. For years marketers have been told to create polished content, follow best practices, and avoid controversy. But the reality of the internet is different. The content that spreads fastest is often real, relatable, and framed in a way that interrupts the scroll. In this episode I break down: • what Bad Marketing actually means • why “rage bait” style posts often go viral • how user-generated content benefits brands • why pattern-interrupt storytelling spreads on social media • how a simple Publix chicken post turned into a real-world corporate reaction This story is also a reminder that marketing today doesn’t require big budgets or expensive production. Sometimes all it takes is a smart observation, the right caption, and the courage to hit publish. Original Threads post referenced in the episode: https://www.threads.com/@carlosgil83/post/DW_c5JkjhFK [https://www.threads.com/@carlosgil83/post/DW_c5JkjhFK] Subscribe to the Bad Marketing Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bad-marketing-7448085448096268288/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bad-marketing-7448085448096268288/] Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosgilonline/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosgilonline/]

Bad Marketing: The Psychology Behind Viral Social Media Posts

In this episode I introduce the concept of Bad Marketing — the idea that some of the most criticized posts on social media are often the ones generating the most attention and organic reach for brands. For years marketers have been told to create polished content, follow best practices, and avoid controversy. But in reality, the internet often rewards something very different: real, relatable moments that interrupt the scroll and spark conversation. In this episode I break down: • what “Bad Marketing” actually is • why pattern-interrupt content spreads online • how user-generated content benefits brands • why everyday observations often outperform polished marketing campaigns I also share real examples of posts that generated millions of views and explain how attention on social media can translate into brand exposure, follower growth, and even new business opportunities. Subscribe to the Bad Marketing Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bad-marketing-7448085448096268288/ [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bad-marketing-7448085448096268288/] Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosgilonline/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosgilonline/]

Social Media Marketing Is Dead (Here’s What Replaces It)

For years marketers were told that social media was the future. But algorithms, AI, and an explosion of content have turned the internet into a noisy digital ocean where attention is harder than ever to earn. In this episode, Carlos breaks down the evolution of social media from the AOL chat room era to today’s algorithm-driven platforms and explains why the smartest marketers are shifting their focus to something far more powerful: owned audiences and email. If you want to go deeper into email strategy and tools: Best email marketing tools and reviews: https://bestsends.com [https://bestsends.com] Test your email subject line before you send it: https://testmysubject.com [https://testmysubject.com] Email strategy, consulting, and newsletter growth: https://sendfocus.com [https://sendfocus.com]

KEYNOTE: Social Media Is Rented… Email Is Owned

In this live keynote, Carlos Gil breaks down the realities of modern marketing and why most businesses are gambling their growth away on social media. Social platforms may give you reach, but they control the rules of the game. The real opportunity is learning how to turn attention into owned relationships through email marketing and community building. In this session, Carlos shares practical strategies for creating engaging social content, understanding how algorithms work, capturing audience data, and building an email list that drives real business results. If you're relying only on social media followers to grow your business, this talk will change how you think about digital marketing.

Fix Your LinkedIn With This AI Hack

Your LinkedIn profile shouldn’t just exist… it should convert. In this audio drop, I break down how to use ChatGPT to analyze and optimize your LinkedIn profile so it actually attracts opportunities. The goal isn’t more followers… it’s better positioning. Because if your profile doesn’t speak to decision makers, you’re invisible where the money is.