Why Micro-Virality Is the New Social

Why Micro-Virality Is the New Social

Author: Convince & Convert July 12, 2024 Duration: 36:08

It's inevitable. Social media is changing. And if you're not up to date with the trends, your strategy might be left in the dust. Since Gia Lee, the Chief Strategy Officer at NinetyEight, was last on the show, we wanted to hear about her perspective on the top trends today and how marketers can appeal to Gen Z audiences. 

Full Episode Details 

Gia Lee, the Chief Strategy Officer at NinetyEight, is a breath of fresh air in the social media space. As a Gen Z marketer herself, she's already making waves in the industry with her unique insights into how brands can tap into younger markets (without sounding like that Steve Buscemi meme…)

In this episode, we hear a bit about her career story and what the top trends in social are today. The biggest shift she's seen is a move away from big, mainstream trends that take over social. Now, niche-virality is the way forward. A niche trend might not reach everyone… but does it need to? Gia explains that finding your niche is pivotal to a modern social strategy as well as great community management.

We also hear some great advice for marketers on researching Gen Z audiences and ignoring the media stereotypes that can keep you from truly connecting with your audience. 

In This Episode:

  • 1:22 - Gia gives us a background on her career 
  • 3:11 - Social media trends that have changed since she was last on the show
  • 5:51 - How brands are adapting to the shift toward niche trends
  • 7:30 - Brands that are handling niche-virality well
  • 9:58 - What brands could be doing better 
  • 12:19 - How brands can create room for Gen Z to share their voices 
  • 14:38 - How NinetyEight bridges the gap between brands and Gen Z audiences
  • 16:57 - Has Gen Z broken the marketing funnel?
  • 19:10 - How Gen Z is influencing brand community management 
  • 21:57 - NinetyEight's approach to selling new ideas to brands 
  • 28:15 - Gia explains being a guest editor for Ad Age and Marketer to Watch Under 30
  • 30:46 - Advice for Gen Z in business
  • 32:22 - Where you can follow NinetyEight and Gia
  • 33:21 - Gia's top tip for aspiring social pros

Resources 

Visit SocialPros.com for more insights from your favorite social media marketers. 


For years, Social Pros Podcast has served as an essential meeting point for those who do the real work in digital marketing. Created by Convince & Convert, this isn't a theoretical discussion; it's a deep dive into the practical realities of managing social media within larger business ecosystems. The conversations here consistently explore how platforms intersect with brand strategy, content creation, public relations, and paid media, moving beyond hype to examine measurable impact. You'll hear directly from the people behind the profiles at major organizations like Google, Reddit, Uber, and Oracle, gaining insight into their successes and the challenges they navigate daily. The longevity of this podcast is a testament to its value, offering a accumulated wealth of knowledge from hundreds of candid interviews and expert commentaries. Each episode functions like a focused case study, breaking down the "how" and "why" behind decisions that drive genuine business results. If you're looking to understand the evolving role of social media beyond the latest trend, this series provides a grounded, insider perspective that has educated a generation of marketing professionals. Tune in to hear the actual pros discuss the work that rarely makes it into a polished tweet or case study.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Social Pros Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Building Ideal Customer Profiles for Social Media Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:45
A marketing strategy can be full of great, inventive ideas but unless it's targeted at the right people, you could be flying blind. But how do you narrow down and identify your target market? Katie Robbert, CEO of Trust…
A Social Pros Special: Looking At Q4 and 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:27
What is exciting about social right now, and what are the things that bug you the most? This special episode of Social Pros gathers together Convince & Convert experts to talk about their shared frustrations with social,…
An AI Storytelling Masterclass with Mike Allton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:57
Can AI help us to become better storytellers? Your immediate thought might be no, of course not! But while an AI tool won't craft a compelling narrative out of nowhere, it can help us to become better at our jobs by savi…
How Quizlet Turns Fans into Friends on Social [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:26
When people head to social media, usually the last thing on their minds is studying. But Quizlet, the widely popular learning platform, has managed to build an impressive social media presence that engages learners aroun…
How Uber Turns Cultural Moments into Social Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:47
What does it take to manage social media for a global brand like Uber? We hear the secrets to their social success in this episode with N'Yaisha Aziz, the Global Social Media Lead at Uber, who takes us through Uber's str…
[Bonus] How Marketing Can Lead the Way with Data [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:42
Data-Driven Decisions is a new limited-series marketing podcast presented by Convince & Convert and shared with our Social Pros listeners. What happens when marketing truly takes the driver's seat with data and insights?…
How to Learn from Trend-Signals & Social-First Content [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:47
Leaning into social-first content can help you connect to the trends that your audience is already engaged with. The key to great social-first content? Being a content consumer yourself, says our guest this week, Byron S…
[Bonus] How Marketers Can Use Buyer Intent Data [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:00
Data-Driven Decisions is a new limited-series marketing podcast presented by Convince & Convert and shared with our Social Pros listeners. Data is being used more and more to help businesses make the best decisions, in p…