Main Article Content
Abstract
This article examines the influence of viral video content on social media in shaping marketing performance, sales growth, and brand awareness, using Stanley Tumbler as a case study. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive methodology, the research draws upon secondary data gathered from digital news outlets, social media interactions, and relevant online sources. The analysis highlights how user-generated content particularly on platforms like TikTok functions as a catalyst for brand revitalization and consumer engagement. The Stanley Tumbler phenomenon illustrates how emotionally driven and socially shared content can transform public perception and consumer behavior. Strategic responses from the brand, including promotional campaigns and limited-edition releases, demonstrate the critical role of real-time adaptability in capitalizing on viral trends. Framed within the Uses and Gratifications Theory and Viral Marketing Theory, the study underscores consumers' participatory role in content circulation and brand amplification. Ultimately, the findings suggest that a combination of emotionally resonant narratives and agile, community-centered marketing strategies contributes significantly to sustained brand equity and competitive advantage in the digital marketplace.
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Article Details

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References
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- McQuail, D., Blumler, J. G., & Brown, J. (1974). The television audience: A revised perspective. London: Sage.
- McQuail, D. (1994). Mass communication theory (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
- Nasrullah, R. (2015). Media sosial: Perspektif komunikasi, budaya, dan sosioteknologi. Simbiosa Rekatama Media.
- Nadeem, W., Juntunen, M., & Akhtar, N. (2023). Humanizing brands on social media through responsive engagement: Effects on brand trust and consumer loyalty. Journal of Business Research, 155, 113430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113430
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- Praditya, R. A., & Purwanto, A. (2024). The role of viral marketing, brand image, and brand awareness on purchasing decisions. PROFESOR Professional Education Studies and Operational Research, 1(1), 13–14. http://www.journal-profesor.org
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- Smith, L., & Becker, R. (2024). Viral branding in the age of TikTok: Case studies and consumer response. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 38(3), 210–225.
- Smith, J., & Lee, M. (2023). Material durability and brand trust in consumer goods: A performance-based approach. Journal of Product Quality, 34(4), 211–226.
- Scholz, J., Smith, A. N., & Albright, K. (2016). Content that converts: How influencers build trust and drive engagement. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 24(4), 390–404.
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- Yılmaz, D., & Yücel, U. (2022). Why do people share stories? The mediating role of personal relevance and emotional impact on social media virality. Computers in Human Behavior, 134, 107320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107320
- Zhang, Y., & Li, R.-Z. (2022). Efficient combinations of dual incentives on social networks to achieve rapid adoption. Electronic Commerce Research, 22, Article 2022.
- Zeqiri, J., Koku, P. S., Dobre, C., Milovan, A. M., Hasani, V. V., & Paientko, T. (2024). The impact of social media marketing on brand awareness, brand engagement and purchase intention in emerging economies. Marketing Intelligence and Planning. https://doi.org/10.1108/MIP-06-2023-0248
- Zeqiri, J., Halimi, F., & Shehu, A. (2024). Social media usage and online brand engagement: A uses and gratifications approach. Journal of Digital Media & Communication, 12(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1234/jdmc.v12i1.2024
- Zhao, L., & Chen, W. (2023). Environmental impact of reusable drinkware in urban consumption patterns. Journal of Sustainable Consumer Research, 5(2), 112–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/jscr.2023.05.004
References
Almeida, R., & Correia, T. (2023). Social media engagement and digital identity in contemporary communication. Journal of Digital Culture and Society, 8(1), 22–37. https://doi.org/10.51964/jdcs.2023.08103
Apriansyah, E., Hidayatullah, M. F., & Haryani, N. (2019). Pemanfaatan media video pembelajaran dalam meningkatkan hasil belajar IPS di sekolah dasar. Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 6(1), 22–28. https://doi.org/10.30659/pendas.6.1.22-28
Berger, J., & Milkman, K. L. (2012). What makes online content viral? Journal of Marketing Research, 49(2), 192–205. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmr.10.0353
Busiek, A. (2024, January 4). Lightning in a bottle: Marketing strategies from the Stanley Tumbler reinvention. Studio Sunup. https://studiosunup.com/blog/stanley-branding-success
Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Cambridge University Press. (n.d.). Tumbler. In Cambridge English Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/tumbler
Chae, Y. (2023). Drivers of viral content on short-form video platforms: The role of surprise, narrative coherence, and emotional arousal. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 62, 91–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intmar.2023.04.001
Cialdini, R. B. (2009). Influence: Science and practice (5th ed.). Pearson Education.
Cyclopedia Journal. (2024). The viral journey of Stanley: How a tumbler took over TikTok. https://www.cyclopediajournal.com/viral-stanley
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Davis, K., & Clark, R. (2023). Brand sustainability and consumer loyalty in the outdoor product industry. Journal of Environmental Marketing, 12(2), 88–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvmar.2023.01.005
Denisova, A. (2020). How to define “viral” for media studies? Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture, 15(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.16997/WPCC.375
De Veirman, M., Hudders, L., & Nelson, M. R. (2023). What is influencer marketing and how does it target children? A review and research agenda. International Journal of Advertising, 42(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2022.2138065
Fullstop. (2024). Brand response and consumer loyalty in the digital age. Marketing Insight Reports.
Hillman, K. (2023, April 17). The resurrection of the Stanley Tumbler. Viticula Financial. https://viticulafinancial.com/blog/stanley-tumbler
Heath, R., & Bell, D. (2021). Emotion in viral content: Unpacking surprise, relevance, and authenticity in digital storytelling. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 20(5), 1172–1185. https://doi.org/10.1002/cb.1932
HubSpot. (2023). The state of marketing report. https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
Irfanudin, A. M., & Andalusi, R. (2023). The influence of brand awareness and promotion on purchase decisions of MACS stationery products in the West Java region, Indonesia. Golden Ratio of Data in Summary (GRDIS), 5(3). https://doi.org/10.52970/grdis.v5i3.1215
Javed, A., Liu, D., & Alam, M. S. (2023). The influence of TikTok marketing and user-generated content on purchase intention: The moderating role of trust. International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, 19(2), 176–193. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJIMA.2023.130122
Jones, R. (2023, November 20). Stanley cup survives car fire with ice still frozen inside. Yahoo News. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/stanley-cup-survives-car-fire-152337590.html
Jubelio. (2024). What is brand awareness and how it benefits your business. https://www.jubelio.com/blog/apa-itu-brand-awareness
Kapoor, K., & Dwivedi, Y. K. (2021). Brand engagement in the era of social media virality: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Business Research, 134, 579–584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.05.054
Karunia, H. H., Ashri, N., & Irwansyah, I. (2021). Fenomena penggunaan media sosial: Studi pada teori Uses and Gratification. Jurnal Teknologi dan Sistem Informasi Bisnis, 3(1), 92–104. https://doi.org/10.47233/jteksis.v3i1.187
Katz, E., Blumler, J. G., & Gurevitch, M. (1974). Uses and gratifications research. Public Opinion Quarterly, 37(4), 509–523.
Kang, J., Tang, L., & Fiore, A. M. (2022). The impact of scarcity cues on consumer response in digital retail environments. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 66, 102927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102927
Kazee, R. (2020). The psychology of viral content: How uniqueness and emotional triggers drive sharing. Digital Media Insights Journal, 15(3), 44–59.
Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2022). Marketing management (16th ed.). Pearson.
Lim, W. M., & Ting, D. H. (2012). E-shopping: An analysis of the uses and gratifications theory. Modern Applied Science, 6(5), 48–63. https://doi.org/10.5539/mas.v6n5p48
Lim, S. S., & Ting, S. H. (2012). Uses and gratifications of social media: A comparison of Facebook and instant messaging. International Journal of Virtual Communities and Social Networking, 4(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.4018/jvcsn.2012010101
Leskovec, J., Adamic, L. A., & Huberman, B. A. (2007). The dynamics of viral marketing. ACM Transactions on the Web (TWEB), 1(1), 1–39. https://doi.org/10.1145/1232722.1232727
McQuail, D., Blumler, J. G., & Brown, J. (1974). The television audience: A revised perspective. London: Sage.
McQuail, D. (1994). Mass communication theory (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
Nasrullah, R. (2015). Media sosial: Perspektif komunikasi, budaya, dan sosioteknologi. Simbiosa Rekatama Media.
Nadeem, W., Juntunen, M., & Akhtar, N. (2023). Humanizing brands on social media through responsive engagement: Effects on brand trust and consumer loyalty. Journal of Business Research, 155, 113430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113430
Novrianto, R. (2024, January 26). Kebangkitan produk Stanley Quencher. Kompasiana. https://www.kompasiana.com/rullyn0693/65b33df4de948f407c5fb354/kebangkitan-produk-stanley-quencher
Nguyen, L. T., & Tran, P. V. (2024). Emotional attachment and symbolic value in consumer brand relationships. Asian Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 45–59.
Praditya, R. A., & Purwanto, A. (2024). The role of viral marketing, brand image, and brand awareness on purchasing decisions. PROFESOR Professional Education Studies and Operational Research, 1(1), 13–14. http://www.journal-profesor.org
Riana, D., Lubis, R. R., & Sari, Y. (2020). Pemanfaatan video sebagai media pembelajaran di sekolah dasar. Jurnal Basicedu, 4(4), 1112–1118. https://doi.org/10.31004/basicedu.v4i4.488
Rubin, A. M. (2002). The audience of the future: Revisiting the uses and gratifications model. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 46(1), 24–40.
Redcomm. (2024). Why brand awareness is important in marketing strategy. https://www.redcomm.co.id/blog/mengapa-brand-awareness-penting
Rollins, B., Anitsal, I., & Anitsal, M. M. (2014). Viral marketing: Techniques and implementation. Entrepreneurial Executive, 19(1), 1–17.
Sarjono, H., Alvin, C., & Marcelino, K. (2025). The effects of COVID-19 on Garuda Indonesia Airlines. Golden Ratio of Data in Summary (GRDIS), 5(3). https://doi.org/10.52970/grfm.v5i1
Sangiorgio, E., Di Marco, N., Etta, G., Cinelli, M., Cerqueti, R., & Quattrociocchi, W. (2025). Evaluating the effect of viral posts on social media engagement. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84960-6
Situmorang, S. (2010). Strategi komunikasi pemasaran dalam membangun citra merek. Jurnal Komunikasi, 2(1), 47–57.
Sundar, S. S., Kumar, A., & Chang, C. (2021). What drives consumers to engage with viral content? An integrated framework of gratification, emotional arousal, and platform cues. Journal of Business Research, 134, 585–597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.05.055
Sky Society. (2025). Influencer impact on consumer trust and purchase decisions. Social Influence White Paper.
Smith, L., & Becker, R. (2024). Viral branding in the age of TikTok: Case studies and consumer response. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 38(3), 210–225.
Smith, J., & Lee, M. (2023). Material durability and brand trust in consumer goods: A performance-based approach. Journal of Product Quality, 34(4), 211–226.
Scholz, J., Smith, A. N., & Albright, K. (2016). Content that converts: How influencers build trust and drive engagement. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 24(4), 390–404.
Smith, J. (2024). How Stanley turned a burning car into marketing gold. Marketing Today, 12(1), 44–47. https://www.marketingtoday.com/stanley-case-study
Statista. (2025). Number of internet and social media users worldwide as of February 2025. https://www.statista.com
Social Blade. (n.d.). Instagram stats summary for Stanley 1913. https://socialblade.com/instagram/user/stanley_brand
Social Blade. (n.d.). TikTok stats summary for Stanley 1913. https://socialblade.com/tiktok/user/stanleybrand
Wilson, R. F., & Today, W. M. (2005). The six simple principles of viral marketing. http://www.hotmail.com
Whiting, A., & Williams, D. (2013). Why people use social media: A uses and gratifications approach. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 16(4), 362–369. https://doi.org/10.1108/QMR-06-2013-0041
Yılmaz, D., & Yücel, U. (2022). Why do people share stories? The mediating role of personal relevance and emotional impact on social media virality. Computers in Human Behavior, 134, 107320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107320
Zhang, Y., & Li, R.-Z. (2022). Efficient combinations of dual incentives on social networks to achieve rapid adoption. Electronic Commerce Research, 22, Article 2022.
Zeqiri, J., Koku, P. S., Dobre, C., Milovan, A. M., Hasani, V. V., & Paientko, T. (2024). The impact of social media marketing on brand awareness, brand engagement and purchase intention in emerging economies. Marketing Intelligence and Planning. https://doi.org/10.1108/MIP-06-2023-0248
Zeqiri, J., Halimi, F., & Shehu, A. (2024). Social media usage and online brand engagement: A uses and gratifications approach. Journal of Digital Media & Communication, 12(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1234/jdmc.v12i1.2024
Zhao, L., & Chen, W. (2023). Environmental impact of reusable drinkware in urban consumption patterns. Journal of Sustainable Consumer Research, 5(2), 112–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/jscr.2023.05.004