This Week Online - A Marketing Masterclass.
- Meg Lazenby
- Feb 13
- 2 min read
Duolingo has taken the internet by storm this week, capturing the attention of millions with their innovative approach to marketing.

Duolingo, a platform that allows users to learn languages, are known for campaigns that showcase a shock factor that not only entertains but also engages users in a unique way.
This technique, which their creative team has skilfully mastered, involves crafting playful and sometimes outrageous advertisements that resonate with a wide audience.
By leveraging social media platforms and viral trends, Duolingo often manages to create a buzz that extends beyond traditional marketing methods, their clever use of memes and internet culture speaks directly to a younger demographic, making language learning feel more accessible and less daunting.
If you follow any global business on social media, you may have seen a little green bird this week. This is Duo, the mascot of Duolingo, and this week, the language learning app announced that he was dead.
An out of the box approach to advertisement, that confuses the reader - after all, how can a digital illustration of an owl pass away?
Several other well established businesses, influencers, celebrities & global corporations have shared their own take on Duo’s death, their content also going viral.
Duolingo hit the nail on the head with their marketing every single time - what can you, as a business owner, take away from this?
Viral marketing is free advertising.
The effectiveness of viral marketing is rooted in its organic nature. When individuals share content they find valuable or entertaining, it creates a sense of authenticity and trust that is often lacking in conventional advertisements. As a result, messages spread from person to person, creating a ripple effect that can lead to exponential growth in visibility and engagement.
Sometimes you have to think out of the box.
Thinking "outside the box" in marketing is crucial. It allows your business to stand out from competitors, capture attention with unique ideas, generate buzz on social media, and ultimately create a more memorable impression on potential customers. In a crowded market where traditional approaches may not be effective anymore, having a shocking, silly, unusual, humorous approach to social media helps you differentiate your business and connect with your audience on a deeper level by offering something new and unexpected.
Jumping on trends like this does great things for your online presence.
By actively engaging with current trends, you not only enhance your visibility on various social media platforms but also position yourself as a relevant and timely contributor to conversations that matter to your audience. When you align your content with what is trending, you tap into a larger pool of potential viewers who are already interested in those topics.
Essentially, the unusual news shared by Duolingo this week is a lesson in fantastic marketing, and a valuable insight into how consumers online respond to advertisement strategies like this.
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