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Senna's Cut • A Social Amplification Building Relevance at Breakneck Speed

  • Client

    Netflix

  • Solutions

    SocialSocial AOR

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Case Study

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Building cultural relevance in the blink of an eye.

Netflix, a global leader in entertainment streaming, wanted to bring Ayrton Senna’s incredible story to audiences worldwide through its eponymous new series. The goal was to connect with both Formula 1 enthusiasts and viewers who may not have been familiar with the legendary racer. We aimed to convey the drama and intensity of Senna’s life—both on and off the track—in a way that felt fresh, culturally relevant, and captivating to younger generations. The campaign’s cornerstone was a bold, innovative approach that showcased Netflix’s ability to push storytelling boundaries.

The image depicts two women joyfully embracing amidst a crowd, surrounded by photographers and supporters, conveying a sense of celebration and connection.
The image features a focused young race car driver seated in a racing cockpit, wearing a red jumpsuit, with a helmet displaying a vibrant design visible in the background.

Driving audience engagement with a captivating cut.

Drawing inspiration from Senna’s iconic 1990 Monaco lap record of 1:21.314, we compressed an eight-hour series into an electrifying 1:21.314 edit. Every second of the clip was meticulously synced with the rhythm of his record-breaking drive, distilling his life’s highs and lows into a gripping, pulse-pounding experience. The complexity behind this cut was formidable—requiring analysis of 19 curves, over 50 gear changes, 3337 meters of track, and 2245 individual editing clips and layers. Designed to be consumed in a flash yet rich with detail, the edit introduced audiences to Senna’s relentless intensity in a way that was both thrilling and concise. The campaign launched simultaneously on live TV and social media, leveraging social amplification to generate immediate intrigue and excitement.

Experience the Rush: A Legacy in 1:21.314!

  • The image features the title "SENNA," presented as a Netflix series, with speed metrics and a racetrack outline, suggesting a focus on high-speed racing.
  • The image captures a close-up of a race car driver adorned with a floral wreath, visibly emotional with a tear on his cheek, as he interacts with another individual, set against a racing backdrop.
  • The image shows a serious interaction between a race car driver in a red suit and an older man in a cap, set against a backdrop of racing pits and spectators, suggesting a significant conversation in a racing environment.
  • The image captures a tender moment between a couple in a colorful, festive setting, with the woman playfully kissing the man's forehead, who has a lipstick mark on his cheek, showcasing a joyful and romantic atmosphere.
  • The image features a close-up of a race car driver wearing a helmet adorned with sponsor logos, focusing intently, with the background blurred to emphasize his expression and the speed meter indicating 158 km/h.
  • The image depicts a chaotic scene on a racetrack, where a team of medical personnel is attending to an injured driver lying on a stretcher, while another driver expresses determination with the words "I can't quit" visible on the screen.

Building buzz through influencer partnerships.

To spark conversation online, the campaign leaned into modern viewing habits. Senna’s Cut was expertly crafted to provoke reactions from viewers, including creators who dissected its frames and highlighted pivotal details. Their unique perspectives and intriguing theories, informed by their own knowledge of Senna’s career, sparked a ripple effect as audiences joined the conversation. A live premiere event added a layer of excitement, featuring Formula 1 drivers, journalists and influencers who amplified the campaign’s reach even further. By blending local cultural relevance with global storytelling, the campaign connected with audiences on multiple levels, driving audience engagement and bridging the gap between niche content and mainstream appeal.

Social campaign

Influencers ignite excitement for new release

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Reigniting a legacy for a new generation.

The campaign redefined how a story could be told, making Senna’s life accessible and engaging for both new and existing fans. By transforming a long-form series into a fast-paced, pause-worthy format, the campaign captivated younger audiences while sparking conversations across social media. The audience engagement extended beyond the edit itself, positioning Netflix as a brand that successfully blends cultural relevance with modern consumption habits. The campaign proved that creative innovation can make even niche stories resonate on a universal scale.

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Results

  • Most-Googled show in Latin America
  • Most-watched show in Latin America
  • +290M impressions
  • 1.6M interactions
  • 1x Cannes Lion

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Can’t get enough? Here is some related work for you!

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  • Partners Across
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Social media is the go-to destination where culture happens.

Increasingly, social networks are the places where people live their lives and build community. As these behaviors accelerate audience fragmentation, social media has become a key priority in CMOs’ marketing plans to drive growth. We build social-first brands through the power of cultural influence, all driven by social signals, dynamics and conversions.

Social offers something for everyone

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  5. We helped Havaianas communicate how the flip-flop brand was taking steps to support the community over the long term, like eliminating the distinction between products for men and for women, and extending the range of sizes so anyone can feel comfortable in their favorite design.

    Through a global partnership with All Out, 7% of the profit for each product was donated to non-governmental organizations fighting for LGBTQ+ rights around the world.

  6. Interested in hearing more about our partnership with Havaianas? Check out the full case.

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Solutions

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Solutions

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Reliable solutions crafted for relevance and reach.

Whether you’re just finding your voice on social or aim to go global, our solutions are designed to drive conversion, build communities and drive culture—all with brand consistency in mind. With social experts spread across seven hubs and three time zones, we’ll help you speak your audience’s language, emoji and all.

Social Compass: We establish the foundations of your social strategy—ecosystems, content strategy, deployment plans and everything in between—to catapult your platform presence and build long-term relationships.

Social Community: Putting social acumen to practice, we build devoted communities that build brand love.

Social Commerce: We identify and activate the mechanisms that trigger purchases, including setting up and managing social stores.

Social Consolidation: We build your brand’s social footprint through economies of scale.

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Using social to build a better world together

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#GoBeyond •With Beyond Meat, we tapped into the spirit of social to connect with fans on how to build a better world together.

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Everything we touch becomes social.

We offer a range of strategies to anchor our clients’ businesses on social. By deciphering signals, crafting social dynamics and enabling conversion between communities and brands, we help brands achieve competitive advantages and superior performance.

Monk Thoughts Social has surpassed media and today's brands are built and grown in social. It is now a crucial factor in determining business performance metrics such as financial growth and brand equity.
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More on social

Influencer Marketing

Strategic influencer marketing, end-to-end management, and performance analysis services.

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As a premier influencer marketing agency, Monks builds social brands through five key practice areas: Creator & Influencer Community AOR, Influencer & Creator Campaigns, Creator UGC Content-at-scale, Affiliate Marketing, and Live Experiences. We harness the power of the creator economy and influencer marketing to blend social insights, culture, media, experiences, creators, and commerce, driving brand growth. As a global leader, we provide the strategic support and efficiencies brands need to thrive, focusing on influence at scale within a rapidly changing social landscape. From strategic planning to creative execution and talent management, we guide clients through the dynamic creator industry to achieve impactful business outcomes.

Creators turned a blind spot into a point of sale.

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When streamers got scared, Pringles got cheaper.

Discover how we turned Brazil's top Twitch creators' fear into live Pringles price drops during the Stranger Things final-season premiere—Amazon sales up 432% that night, order velocity up 1,150%.

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What can we do for you?

Services

Here's ways we can help now.

  • Creator & Influencer Community AOR

    Prioritize cultural relevance and community insights to make brand messages resonate. By cultivating creator communities of authentic brand advocates, we foster meaningful connections and engagement.

  • Influencer and Creator Campaigns

    Our campaigns are designed to leverage the influence of creators and elevate your brand's presence in the zeitgeist. They aren't just promotional; they're cultural touchpoints.

  • Creator UGC Content

    User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool in today’s marketing landscape. Our team utilizes cutting-edge technology like gen AI and data-driven insights to produce creator content at scale.

  • Affiliate Marketing

    Our solutions bridge creators, media, and commerce for seamless integration of the consumer commerce experience. We pinpoint growth opportunities for your brand by engaging creator communities that drive revenue growth.

  • Compelling Creator Experiences

    We blend creative production with talent management to elevate your brand through immersive virtual and IRL experiences. Each interaction is designed to captivate, ensuring meaningful engagement.

  • Strategy

    We develop tailor-made creative and strategic proposals, grounded in social listening and audience behaviors, to define clear timings and objectives.

  • Creator Sourcing and Vetting

    Creator Sourcing and Vetting Deep searches identify authentic, diverse creators with strong channel engagement, followed by a rigorous, multi-step vetting process to ensure absolute brand safety.

  • Contracting & Briefing

    We handle talent contracts, licensing, and compliance completely in-house, followed by comprehensive creative briefing calls to align creators with your brand's vision.

  • Production

    Meticulous oversight of content execution and review facilitates rapid testing and iteration, guaranteeing all assets meet the highest standard of creative excellence.

  • Paid Amplification

    We maximize the impact of creator content by seamlessly integrating it across your brand's owned social channels and paid media ecosystems.

  • Measurement

    We use robust management platforms, we provide comprehensive tracking, final reporting, and post-mortem insights to measure KPIs and deliver actionable takeaways.

  1. How We Work •

  2. project setup

    Project Setup: Align cross-functional teams during a formal kickoff, establish internal workflows, and finalize budgets

  3. talent casting

    Talent Casting: Review strategic briefs to source the right creators, present curated longlists for client approval, and initiate outreach and rate negotiations.

  4. Influencer management

    Influencer Management: Execute legal contracts, conduct comprehensive briefing calls, and manage the content review process to ensure all assets are client-approved before going live.

  5. Reporting a closing

    Reporting & Closing: Track active campaign metrics through management platforms, process talent payments, and deliver a comprehensive post-mortem report detailing performance and insights.

  6. Ready to launch your next influencer campaign.

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Let us help you build a community of advocates. Get in touch.

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Please fill out the following quick questions so our team can get in touch with you.

FAQs

Your questions answered to boost brand influence and cultural relevance at scale.

How do you find and vet the right influencers for a brand campaign?

As an experienced influencer marketing agency, we find and vet the right influencers by matching your strategic casting brief with a rigorous, multi-step screening process. Brand managers can feel confident knowing we evaluate candidates for channel quality, authenticity, and diverse representation while strictly filtering out hostility, clickbait, and community violators. This deep search ensures every creator we present perfectly aligns with your brand's voice and values.

How much does influencer marketing cost, and how are creator rates determined?

Influencer marketing costs vary widely based on the creator's follower tier, ranging from nano-influencers to hero celebrities. Marketing leaders rely on our team to negotiate rates based on the project's creative needs, usage rights, and the specific type of creator—whether they are an agency expert, an external producer, or a traditional influencer. We manage the entire out-of-pocket budget to ensure you get the most efficient impact for your spend.

How do you measure the success and ROI of an influencer marketing campaign?

We measure campaign success and ROI by capturing real-time metrics and engagement data through industry-leading platforms like Captiv8. Once a campaign concludes, we provide social media directors with an in-depth post-mortem report and presentation. This connects content performance directly to your core KPIs, offering actionable insights for both upper and lower funnel objectives.

What is the difference between creator UGC (User-Generated Content) and traditional influencer campaigns?

The main difference is that creator UGC provides always-on content primarily for brand channels and paid media, whereas traditional campaigns leverage an influencer's established audience on their own channels. Growth marketers love our UGC approach because it delivers hyper-personalized, testimonial-style content at scale across unlimited consumer segments. Conversely, traditional influencer campaigns are used to build cultural touchpoints and tap into a creator's unique relationship with their followers. 

How do you ensure brand safety and FTC compliance in influencer partnerships?

We ensure brand safety and compliance by managing all legal contracts, licensing, and mandatory FTC disclosures entirely in-house. For marketing executives, our dedicated influencer management team enforces a strict vetting tracker and Captiv8 checks before any partnership begins. We guarantee that no unapproved content goes live, keeping your brand protected at every step of the campaign.

Why Choose Monks?

Partner with an influencer marketing agency trusted by industry giants like Google, TikTok, and L’Oréal. At Monks, we set trends—not follow them. Let us transform your brand by building vibrant communities of advocates and delivering measurable business success.  

How to Make Friends and Influence People Authentically

How to Make Friends and Influence People Authentically

4 min read
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Written by
Monks

How to Make Friends and Influence People Authentically

The FTC recently released a set of guidelines informing influencers of how they should disclose branded content. They range from some of the more obvious points (definitely disclose that you’re being paid to promote something) to more stringent ethical concerns—for example, influencers can’t talk about an experience with a product you haven’t tried, nor can they praise a product that they don’t think is good.

These guidelines are not only useful to maintain transparency with consumers. In fact, they remind us how brands and influencers can—and should—form more meaningful partnerships that benefit them both. Doing so achieves a truer sense of authenticity, authority and integrity, exactly what a brand seeks to infuse in their story when working with influencers. Here’s how to make that happen.

Adopt a Community-First Mindset

The surest way to build authenticity into an influencer campaign is to center the story around the community you hope to connect with. Consider, for example, how many leading content creators interrupt or introduce their content with a scripted spiel about a product that doesn’t have anything to do with the content itself. For many in the audience, these ad reads might have a “it’s what pays the bills” kind of vibe, rather than a reliable endorsement from the influencer.

Monk Thoughts Get at the heart of what the influencer means for their audience.

While such a tactic might increase reach and awareness, it doesn’t go far enough in creating a meaningful connection with the audience. “A lot of companies think about influencer partnerships like they would a media spend,” says Claudia Cameron, Head of Digital Marketing at IMA, a digital influencer agency that merged with MediaMonks in August. “Get at the heart of what the influencer means for their audience, rather than focusing on getting in front of as many people as possible.”

In an ANA presentation on how brands can retain relevance through influencer partnerships, Hot Wheels Sr. Marketing Director/Head of Brand Marketing Ricardo Briceno discussed the toy brand’s strategic, long-term partnership with vlogger Tanner Fox. As an automotive enthusiast, it was clear how Fox’s content overlapped with the brand’s mission to ignite a challenging spirit in children through cars. “What is the shared value between what Hot Wheels stands for and what the creator stands for?” Briceno asked rhetorically, demonstrating key questions that brands should consider in forming their approach to partnership.

Allow Creative Control for Added Authenticity

Defining this shared value and goals does more than ensure a brand’s goals and influencer’s audiences are aligned. It can also help build confidence and comfort in giving the influencer freedom to create content how they choose. Cameron advises that brands provide influencers this flexibility.

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Our influencer-led campaign for L'Oreal Paris gave influencers the freedom to create content however they pleased, within brand guidelines.

This enables the brand to achieve authenticity and relevance by building the story around the influencer’s audience. “Set the campaign to fit the feed, rather than the other way around,” Cameron says. “You can give influencers parameters in how you want to position the brand, allowing them to connect strategically with the audience.”

And no niche is too small or obscure to make a meaningful connection. In promoting its new navigation device, electronics company TomTom faced a challenge: how could they reach an audience of truck drivers, who are notoriously hard to reach with so much time spent on the road? Inspired by the insight that truckers combat loneliness through social media connection, IMA tapped into an online community of drivers and discovered 18 of its most influential users, paving the path for TomTom to engage with the community in a genuine way. It shows how the value of influencers extends beyond the glossy image that the term “influencer” commonly conjures up—and that even those without big followings can earn big user engagement.

Build Lasting Relationships and Trust

Brands can do more than give up some creative control to maintain authenticity. Cameron suggests they achieve a higher quality relationship with influencers by moving away from short-term campaigns and cultivating longer-term partnerships instead—at least six months at minimum. “You need an understanding of how the influencer talks with their audience, then apply that with your strategy,” says Cameron. “When connecting with niche audiences, this becomes very specific.” Nurturing a longer-term relationship helps build that understanding.

Monk Thoughts You need an understanding of how the influencer talks with their audience, then apply that with your strategy.

This also helps influencers feel more involved with the brand. “If you’re a makeup brand and there’s a new release, make sure your influencer gets it before anyone else,” says Cameron. She notes that gifting products alone is no longer an effective strategy for building social buzz, though brands can build involvement by offering influencers—and their communities—with an exclusive experience.

Keep Up with Evolving, Cross-Border Guidelines

Regardless of how deep your relationship is with an influencer, it’s important to keep abreast of regulations and guidelines like those recently released by the FTC. But this offers a challenge to global brands: each market has different rules to follow. A global partner like IMA can help brands and influencers alike ensure their message is within local guidelines while maintaining a global brand standard.

Cameron also notes that disclosure is quickly getting better on social platforms like Instagram, which offers a paid partnership tag that clearly labels branded content. Far from harmful to branded content’s effectiveness—“We don’t see any negative ramifications yet,” says Cameron—the tag offers greater visibility for the brand by highlighting its role in creation of the content.

With greater visibility for the brand, added authority for the influencer and transparency toward the user, it’s easy to see how improved disclosure offers a net positive for everyone and builds stronger relationships. And that’s what influencer marketing is about: forging a meaningful connection and offering real, relevant value to the audience.

Whether ensuring influencer content is compliant with regulations or relating to niche audiences on a real level, these best practices will help you inject authenticity into your brand. How to Make Friends and Influence People Authentically Transparency and meaningful relationships are key to authenticity.
brand safety brand authenticity relateability influencers influencer marketing IMA social media marketing influencer partnership legal brand guidelines influencer guidelines

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