The Top 22 Social Media Monitoring Tools 2026

As generative AI reshapes how people research, learn, and make decisions, a new discipline is emerging: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Just as SEO helped brands get discovered on Google, GEO ensures they appear accurately and positively within AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot. With millions of consumers now turning to generative engines instead of search engines, GEO is fast becoming essential for marketing and PR professionals looking to influence how their brand shows up in this new discovery layer, where conversations, not clicks, determine visibility.

What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)?

Why Should Marketing & Insights Teams Care About GEO?

How Does GEO Work? Key Mechanisms & Signals

What's the Difference Between GEO and SEO?

Increase Your GEO Readiness with Meltwater

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the practice of ensuring that AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Llama, etc., provide accurate, positive, and up-to-date information about your brand when users ask questions. These platforms are referred to as Generative Engines, Answer Engines, or Large Language Models (LLMs). They are increasingly used by consumers to research purchases and make decisions.

GEO is a way of making sure that AI platforms give people the right information about a company’s brand and products. 

For example, if a person asks ChatGPT: “What is a good family car for camping trips?” then the auto manufacturers would want ChatGPT to suggest their SUV models, and list the benefits. To make sure that happens, the auto brands need to use GEO.

GEO ensures your brand shows up correctly within these AI-generated responses.

The practice of GEO involves several steps, but it is mostly focused on creating, structuring, and publishing content in the best way to influence the responses given by AI Generative Engines. 

In this article we’ll go into the detail of how GEO works, why it’s important, and how you can use it to make sure your brand is featured positively in AI platforms.

Sometimes, generative engine optimization (GEO) is referred to as answer engine optimization (AEO). Learn more about the differences and similarities of GEO and AEO, and take a look at the best AEO tools.

For a long time marketers have been able to rely on the fact that consumers almost exclusively use Google to research buying decisions. So they have been able to use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to ensure their brand’s website appears in the organic search results, or use paid search advertising to buy ads on relevant search results. 

This is a highly effective way of targeting the right audience at the right time. But now things are changing.

LLMs aren't just another channel. They sit on top of this ecosystem. They synthesize everything into a single conversation.

Allie Konchar, Partner & Chief Client Officer, Omniscient

Changing user behavior: AI + conversational search

Increasingly, consumers are using tools like ChatGPT to research their buying decisions. Data from Meltwater’s 2026 Global Digital Report shows that ChatGPT.com is now the fifth most visited website on the web.

While search engines remain popular, many search queries now produce an AI generated summary that often provide enough information to divert users away from clicking through to websites, because their question has already been answered. McKinsey reports that around half of all Google search queries already produce AI generated summaries, and that number is increasing all the time. 

With conventional web search, consumers are performing research manually, trying to find trustworthy sources and sifting through information to reach the answers they seek. But with Generative Engines, the AI is performing the research automatically, using its existing base knowledge alongside supplemental information pulled from more recent online sources. A search engine shows users where to find answers, while a Generative Engine just gives them the answer. 

For marketers, the key takeaway is that few top-of-funnel consumers are visiting your website, because during the awareness phase their information needs are being met by Generative Engines. This makes it more difficult to move them down into the consideration phase. 

TIP: For more data around growing AI usage and online consumer behavior, download our 2026 Global Digital Report, featuring nearly 700 pages statistics to help inform your GEO strategies next year.

You already know that everybody is talking about AI, and all of your competitors are having the same discussions as you about what it means for their marketing strategy. Those who move decisively to implement GEO, ensuring their brands are represented clearly and positively in Generative Engines, will capture the largest share of those consumers who start their buying journey with an AI query. 

Those who ignore GEO will lose ground, as growing numbers of consumers turn from search engines to Generative Engines, the size of the audiences that can be reached through conventional search marketing will decrease. 

How do generative engines (LLMs) surface content?

It’s important to understand that while Generative Engines are based on similar technology, they all work a little differently. Broadly speaking they all use two different sources of knowledge to provide an answer to a query: 

<table class="table-primary alternate-color">
  <caption>How Generative Engines (LLMs) Surface Content</caption>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Generative Engine</th>
      <th>Primary Retrieval Method</th>
      <th>Sources Most Often Cited</th>
      <th>Sources Less Likely to Be Cited</th>
      <th>Notes on Behavior</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>ChatGPT</td>
      <td>Bing search + internal training data</td>
      <td>Reuters, AP News, Wikipedia, Encyclopedic sources</td>
      <td>Social media platforms (X/Twitter, Instagram)</td>
      <td>Prefers authoritative, neutral, structured sources with high trust signals.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Google Gemini</td>
      <td>Google Search + YouTube + Knowledge Graph</td>
      <td>Reddit, YouTube, Google-indexed blogs</td>
      <td>X/Twitter</td>
      <td>Strongly favors user-generated content, community threads, and Google-owned properties.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Perplexity</td>
      <td>Real-time web crawling + citation-first retrieval</td>
      <td>News publishers, reputable blogs, research papers</td>
      <td>Low-trust UGC</td>
      <td>Most transparent engine — always cites sources and updates in real time.</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Claude</td>
      <td>Internal training data + selected retrieval</td>
      <td>Academic sources, reputable news, long-form articles</td>
      <td>Short-form social media</td>
      <td>Prefers long-form text and well-structured explanatory content.</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Training Data: All LLMs begin by being trained on a huge volume of existing content and data — we’re talking about dozens of terabytes (a terabyte is 1,000Gb). This training data comes from a wide variety of sources (including your website), and gives the LLM its base knowledge about the world. The LLM does not have any knowledge of anything that happened after its initial training. 

Live Web Search: To overcome the knowledge cut-off problem, the training data is supplemented with fresh information gathered from the internet. If the Generative Engine thinks that a user’s query would benefit from more up to date information than it already has, it fetches new content from trusted online sources and works that into its response. Google uses its own search engine to find fresh information, while ChatGPT uses various sources, including Microsoft Bing.

It’s also important to note that AI does not quote any of this content verbatim in its responses. Much like a human, it uses the information it has learned to inform its own answer, and that can include information from various sources, including the press, competitors, consumer reviews. So don’t expect it to always be on-message!

Another key point is that unlike a search engine, an LLM does not have an index of content which it searches to find answers. It would be impossible to search ChatGPT for all mentions of your brand — that’s simply not how it works. 

An LLM is more similar to a human brain, in that it has a lot of knowledge stored in patterns and relationships between words and concepts. It is extremely difficult, verging on impossible, to examine and understand the detail of an LLM’s learned knowledge because of the sheer scale and complexity; this is a challenge referred to as Black Box AI. 

But we do understand how Generative Engines work at a high level, and we can analyze the kind of responses they produce for relevant queries, which gives us insight into how we should optimize our content for increased visibility.

What content features improve GEO-visibility?

Bear in mind that when you’re optimizing content for Generative Engines, the goal is to write copy that is easier for AI to digest and incorporate into its responses.

Clarity: Avoid overly elaborate language. Do not use corporate-jargon. Keep it simple, professional, and to the point. Leave no room for ambiguity. 

Authority: Wherever possible back up your statements with data from reputable sources, quotes from experts or industry leaders, and reference-able proof points. 

Structure: Organize your pages well with clear titles, headings, and subheadings. Use heading tags (H1, H2, etc) correctly to specify the hierarchy of your content. 

Recency: AI platforms look for more recent information from trusted sources to supplement their base knowledge, so in both owned and earned media, aim to publish fresh content recently.

In many respects GEO shares principles with good SEO practice. If you write consistently high quality content which addresses the needs of your target audience, and structure it correctly on well designed, standards compliant web pages, you will succeed.

First you need to understand your starting point. Meltwater’s GenAI Lens is a tool that gives brands insight into how they are discussed by all major Generative Engines, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok, and Deepseek. 

With GenAI Lens you’ll be able to understand how your brand is already featured in LLMs, what source websites are used in those responses, and whether outdated or inaccurate information is being used. 

We know that LLMs pull content from the web, which they use to inform their responses. So whatever is said about your brand online will significantly affect how Generative Engines talk about your company. 

Start with your own website, this is the first place LLMs will look for information about your organization. But also focus on trusted, high authority third party sites like the mainstream news and specialist media within your industry, because these are the kinds of sources that LLMs will use. GenAI Lens can show you which websites the leading LLMS use to source information about your brand. 

Once you have a comprehensive audit of how your brand is currently portrayed online, you can perform a gap analysis against your desired messaging, and build a plan for how to reach that objective.

Tip: AI brand monitoring, AI media monitoring, and LLM monitoring will help you understand your online footprint. Learn how to track your LLM visibility and how to track LLM brand mentions.

An important difference between GEO and SEO is understanding how people search differently when using Generative Engines. Users interact conversationally with AI, and are likely to ask more complex questions in natural language, compared to simple keywords or short queries in a search engine. So it’s useful to get an idea of what kind of questions people will ask about your brand or industry, to help plan your GEO content.

Tip: Learn more about AI visibility for retail brands.

Unlike search engines, at present the leading Generative Engines do not share data on popular user queries, so it’s not easy to find out exactly what people are asking about your business. But you can look at popular keyword searches associated with your brand, and brainstorm the most likely questions people will ask Generative Engines. 

You can also use a social listening platform, like Meltwater Explore+ to analyze social media conversations around your brand and industry, to gain insight into common questions. Once you have mapped out all of the most likely questions people might ask, you can start creating content that answers those questions.

Tip: Learn how to connect social listening with generative engine optimization. 

Conventional SEO was built around search queries but GEO requires thinking in concepts, context, and authority — you need to focus on the intent of the query, rather than simply trying to match keywords. 

LLMs prioritize sources that provide comprehensive, well-structured, and contextually rich content. Focus your content strategy on:

Educational depth: Long-form resources that answer questions end-to-end. Publish explainers, FAQs, and data-backed insights that answer “how” and “why.”

Credibility signals: Citations, quotes, and data from reputable sources (analyst studies, thought leadership, or trusted media).

Rich media: Generative Engines pull information from videos and images as well as text content, so make use of varied content formats. 

Consistency across channels: LLMs learn from media, social, and owned content together; ensure your narratives are aligned across them.

The key thing is to ensure that your content is genuinely helpful in answering those questions you mapped out. If your content is too focused on sales messages, it’s less likely to be used by the LLMs.

TIP: Discover innovative AI-generated content examples to enhance your digital strategy.

You can optimize the content published on your website and owned channels, but LLMs also source information from trusted third party websites. That means PR has a key role to play in ensuring your brand is featured in high authority earned media, including news features, expert comment from your spokespeople, product reviews, and any other kind of brand story traditionally generated through a media relations campaign.

Tip: Learn more about the importance of earned media for GEO and about PR Pitch GEO optimization.

The tricky part is that unlike advertising, which can tell exciting and attention grabbing stories, PR professionals are limited to working only with the facts. But while you cannot always control the outcome of media outreach activity, ensuring that PR and GEO are aligned will help increase the volume of third party sources that feature the right messaging.

Tip: Learn how GEO is reshaping PR strategies.

Meltwater’s GenAI Lens gives you the ability to track your GEO performance over time, so you can understand whether your strategy is working well and spot areas where you need to improve. The tool provides visualizations that show brand sentiment, emotion, key phrases, people, products and things mentioned, alongside citations.

Armed with this information you can identify gaps in your GEO strategy where you might need to create more or better content. You can also discover which third party sources have the greatest impact on your GEO performance, and use that information to optimize PR outreach to focus on the most important media. 

Like SEO, this is a process of constant iteration and improvement. GEO should not be seen as a one-off project that will generate positive results in perpetuity, but rather an ongoing activity that needs to be integrated with the broader marketing mix.

Tip: Learn How to Measure PR Performance Across LLMs and Generative Search, and understand how to report on LLM visibility.

Which Media Sources to Prioritize for GEO

When an LLM processes a user query, it can often detect that the response might require more recent information than it has access to in its original training data. In that situation it will look online for more up to date content that will help it to form a more accurate answer, but where exactly do Generative Engines look for this information?

At Meltwater we used GenAI Lens to research which content sources the leading AI platforms were most likely to reference in their responses, and there were distinct differences between them all:

Open AI ChatGPT: Heavily favors text-based news and newswires (Reuters, AP, PR Newswire) and reference sites (Wikipedia). Much less likely to cite social media and UGC. 

Google Gemini: Leans towards high quality UGC from sites like Reddit and YouTube, as well as other online sources within the Google ecosystem. Does not index X/Twitter content. 

Google Search AI Overviews: Highly focused on UGC from Reddit and YouTube, as well as Facebook, Yahoo and LinkedIn. 

xAI Grok: Strongly skewed towards conversational UGC from X and Reddit. Less likely to cite traditional reference sources like Wikipedia, YouTube or academic sites. 

Unlike SEO, where most practitioners were happy to optimize only for Google, in GEO we have to consider the nuances of several different platforms; at the very least ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews. In short, it’s good practice to ensure you have up to date content propagated across a wide range of platforms where LLMs might look for supplemental information.  

In terms of which online sources are most likely to be referenced overall, we looked at several categories and charted the most frequently cited websites:

<ul class="medium">
	<li><b>Social Media & UGC</b></li>
    <ul>
		<li>reddit.com: 43.1%</li>
		<li>youtube.com: 17.9%</li>
        <li>facebook.com: 11.1%</li>
		<li>linkedin.com: 9.2%</li>
        <li>quora.com: 5.6%</li>
	</ul>
	<li><b>Consumer Reviews</b></li>
	<ul>
		<li>glassdoor.com: 21.6%</li>
		<li>indeed.com: 20.6%</li>
        <li>trustpilot.com: 15.7%</li>
		<li>bbb.org: 9.9%</li>
        <li>yelp.com: 8.0%</li>
	</ul>
	<li><b>Travel</b></li>
    <ul>
		<li>tripadvisor.com: 83.2%</li>
		<li>expedia.com: 10.0%</li>
        <li>booking.com: 6.8%</li>
	</ul>
	<li><b>News & Media</b></li>	
    <ul>
		<li>yahoo.com: 26.5%</li>
		<li>prnewswire.com: 10.8%</li>
        <li>reuters.com: 9.0%</li>
		<li>forbes.com: 6.7%</li>
        <li>usnews.com: 6.7%</li>
	</ul>
    <li><b>Academic & Science</b></li>	
    <ul>
		<li>nih.gov: 53.6%</li>
		<li>researchgate.net: 14.5%</li>
        <li>sciencedirect.com: 10.0%</li>
		<li>jhu.edu: 7.5%</li>
        <li>cdc.gov: 5.8%</li>
	</ul>
    <li><b>Market Research & Consulting</b></li>	
    <ul>
		<li>statista.com: 18.8%</li>
		<li>mordorintelligence.com: 16.3%</li>
        <li>gartner.com: 14.9%</li>
		<li>mckinsey.com: 13.5%</li>
        <li>cbinsights.com: 13.0%</li>
	</ul>
    <li><b>Business & Financial</b></li>	
    <ul>
		<li>investing.com: 14.1%</li>
		<li>morningstar.com: 13.2%</li>
        <li>nasdaq.com: 11.4%</li>
		<li>nerdwallet.com: 10.4%</li>
        <li>seekingalpha.com: 8.8%</li>
	</ul>
    <li><b>Government & Public Sector</b></li>	
    <ul>
		<li>weforum.org: 20.6%</li>
		<li>europa.eu: 17.8%</li>
        <li>canada.ca: 12.7%</li>
		<li>imf.org: 11.5%</li>
        <li>sec.gov: 10.1%</li>
	</ul>
</ul>

Many teams focus on keywords, backlinks, and meta tags, but LLMs prioritize context, authority, and relevance. GEO requires content that answers full questions with clear, verifiable information, not keyword stuffing or link chasing.

2. Ignoring source credibility and transparency

AI models reward trustworthy, well-cited content. Publishing unverified claims, outdated statistics, or missing citations can lower visibility or lead to inaccurate AI summaries of your brand. Always include reputable data sources, authorship, and dates.

3. Failing to monitor how your brand appears in LLMs

Without ongoing media monitoring, brands miss when GenAI models misrepresent their products or replicate misinformation. LLM tracking tools like Meltwater’s GenAI Lens can surface these blind spots and help correct or update narratives quickly.

What is Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)? & How to Do It

Coachella has long been a proving ground for brands looking to drive visibility via influencer marketing, but in 2026, the festival’s content creator presence and performance seemed to reach new heights. Between superstar performances, we saw elaborate brand activations and countless influencer partnerships, giving far-flung audiences a lot to chew on throughout the two-weekend event. However, not every influencer post managed to break through the noise. Some drove major value for brands and audiences alike. Others cycled through the algorithm without making a mark. 

We used Meltwater’s AI-powered influencer marketing solution to see which content from 1,000 influential creators achieved the highest ROIs for their brand partners, including estimated media value (EMV). 

Note: EMV is a metric that quantifies the ROI of influencer marketing, showing what it would cost to achieve the same reach and engagement through paid media. It combines two components: 1) Benchmarks that show what each engagement action would cost in paid media across social channels, and 2) An earned multiplier that reflects the higher trust and impact of influencer content compared to traditional ads.

The social media posts that stood out most were native to each creator’s style and engaged viewers with giveaways, tutorials, heartwarming moments, and more. As a whole, the resulting top 10 list offers a clear takeaway for marketers: With the right creator and the right moment to share, brands across sectors can derive meaningful value and impact from influencer partnerships pegged to major cultural events. 

Read on for inspiration, tips, and takeaways that marketers can use as they plan for summer festival season, the World Cup, and beyond.

Methodology: The below list is based on Meltwater data analyzing Coachella posts from the top 1,000 content creators related to the festival across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, X, Twitch, and Pinterest from April 1 to April 20, 2026. 

The Top Branded Influencer Posts of Coachella 2026

9. Tabitha Swatosh for The Kacey Welch Method

Honorable Mention: Matt Newman for Cécred and Arachne

Key Takeaways: Influencer Partnerships for High-Profile Events

FAQ: Influencer Marketing for High-Profile Events

All 10 of the top-performing Coachella posts from influencers partnering with brands came from TikTok. This proportion contrasts with the makeup of overall posts from 1000 of some of the most influential content creators at the festival, of which 42% came from Instagram and 41% from TikTok. Here are the branded influencer posts that stood apart from the rest and what marketers can learn from each of them.

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    Post Details
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  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">10.3M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">18.4K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">116K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">52.7K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">52.9%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$24.9M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Influencer Nicole Sahebi filmed her visit to fashion retailer Revolve’s gifting suite at Coachella, where she grabbed a slew of products, including cosmetics, apparel, and even some Diesel sunglasses. At the end of the TikTok video, she asks viewers to enter a giveaway for the free items by naming their favorite Coachella artist in the comments. That invitation to participate helped the above post collect more than 18,400 comments. Those, along with hundreds of thousands of shares and saves, helped this post generate nearly $25 million in EMV for Revolve. 

Steal this tactic: Using comments as entries gives followers a low-barrier way to participate in contests while drumming up engagement. Brands can empower influencers to create these opportunities by using platforms like Meltwater to coordinate logistics and cover details like choosing winners and mailing out prizes.

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  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @more.dejankat for Revice
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  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">8.7M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.2M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
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    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">15.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">37.9K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">20.93%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$14M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

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Teen fashion and lifestyle influencer Deja Clark created a simple but effective transformation video featuring Revice Denim for the second day of Coachella. It was a hit with her 16 million followers on the platform, 41% of whom are between the ages of 18 and 24, according to Meltwater’s Influencer Discovery tool. The above post (one of two on this list) generated an impressive $14 million in EMV for the Los Angeles-based apparel brand.

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    @kayla.ryann for Rhode
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.1M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">730.7K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">698</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">6.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">24.8K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">69.31%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$7.9M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Justin wasn’t the only Bieber winning fans at Coachella 2026. Hailey Bieber’s cosmetics brand Rhode hosted a pop-up at the festival, which fans got to experience vicariously through beauty and lifestyle influencer Kayla Ryan’s video for Day Two of the festival. In the video, Kayla captures all the activation has to offer, including a look at specific Rhode products and even a special appearance from Mrs. Bieber herself. It may have been that celebrity appearance that helped this post punch above its weight with a nearly 70% engagement rate, the highest of any post in our top 10.

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @more.dejankat for Revice
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.2M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">578.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.3K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">5.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">17K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">10.05%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$6.7M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Deja Clark scored another top 10 hit TikTok for Revice Denim with a Day Three post that generated about $6.7 million in EMV. Like the previous post of hers, this one is a short and simple take on her signature get-ready-with-me (GRWM) posts showing off Revice items in a festival-ready outfit. Plus, this example also featured a celebrity appearance, though this one was digital. Deja’s TikTok uses the hashtag #laufey and audio from the song “Lover Girl” by Coachella performer Laufey, who then left a comment on the video that garnered over 83,100 likes of its own.

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @kayla.ryann for Kopari Beauty
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3.1M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">490.8K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">865</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">11.9K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">42.31%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$5.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Another influencer with two posts on our top 10 list, Kayla Ryan took her 1.2 million TikTok followers through the process of creating her outfit for the first day of Coachella. She waits until the end of her GRWM video to highlight the brand tagged, using Kopari Beauty’s mineral SPF powder as the finishing touch on her look. As a result, the post avoids the kind of hard sell that social media users have grown tired of from content creators. It’s that kind of authenticity that helps Kayla’s sponsored posts resonate with her audience. In this one, Kayla’s soft sell approach drove about $5.4 million in EMV for the cosmetics brand.

Steal this tactic: Sponsored influencer content resonates most when it is integrated seamlessly into a creator’s established style and digital language. Instead of providing word-for-word scripts or insisting on front-loading brand mentions, give content creators license to do what they do best: introducing your brand to an audience that already trusts them. Enlist influencers as creative partners, and watch that approach pay off in high ROI. 

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @priscyescoto for Huda Beauty
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.6M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">285.9K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">929</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.9K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">12.6K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">7.37%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$3.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Huda Beauty hooked fashion and lifestyle influencer Priscila Escoto up with an entire branded house for her stay at Coachella, complete with beauty blender-shaped pillows and even a portrait of the influencer on the wall. Hosting Priscila allowed the beauty brand to organically be part of high-engagement moments like the above GRWM TikTok, which tags Huda Beauty but only visibly features the brand through the creator’s makeup look. As a result, the brand shares in the Day One post’s 286,000 likes and about $3.4 million in EMV. 

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @tarayummy for JSX
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.1M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">296.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">421</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">649</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3.05%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$3.2M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

The above video by Tarayummy stands out for being one of the few posts in our top 10 featuring a brand outside of the beauty and fashion sector. Instead, the nightlife influencer partnered with JSX, a charter jet service, for a vlog-style TikTok that drew back the curtain on the premium flight experience. The novelty of the video, which takes viewers through the terminal lounge, boarding process, and jet cabin, likely helped it generate about 297,000 likes and about $3.2 million in EMV. 

Steal this tactic: Cultural events aren’t just for beauty, fashion, food, and beverage brands. Companies in tangential sectors like transportation, hospitality, outdoor gear, pet-sitting, and beyond can partner with influencers to make unexpected, engaging content. Use tools like AI Discovery to pinpoint potential partnerships based on your brand identity, campaign goals, and even creative briefs.  

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @natalientheaguilars for Barbie
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.3M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">292K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">233</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">857</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">6.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">4.04%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$3.2M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Family-focused vlogger Natalie Aguilar shared a heart-warming moment with her sister Angela at Coachella thanks to Barbie. For the above TikTok, the Aguilars visited the toy brand’s festival pop-up, which featured their and other select influencers’ portraits on the walls. That personal touch from Barbie translated into a moment of authentic appreciation for the partnerships it has forged with content creators. The 230+ comments left on the post featured many well-wishes and positive encouragement from fans sharing in the sisters’ excitement. Overall, the feel-good video resonated with the Aguilar family’s audience and paid off in over $3.2 million in EMV for the Barbie brand.

Lifestyle and homesteading content creator Tabitha Swatosh created a wow moment for hair extensions brand The Kacey Welch Method. The lip-sync/transformation video features two reveals, one for the outfit and one for the hair, which gets its full moment in the spotlight when Tabitha turns away from the camera. Though the video is simple, its creativity resonated with audiences to the tune of 285,500 likes and about $3.4 million in EMV.

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @tabithaswatosh for The Kacey Welch Method
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.6M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">285.5K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">306</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">2.6K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">3.2K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.91%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$3.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

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  <div style="height:3px;background:#28bbbb;margin:-12px -12px 10px -12px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;"></div>

  <div style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:10px;">
    @samanthacostantini for NYX
  </div>

  <div style="display:flex;gap:6px;width:100%;">
    
    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">1.8M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Reach</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">220.1K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Likes</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">231</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Comments</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">775K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Shares</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">6.1K</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Saves</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">16.23%</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">Eng. Rate</div>
    </div>

    <div style="flex:1;border:1px solid #eeeeee;border-radius:8px;padding:6px;text-align:center;">
      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">$2.4M</div>
      <div style="font-size:11px;color:#a3a3a3;">EMV</div>
    </div>

  </div>
</div>

Seeing a makeup look is one thing, but knowing how to recreate it is a whole other challenge for everyday makeup consumers. Beauty and lifestyle influencer Samantha Costantini demystified the process behind her Day Three makeup look using a full face of NYX products. The step-by-step video is over four minutes long, giving viewers a detailed explanation of how to incorporate 17 — yes, 17 — different NYX products into a single makeup routine. Featuring educational content that cosmetics enthusiasts will want to go back to, the post punched above its weight in saves, with over 6,100 users bookmarking it for later, and an engagement rate of over 16%.

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    @mattloveshair for Cecred & Arachne
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      <div style="font-size:14px;font-weight:700;">475K</div>
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Though it wasn’t sponsored, the above post by hairstylist Matt Newman drove major value for two tagged brands, Cécred and Arachne, while outpacing all of the above posts. Using a scarf from the former brand and hair clips from the latter, he shows off a “hack” for festival-goers that resonated widely. The short video generated more than 1.2 million likes, over 478,800 saves, and about $18.6 million in EMV, outperforming. 

Of the many factors that converged to make this post a viral hit, one was the educational value. Matt taught his 3.2 million followers how to finally keep their fashionable bandannas from falling off their heads and created a high-performing video in the process. The lesson here: Content that offers tangible value, like technique explainers or DIY solutions to common problems, lends itself well to driving engagement actions like comments and saves.  

Steal this tactic: Like Cécred and Arachne, your brand also has champions highlighting you on social media. Track your organic mentions across platforms like Instagram and TikTok to find them, and you may just discover your next influencer partnership. 

Our analysis of the top-performing influencer posts featuring brands from Coachella 2026 revealed these key takeaways and trends:

TikTok is the #1 platform for influencer posts at live events like Coachella. All of the 10 best-performing influencer posts tagging brands came from the video platform, highlighting its strength for engaging audiences in near-real time and its necessity for creator partnerships for events.

Earlier content drives the most value. Another commonality of the top 10: Every post came from the first weekend in the festival, with most coming from the first couple of days. This seems to suggest that the earlier content appears, the better-poised it is to capture the initial excitement of multi-week events while not getting overshadowed by their grand finales.

Giving creators experiences to document makes for engaging content. From gifting suites and pop-ups to accommodations and transportation, activations that allow audiences to share in creator experiences drive standout results for brands.

The entertainment field is wide open for non-beauty/fashion (but still relevant) brands. Seven out of the ten high-performing brands we highlighted were in the beauty or fashion sectors. Brands outside of those realms with engaging, relevant experiences to offer can stand out with new twists on well-worn formats like GRWMs or something completely new.

The most successful sponsored content feels natural to the influencer. Every post in the top 10 was authentic to the creator’s style and subject niche, making them resonate easily with their audiences. For brands, this highlights just how important influencer creative freedom and authenticity are to driving ROI.

Giving audiences tangible value makes for content that sticks. Tutorials, styling inspiration, and practical hacks are engagement boosters. High numbers of saves signal that audiences found your post especially useful, so much so that they want to revisit them again and again.

Build your own influencer program that gets top 10-list results. See how you can identify the right creators, streamline campaign execution, and measure real impact with Meltwater Influencer Marketing. Use the form below to request a demo and see first-hand how to drive measurable growth for your brand.

What makes influencer marketing effective at high-profile events like Coachella?

Meltwater’s analysis of Coachella 2026 shows that effectiveness comes down to authenticity and audience value. The top-performing posts were native to each creator’s style and offered something engaging, such as giveaways, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes experiences. This combination consistently drove high engagement and strong EMV (Estimated Media Value).

Which social media platforms perform best for influencer campaigns during live events?

While platform mix matters, Meltwater’s Coachella 2026 data highlights TikTok as the clear performance leader for live events. Even though Instagram accounted for a similar share of total influencer content, every top-performing branded post by engagement came from TikTok, demonstrating the platform’s strength for leveraging live events.

How should brands measure influencer marketing success at large-scale events?

According to Meltwater, success should be measured using a combination of engagement metrics and EMV. By analyzing likes, comments, shares, and saves alongside estimated media value, brands can better understand which influencer partnerships are delivering meaningful ROI during tentpole events.

What types of influencer content work best during cultural moments?

Meltwater’s Coachella 2026 insights show that content offering tangible value—like GRWM videos, tutorials, and practical hacks—drives high engagement, especially saves and shares. Interactive content such as giveaways can also significantly boost performance.

When is the best time to activate influencer campaigns around major events?

Meltwater data reveals that the highest-performing Coachella 2026 posts were published during the first weekend, particularly in the first two of the three days. Launching content early allows brands to capture peak audience attention before saturation sets in.

How important is creative freedom for influencers in brand partnerships?

Meltwater’s analysis underscores that creative freedom is essential. The most successful Coachella posts seamlessly integrated brand messaging into the influencer’s existing content style. 

How can brands choose the right influencers for high-profile events?

Using tools like Meltwater Influencer Discovery, brands can evaluate creators based on audience demographics, engagement rates, and brand alignment. The Coachella 2026 data shows that campaigns perform best when there’s a strong match between the influencer’s audience and the brand’s target market. 

How can brands create successful influencer marketing campaigns at other major events (e.g., festivals, sports, global moments)?

Meltwater’s Coachella 2026 analysis provides a repeatable framework: prioritize TikTok-first strategies, activate early, focus on authentic creator partnerships, and deliver audience value. Brands can apply these insights to events like the World Cup, fashion weeks, and beyond to drive measurable influencer marketing success.

We get it! You're busy scheduling content and engaging with your followers, so it can be difficult to make time to sit down and read about the latest Facebook algorithm update or how brands are leveraging TikTok. But, hey, it's also important to carve out time to learn about new ways to improve your social media strategy. So, put down your phone (we know: it's a big ask!) and indulge in reading about recent social media updates. 

Top Social Media and PR News Stories This Week

If you work in social media marketing, these are the stories you need to read this week!

LinkedIn Experiments With AI-powered Candidate Screening

New Reddit Report Highlights B2B Marketing Opportunities

New Snapchat Reports Showcase How the App Influences Consumer Behavior

You heard right. Instagram is in the early stages of testing the option for certain users to add a link to post captions. From Instagram: “The ability to add links in Instagram posts is one of the top requested features from our subscriber community. We’re excited to test what new value this benefit brings.”

AI could soon be helping recruiters screen more candidates for positions. LinkedIn is reportedly testing an AI interview option for Hiring Pro users which screens applicants based on AI recommended questions and answers.  

A new Reddit report, in partnership with Survey Monkey, is aimed at B2B marketers and showcases ways that the platform can help develop leads for B2B services. Included in the report how various communities are leveraged to answer questions, types of content that influence decisions, and much more. 

Two recent Snapchat reports highlight the power of the platform in influencing consumer behavior and purchase decisions. The first details how creators steer users toward certain streaming services through ads for new shows while the second looks specifically at how social drives telco purchases.

Thumbnail Editing Now Available on Instagram

New Awards to Highlight Creators on Snapchat

New Parenting Trend Report from Pinterest

Threads Experiments With Streamlined DM Flow

Instagram is now enabling its users with the ability to edit their thumbnail images for photos and videos. This new feature gives even more control over your profile appearance, and presents an intriguing opportunity for brands as they look for new ways to maintain user attention. 

Snapchat is introducing the Snappy Awards, as a way to highlight innovative and culturally impactful creators on the platform. It’s another way to highlight the important role creators play in shaping online spaces and communities. The awards will cover both blanket achievements as well as niche-specific achievements in various categories like food, fashion, and music.

Pinterest has launched another trend report, this time focused on parenting trends. The insights can help brands with their marketing messaging and inspire parents to use the platform more intentionally. A major trend to pay attention to is the interest in “screen-free activities”. Parents are increasingly searching for ways to reduce phone time for more tech-free experiences. 

This is an interesting one. Threads is experimenting with a direct link within feed posts that will open up a DM messaging chat. It provides a great way to streamline direct messaging, which could provide another opportunity for brands to connect with users or influencers.

New “Catch-up” Functionality in WhatsApp

WhatsApp is adding a feature allowing group chat members and admins to “send recent messages to new members, so they can catch up quickly” (WhatsApp). It’s a useful way to welcome new group members without interrupting the flow of the chat for current members.

YouTube is currently testing applying its conversational AI bot for CTV. The addition would allow users to ask questions about what they’re viewing, and get in-stream responses in real time. With CTV, this functionality would be expanded to include those who prefer watching YouTube videos on their televisions rather than mobile or desktop.

TikTok is expanding their MLB partnership to include more exciting content initiatives throughout the baseball season. From TikTok: “As part of the expanded partnership, select creators will gain access to MLB's current and archival content, enabling them to tell baseball stories in fresh, creative ways that resonate with the TikTok community.”

Instagram is testing a design update that brings short form video even more front and center on the platform: opening the app onto the Reels feed rather than the standard feed. That said, it would also give users more control over their experience with the ability to select which types of Reels they want to see.

More Ad Options on TikTok for Entertainment Brands

Meta is encouraging marketers to use Manus AI, which it acquired in January, in their advertising workflows with a new integration. Using Manus, marketers can build AI agents to assist with tasks such as audience research and building reports. 

LinkedIn is adding an SMB-focused all-in-one platform to help small and medium sized businesses optimize their LinkedIn presence and marketing activities. The platform is part of the LinkedIn Premium program and includes tips and profile suggestions as well as the ability to manage hiring, marketing, and sales from one place.

TikTok is introducing ad options for the Europe market specifically geared towards entertainment brands. New ad types available in Europe include: Streaming Ads and New Title Launch. These will help with ad relevancy as well as help marketers tap into key trending topics on the platform.

Snapchat is introducing creator subscriptions, helping creators forge deeper connections with their audiences. From Snapchat: “Expanding on existing monetization offerings…Creator Subscriptions introduce a premium layer of connection directly into how Snapchatters already engage with creators across Stories, Chat, and replies.”

New Guide to Help SMBs Create Engaging Content for TikTok

Snapchat is broadening the scope of its “safe alerts” to include more destinations, enabling users to mark themselves as arrived to friends or family. Alerts can be customized to be one-time, or recurring for more routine locations such as classes or appointments.

YouTubeTV is introducing 10 new subscriptions in hopes of attracting more paying users to CTV viewing. These new plans serve as topic-focused alternatives to the main YouTubeTV subscription and include a sports plan, movies plan, news plan, and kids programming plan.

A new guide from TikTok aimed at SMBs strives to help companies improve their presence and inspire more engagement on the app. The guide includes examples of high performing content, how to appeal to the TikTok audience, and tips for working with TikTok creators. 

Meta is reportedly testing an AI-only video app. From Meta: “Following the strong early traction of vibes in Meta AI, we are testing a standalone app to build on that momentum. We’ve seen that users are increasingly leaning into the format to create, discover and share AI generated video with friends. This standalone app provides a dedicated home for that experience, offering people a more focused and immersive environment.”

Updates Coming to Meta’s Creator Marketplace

Snapchat Creates Separate Company for AR Specs

Google Launches New Podcast “Ads Decoded”

Meta is making some discovery improvements to their creator marketplace, to help brands find relevant influencer and ambassador partners. New features include: creator recommendations based on those already following or engaging with your brand, similar creators based on past partners you’ve worked with, and those creators who have a strong track record of driving engagement. 

Snapchat has announced that they are forming a separate business for their AR Specs. From Snapchat: “Establishing Specs Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary provides greater operational focus and alignment, enables new partnerships and capital flexibility including the potential for minority investment, allows us to grow a distinct brand, and supports clearer valuation of the business as we work towards the public launch of Specs later this year.”

Social Media News: The 5 Biggest Stories of the Week

Long before it was dubbed “influencer marketing,” consumers looked to public figures for inspiration on what to buy, where to eat, and how to dress. Today, the practice is widely embraced by brands of all sizes, especially as it has become more affordable for smaller companies with smaller budgets. No longer limited to celebrities, influencer pricing spans a wide range depending on the channel, audience size, engagement rate, and other factors.

So, how much does influencer marketing cost in 2026? Let’s break it down by channel.

What to Consider When Researching Influencer Rates

Choosing the Right Influencers for Your Strategy

Tip: Download our free influencer rate card and be aware of the influencer pay gap.

At a high level, most influencder campaigns fall into one of these ranges:

Nano influencers (500–10K followers): ~$20–$200 per post

Micro influencers (10K–100K followers): ~$100–$5,000 per post

Macro influencers (100K–500K followers): ~$5,000–$10,000+ per post

Mega/Celebrity influencers (500K+ followers): $10,000–$50,000+ per post

Influencer marketing costs vary widely depending on your goals, platform, and the type of creators you work with. A single sponsored post might cost under $100 with a nano influencer or exceed $20,000 with a macro or celebrity creator.

Brands should note that pricing isn’t just about follower count. Total campaign costs depend on:

Platform (YouTube and long-form video typically cost more)

What does a full campaign typically cost?

TikTok Blog

The Top Branded Influencer Posts of Coachella 2026

Social Media News: The 5 Biggest Stories of the Week

Influencer Marketing Costs 2025: Influencer Rates per Channel

The Best TikTok Hashtags For More Views

45 TikTok Stats You Need To Know [2026]

What's Trending? The Top TikTok Trends for 2026

How to Schedule TikTok Posts for Maximum Engagement

How to Make Money on TikTok: A Comprehensive Guide

TikTok Advertising Guide: 9 Steps To Creating TikTok Ads

When is the Best Time to Post on TikTok in 2025?

Ultimate Guide to Social Media Video Sizes in 2025

The Best Time to Post on TikTok in South Africa

TikTok Blog

The Top Branded Influencer Posts of Coachella 2026

Social Media News: The 5 Biggest Stories of the Week

Influencer Marketing Costs 2025: Influencer Rates per Channel

The Best TikTok Hashtags For More Views

45 TikTok Stats You Need To Know [2026]

What's Trending? The Top TikTok Trends for 2026

How to Schedule TikTok Posts for Maximum Engagement

How to Make Money on TikTok: A Comprehensive Guide

TikTok Advertising Guide: 9 Steps To Creating TikTok Ads

When is the Best Time to Post on TikTok in 2025?

Ultimate Guide to Social Media Video Sizes in 2025

The Best Time to Post on TikTok in South Africa

Interested in learning how Meltwater can help you? Fill out the form to learn more.