What Viral Dance Videos Can Teach You About Building a Signature Series That Sticks
There is no one-size-fits-all formula for creating scroll-stopping content. Anyone peddling you a playbook for success is just repackaging their own luck. We donât know what will go viral or become the next content zeitgeist, but there are a few patterns worth paying attention to, especially when it comes to the content that sticks.
Take, for example, viral dance videos. Some creators hit on something so good, so recognizable, that it becomes more than just a one-off post. It becomes a signature series.
A signature series is a go-to content format or theme you become known for. Itâs something your audience can count on seeing again and again. Think of it as your content identity within your larger brand. Itâs consistent, recognizable, and uniquely you. Whether itâs weekly dance videos, a recurring segment, or a signature edit style, a strong series builds connection, brand affinity, and staying power. Although finding content that resonates enough for a signature series can sometimes feel like a happy accident, it is usually a strategic piece of content designed to meet your goals.
Viral dance videos can teach us valuable lessons about creating a powerful signature series. They are lessons that apply whether youâre a creator, a business, or someone trying to figure out what to post next.
Letâs dig into the key takeaways:
1. Find What Works — Then Lean In
When Brian Jordan Alvarez set out to create his TV show English Teacher, he was already an internet personality made famous via comedy videos on TikTok. He had a following who knew his characters - the marketing for his new show was separate from that.
But one day, he made a dance video to a trending audio, and everything changed. The internet loved it. So he made more. Consistently, week over week, his audience came to expect his dance videos. Then, comments started appearing, users saying things like âI watched your new show because of these videos,â and âI didnât know about your show until I saw you on my feed, and I binged it all.â
He realized that his dance videos were marketing the show for him, and were doing better than any traditional campaign had done. He started adding captions that said âBinge the English Teacherâ and âStream the English Teacher on Hulu.â And it kept working. He was interviewed by the New York Times, his show took off, and no matter how many dance videos he made, his audience could not get enough.
Now, almost 9 months later, heâs filming season 2, and guess what? The dance videos are his primary marketing strategy, and his audience isnât tired of them.
Alvarez stumbled upon a viral marketing campaign, embraced it, and saw success. His videos are the perfect example of being open and agile to what your audience wants to see and running with it. He found what works for him and stuck with it, following his audience's lead.
The trend has died, but his success hasnât.
The lesson? Let your audience tell you what they want more of — then give it to them.
2. Commit to the Bit
The most memorable series are often the most committed. Take @lemurbrainâs affinity for âthrowing it backâ in his viral dance videos, which feature the same dance move in different places and different background characters. Or @babydaddysull, who amassed 150 million views in 90 days by doing his signature dance in a variety of increasingly unhinged places, including the countertop at lululemon, on top of a baggage claim carousel, and at countless Chipotles.
No matter how weird it gets, these creators have committed. Every video builds on the last, and the audience knows exactly what to expect, even if they have no idea whatâs coming. Thatâs the magic. Consistency builds trust, repetition builds recognition, and committing to the bit (even when itâs niche, silly, or offbeat) creates the kind of content people keep coming back for.
Itâs not about chasing every trend or constantly reinventing yourself. Itâs about finding your lane and absolutely flooring it.
3. Structure Breeds Creativity
Every great series has its own recognizable structure, whether thatâs a hook, a visual cue, or a naming convention. It makes the content feel cohesive and builds anticipation. Just as a dance has repeatable moves, your content should have a rhythm that people recognize.
Take @sydwingold, whose videos start with âoutfits I would wear based on our date.â It begins innocently enough, until she shows up in hilarious costumes for absurd date ideas. Followers see the hook and instantly know theyâre in for something good.
The structure you choose should be one that works for you (and doesnât have to involve cosplay). Start by identifying what your audience needs and how your business, expertise, or niche can deliver that value in a repeatable way. Are you a fitness coach? Try a myth-busting carousel series. A makeup artist? Put your own spin on the GRWM format. Find a structure that works, and let your creativity live inside that framework.
4. Authenticity Always Wins
We speak to the value of authenticity a lot on our blogs, because itâs true. People donât follow perfection — they follow honesty and personality. Signature series feel authentic when they reflect the creatorâs voice, sense of humour, or worldview. For generations that have grown up online, itâs so easy to see when content feels canned, inauthentic, or like it's pandering to the wrong audience. Authenticity matters, and in the age of AI-generated everything, a real human moment stands out more than ever.
Sometimes creators just get it, like @moandmarofficial, whose chaotic cocktail-making videos struck a chord immediately. Make-a-drink-with-me videos arenât new, but their style of including bloopers and unplanned moments in the finished product is fresh, feels authentic, and brings a ton of laughs. It feels like youâre hanging out with two besties, and the internet loves it.
A signature series isnât about being ultra slick or overly polished. Itâs about being you. If you do that, your people will find you.
So, how do you get started?
Creating a signature series doesnât have to be complicated, but it should be intentional. Start by defining your goal: are you trying to educate, entertain, or give your audience a peek behind the scenes? From there, identify your audienceâs needs. What questions do they ask most? What content already performs best for you?
From there, build a series that aligns with your brand, feels fun to create, and offers value to your audience. Ensure your series is branded with a recognizable hook or visual style and stick with it. Get creative, be authentic, and stay consistent.
Need help figuring out what that looks like for your brand?
Book a discovery call with Starling Social and letâs create a signature series thatâs unmistakably you.
