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Zombie Apocalypse – The Popularity of the CDC’s Blog Post

With all the recent zombie movies, television shows and related content, we’re all probably wondering what we would do in the case of a zombie attack – aren’t we?

No worries are necessary though, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), aware of the growing concern of citizens, issued a blog post yesterday on how to handle a zombie apocalypse – “Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse.”

While in reality, this is probably not a major concern for most people, and it’s definitely not the type of content expected from the CDC, it’s proved to be a win for the organization. Social media channels are flooded with talk of the post, and the CDC’s blog has crashed from the amount of traffic flooded its way.

Why was this post such a hit for the CDC?

  • Capitalizing on a trend. Zombies are at the forefront of pop culture these days, with the Resident Evil franchise, Zombieland movie and the popular AMC show, The Walking Dead.
  • Monitoring the media. The plot of The Walking Dead, a show based on surviving in a zombie apocalypse, regularly includes talk of the CDC, leaving the door open for the CDC to chime in on how they really would handle such a situation. And thankfully, they took the chance and addressed it in an entertaining way.
  • Personality. The post is full of personality and gives a major government organization some character, showing that they know how to have a little fun – something we all can appreciate.
  • Engaging content. A lot of blog content is nothing new – it’s out there somewhere else in the blogosphere. It’s hard to stand out; but, when you provide a new take on an interesting topic, people will want to read it – and share it.

On an average day, would most people stop by the CDC’s blog? Probably not. However, this post illustrates the importance of timely, engaging information that capitalizes on a trend in an organic way. Even better? We are now all prepared to handle a zombie attack should the need arise. I know I feel safer.

Sarah Weddle
Zer0 to 5ive Strategist
Twitter: @SarahWeddle
Image courtesy of iStockPhoto/spxChrome