Pet Food

Creator-First. Measurably Better.

Creator-First. Measurably Better.

How a creator-first YouTube strategy drove measurable impact for a challenger pet food brand.

How a creator-first YouTube strategy drove measurable impact for a challenger pet food brand.

Objective

Drive measurable lifts in awareness, purchase intent, and brand relevance for Wellness Pet Food through a creator-first YouTube strategy.

Audience

Pet owners across lifestyle, DIY, true crime, nature, and educational content verticals on YouTube, with strong Amazon shopping behavior.

Challenge

Wellness was increasing spend across Meta, TikTok, and YouTube with no measurable lift in awareness, purchase intent, or sales. A third-party YouTube partner was delivering 50%+ junk impressions — scale without substance.

Spending more doesn't always mean performing better. Wellness Pet Food was investing across multiple platforms and seeing no measurable return. When Bent Pixels audited the existing program, the problem was clear: impressions were going to the wrong places, in front of the wrong audiences, with no meaningful alignment to the brand.

The answer wasn't more spend, it was smarter targeting. Bent Pixels built a creator-first, television-centric program from the ground up — identifying channels with genuine audience alignment and a phased test-and-learn approach designed to move the needle in a highly competitive pet food market.

The Approach.

First, the media did the talking. Efficient delivery across curated creator channels validated the targeting strategy, with skippable :30s delivering above-benchmark VCRs and higher CTR on curated channels versus run-of-network. New retailer affinities formed across lifestyle, DIY, true crime, and nature categories, with existing affinities strengthening 60-120%+ across key channels. With targeting validated, Bent Pixels identified True Crime as a high-potential category with strong audience demand and low competitive saturation. A Creator Plus-led approach drove meaningful gains across awareness and purchase intent. Building on that momentum, Pixel Pre-Roll was activated with a custom Wellness ad unit running in Creator Reserved media across the Law & Crime Network, scaling upper- and mid-funnel impact. Halfway through Phase 2, data showed Maya Higa's audience was responding strongly to the brand creative. Bent Pixels detected the signal early, scaled aggressively into custom branded integrations across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch, and delivered 200% above estimates.

How We Built It.

The Bent Pixels products activated for this campaign:

PixelFusion

Proprietary channel curation and audience alignment.

Used for

Building the creator roster across lifestyle, DIY, true crime, nature, and educational verticals, with data-driven alignment to Wellness Pet Food's core shopper audience.

Creator Plus

Scaled in-network delivery across curated YouTube channels.

Used for

Driving awareness and purchase intent lift across high-affinity creator environments.

Pixel Pre-Roll

Reserved media with custom brand creative.

Used for

Running a custom Wellness ad unit across the Law & Crime Network to scale Phase 1 impact across upper- and mid-funnel KPIs

Custom Branded Content

Creator-led integrations tied to audience signals.

Used for

Scaling Maya Higa activations across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch after mid- campaign performance signals identified her audience as a high-resonance opportunity.

The Impact

+9.8%

Awareness Lift

Above YouTube norms

+5.34%

Purchase Intent Lift

Above YouTube norms

10x

Competitor Relevance Score

Wellness vs. nearest brand

+1,241%

Branded Search Lift

Whimzees keyword

200%

Above delivery estimates

for Maya Higa activation

What We Learned.

Audience alignment drives more impact than scale. By replacing junk impressions with curated, high-affinity creator environments, Wellness Pet Food saw measurable lifts across every metric — from awareness to purchase intent to branded search. The phased test-and-learn approach also showed the value of staying close to the data: detecting Maya Higa's audience signal mid- campaign and scaling quickly turned a strong performer into the campaign's standout result.

What We Learned.

Audience alignment drives more impact than scale. By replacing junk impressions with curated, high-affinity creator environments, Wellness Pet Food saw measurable lifts across every metric — from awareness to purchase intent to branded search. The phased test-and-learn approach also showed the value of staying close to the data: detecting Maya Higa's audience signal mid- campaign and scaling quickly turned a strong performer into the campaign's standout result.

Next Case Study

Intuit TurboTax x Fortnite collaboration featuring diverse characters in a desert setting.

Gaming

Leveling Up Brand Engagement

A 360° campaign built around fun, not forced promotion, reaching players where they play, watch, and scroll.

8598

Peak Concurrent Viewers

40 Min

Average Playtime

50M

Virtual Tax filings

Intuit TurboTax x Fortnite collaboration featuring diverse characters in a desert setting.

Gaming

Leveling Up Brand Engagement

A 360° campaign built around fun, not forced promotion, reaching players where they play, watch, and scroll.

8598

Peak Concurrent Viewers

40 Min

Average Playtime

50M

Virtual Tax filings

Intuit TurboTax x Fortnite collaboration featuring diverse characters in a desert setting.

Gaming

Leveling Up Brand Engagement

A 360° campaign built around fun, not forced promotion, reaching players where they play, watch, and scroll.

Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA packaging featuring a skull character with aviator goggles.

Retail

Bold Flavor, Bold Results

Turning attention into action for New Belgium Brewing's Voodoo Ranger across premium YouTube gaming channels.

0.66%

Mobile CTR

0.31%

Overall CTR

92%

Overall Video Completion Rate

Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA packaging featuring a skull character with aviator goggles.

Retail

Bold Flavor, Bold Results

Turning attention into action for New Belgium Brewing's Voodoo Ranger across premium YouTube gaming channels.

0.66%

Mobile CTR

0.31%

Overall CTR

92%

Overall Video Completion Rate

Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA packaging featuring a skull character with aviator goggles.

Retail

Bold Flavor, Bold Results

Turning attention into action for New Belgium Brewing's Voodoo Ranger across premium YouTube gaming channels.

Branded thumbnail for "From Livestream to Lifestyle," featuring Levi's logo.

Retail

From Livestream to Lifestyle

Levi's connected with gaming and lifestyle audiences through a cross-platform strategy built for real-time fan engagement and lasting brand affinity.

7.8M

Total Impressions

91%

Video Completion Rate

1.1M

Views

Branded thumbnail for "From Livestream to Lifestyle," featuring Levi's logo.

Retail

From Livestream to Lifestyle

Levi's connected with gaming and lifestyle audiences through a cross-platform strategy built for real-time fan engagement and lasting brand affinity.

7.8M

Total Impressions

91%

Video Completion Rate

1.1M

Views

Branded thumbnail for "From Livestream to Lifestyle," featuring Levi's logo.

Retail

From Livestream to Lifestyle

Levi's connected with gaming and lifestyle audiences through a cross-platform strategy built for real-time fan engagement and lasting brand affinity.

CHAGEE grand opening with several people cutting the ribbon at the storefront.

QSR

A Creator-Powered Grand Opening

Creator amplification strategy transformed CHAGEE's U.S. grand opening into a shareable, buzzworthy launch.

12M

Total Impressions

56.7K

Total Link Clicks

100%

Brand-Safe

CHAGEE grand opening with several people cutting the ribbon at the storefront.

QSR

A Creator-Powered Grand Opening

Creator amplification strategy transformed CHAGEE's U.S. grand opening into a shareable, buzzworthy launch.

12M

Total Impressions

56.7K

Total Link Clicks

100%

Brand-Safe

CHAGEE grand opening with several people cutting the ribbon at the storefront.

QSR

A Creator-Powered Grand Opening

Creator amplification strategy transformed CHAGEE's U.S. grand opening into a shareable, buzzworthy launch.

Automotive

Gaming Meets Performance

Creator-driven media amplified Honda's esports presence across YouTube, turning Team Liquid fandom into meaningful impact.

9.6M

Unique Impressions

92.3%

CTV Video

2x

Higher CTR

Automotive

Gaming Meets Performance

Creator-driven media amplified Honda's esports presence across YouTube, turning Team Liquid fandom into meaningful impact.

9.6M

Unique Impressions

92.3%

CTV Video

2x

Higher CTR

Automotive

Gaming Meets Performance

Creator-driven media amplified Honda's esports presence across YouTube, turning Team Liquid fandom into meaningful impact.

Insurance

Trust Built Through Play

State Farm amplified brand relevance among Gen Z gamers by aligning with games fans already love and creators they know and trust.

5.7M

Unique Impressions

92.9%

Video Completion Rate

2x

Higher CTR

Insurance

Trust Built Through Play

State Farm amplified brand relevance among Gen Z gamers by aligning with games fans already love and creators they know and trust.

5.7M

Unique Impressions

92.9%

Video Completion Rate

2x

Higher CTR

Insurance

Trust Built Through Play

State Farm amplified brand relevance among Gen Z gamers by aligning with games fans already love and creators they know and trust.

QSR

Big Flavor With Even Bigger Reach

A premium YouTube campaign for McCrispy Strips that paired iconic creative with high- performing creator media.

92%+

Non-Skip VCR

0.12%

Overall CTR

54%+

Skippable VCR

QSR

Big Flavor With Even Bigger Reach

A premium YouTube campaign for McCrispy Strips that paired iconic creative with high- performing creator media.

92%+

Non-Skip VCR

0.12%

Overall CTR

54%+

Skippable VCR

QSR

Big Flavor With Even Bigger Reach

A premium YouTube campaign for McCrispy Strips that paired iconic creative with high- performing creator media.

QSR

Feeding Fandoms, Fueled by Data

Served up performance across premium YouTube gaming channels, where fandom and flavor meet.

0.19%

Overall CTR

94.9%

CTV Video

222%

Esports Channel Performance

QSR

Feeding Fandoms, Fueled by Data

Served up performance across premium YouTube gaming channels, where fandom and flavor meet.

0.19%

Overall CTR

94.9%

CTV Video

222%

Esports Channel Performance

QSR

Feeding Fandoms, Fueled by Data

Served up performance across premium YouTube gaming channels, where fandom and flavor meet.

MSN logo for the case study on a top fitness creator with 2 billion YouTube views.

Fitness

Top Creator Managed on MSN

This top fitness creator has 170 videos and over 2 billion views on YouTube.

29.1M

Total Views

$90K

Gross Revenue

537K

Watch Hours

MSN logo for the case study on a top fitness creator with 2 billion YouTube views.

Fitness

Top Creator Managed on MSN

This top fitness creator has 170 videos and over 2 billion views on YouTube.

29.1M

Total Views

$90K

Gross Revenue

537K

Watch Hours

MSN logo for the case study on a top fitness creator with 2 billion YouTube views.

Fitness

Top Creator Managed on MSN

This top fitness creator has 170 videos and over 2 billion views on YouTube.

Facebook logo for the case study on a top creator in fitness with 2 billion views.

Fitness

Top Creator Managed on Facebook

This top fitness creator has 170 videos and over 2 billion views on YouTube.

4.0B

Total Views

$400K

Gross Revenue

30.8M

Watch Hours

Facebook logo for the case study on a top creator in fitness with 2 billion views.

Fitness

Top Creator Managed on Facebook

This top fitness creator has 170 videos and over 2 billion views on YouTube.

4.0B

Total Views

$400K

Gross Revenue

30.8M

Watch Hours

Facebook logo for the case study on a top creator in fitness with 2 billion views.

Fitness

Top Creator Managed on Facebook

This top fitness creator has 170 videos and over 2 billion views on YouTube.

Let's navigate the creator economy together.

Let's navigate the creator economy together.

Topper Guild, YouTube creator, smiling enthusiastically in a pink shirt.
Jocko, YouTube creator with 1.98M subscribers, in a serious expression.
MrSavage, a gaming creator, in a hoodie with a stylish blond hairstyle.
WrestleTalk logo showcasing a stylized design in red, white, and blue.
Law & Crime logo, representing the popular legal news platform with 7.59M subscribers.
Alan Chikin Chow, content creator, smiling against a pink and blue gradient backdrop.
benjyfishy, animated character, wearing a hat and a blue shirt.
Anatoly, fitness influencer, lifting weights in a gym setting.
Zarckaroo Vlogs, in a denim jacket and sunglasses, posing on a stool.
Ninja, gamer and streamer, looks surprised while wearing headphones.
Anatoly, fitness influencer, lifting weights in a gym setting.
Viva La Dirt League creator smiling in a blue jacket against a graphic background.
Mathew Beem, content creator, smiling against a bright yellow background.