How Ryan Trahan Turned 50 States into 200 Million Views

Ryan Trahan’s Airbnb series is quietly reshaping the way brands approach content marketing, and the math behind it is fascinating.

Ryan is currently 35 days into a challenge to visit all 50 states in 50 days, posting daily videos and raising millions for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. To date, he's generated over 100 million views and raised more than $6.1 million in donations. Here's why that matters for brands and creators:

Brands Spending Smarter

Brands traditionally allocate large budgets to marketing campaigns with uncertain returns. Ryan’s series offers an engaging and cost-effective alternative. For instance, if Lectric Bikes spends $600,000 sponsoring Ryan’s series and achieves 200 million impressions, their cost per impression would be approximately $0.003 (a CPM of $3). Compared to the industry standard CPM of around $7, this represents exceptional value and highlights how engaging content partnerships can efficiently reach large audiences.

Joyride and St. Jude: Creating Meaningful Impact

Ryan smartly integrated his candy brand, Joyride, with the charitable cause of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This thoughtful integration allows Joyride to build lasting emotional connections with viewers. If just 5% of viewers (around 200,000 people) try Joyride, that is significant exposure. With an average spend of $4 per customer and an estimated four repeat purchases, just 10,000 loyal customers would translate into roughly $160,000 in customer lifetime value (LTV). Not bad for quick napkin math; the actual outcomes could be even stronger.

Spotlighting Local Airbnbs

Ryan’s journey across America naturally highlights local Airbnbs, showcasing unique stays in ways traditional advertising rarely matches. Each Airbnb featured receives organic exposure, and the winning location earns additional publicity, creating tangible value for hosts.

Ryan’s Financial Reality (Quick Math)

Beyond donations and brand partnerships, Ryan’s series also generates significant YouTube ad revenue. With a conservative CPM estimate of $7, each view generates around $0.007. At 200 million total views, Ryan’s series is projected to generate approximately $1.4 million from ads alone.

Sheesh.

Who’s Winning from This Series?

Ryan’s YouTube Channel: Enjoying substantial growth, increased views, and ad revenue.

Joyride (Ryan’s Candy Brand): Achieving meaningful brand exposure and measurable customer lifetime value.

Donors and Viewers: Engaging with a compelling cause and feeling part of something impactful.

Brands and Sponsors: Benefiting from authentic goodwill and positive visibility at a highly competitive cost per impression. Talk about bang for your buck.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Receiving essential financial support and increased public awareness.

Local Airbnbs: Gaining valuable organic visibility and enhanced recognition.

Ryan’s success stems from creating an interactive, authentic experience that genuinely engages communities. It goes beyond mere entertainment, showcasing marketing's true potential to drive meaningful impact.