Meet Rick Schirmer of ViralBrand

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Schirmer.

Hi Rick, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Sure — the short version is that my entire career has been built on one thing: helping people and brands break through.

I started out in Hollywood working on blockbuster movies, and pretty quickly realized the same storytelling that sells films can be used to build movements around brands and creators. That insight pulled me into the early days of influencer marketing, long before it was even a real “industry.” I saw creators as undervalued media channels with massive cultural pull, and I started building campaigns that treated them that way.

Over the years, I helped scale brands across entertainment, lifestyle, beauty, family, and faith — from scrappy startups to household names. I built ViralBrand as a full-funnel, performance-driven influencer agency, and later launched CollabsHub as the tech platform to streamline how brands connect with creators. Both are designed around the same idea: creators are the new media companies, and brands need a smarter, more efficient way to tap into that power.

Today, my world sits at the intersection of media, technology, and culture. I build ambassador and affiliate networks, launch viral campaigns, produce shows, and help thought leaders break into TV and FAST distribution through The McCord List Media Network.

To be real — I didn’t “arrive.” I just kept building, iterating, listening to audiences, and following where culture was already moving. And that’s what got me here: staying ahead of the curve and helping people build platforms that actually matter.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth road? Definitely not. But honestly, that’s what shaped me.

I’ve built companies through economic downturns, algorithm changes, massive industry shifts, and the constant chaos of influencer culture. I’ve had partnerships fall apart, teams that weren’t the right fit, clients who didn’t see the vision yet, and more than a few “back to square one” moments. Every entrepreneur knows that feeling — the gut punch when you realize you’ve got to rebuild something you thought was solid.

The influencer world in particular is a moving target. What worked six months ago doesn’t work today. Platforms evolve, creators burn out, brands shift priorities — and you’re constantly reinventing your playbook in real time. There were seasons where I was balancing multiple companies, young kids, major productions, and scaling teams all at once. Not easy.

But here’s the thing: the hardship is the sharpening. Every setback pushed me to innovate, simplify, or build a better system. ViralBrand came out of that. CollabsHub came out of that. Our media network came out of that. I learned to lean into disruption instead of fighting it.

So no — it hasn’t been smooth. But the rough parts are where the breakthroughs were born.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At the highest level, everything I build sits at the intersection of creators, culture, and commerce.

ViralBrand is my full-funnel influencer marketing agency. We specialize in performance-driven creator campaigns that actually move the needle — not vanity numbers. We build ambassador and affiliate networks for brands, run large-scale UGC engines, and execute premium partnerships with celebrities and top-tier creators. What we’re known for is simple: we don’t guess. We use predictive analytics, AI-powered vetting, and a full-funnel growth system that consistently drives measurable results.

CollabsHub is our tech platform — a collab marketplace where brands post opportunities and creators apply. It’s built for scale: AI vetting, lookalike audience matching, automatic scoring, and a clean pipeline of vetted, graded creator leads. It’s the engine behind a lot of the viral campaigns people see online today.

The McCord List Media Network is the media side of the ecosystem — where we help thought leaders turn their expertise into shows, distribute them across major platforms (Roku, Amazon, Apple TV, FAST channels, etc.), and build real visibility. It’s a launchpad for experts and authors who are ready for a bigger stage.

What sets us apart?
We’re not just an agency. We’re not just a platform. We’re a full ecosystem. Brands come to us because we:

combine tech + strategy + media under one roof

build viral campaigns that convert

produce and distribute shows

create ambassador flywheels that keep growing long after the campaign ends

and we do it all with speed, precision, and zero fluff

Most agencies either do creative, or influencer outreach, or media buying, or production — we built a system that does all of it and feeds itself.

What I’m most proud of brand-wise?
We’ve helped unknown founders become industry voices. We’ve launched products that went from zero to sellout. We’ve put creators and experts on national TV. And we’ve built a model where brands win, creators win, and audiences actually enjoy the content. That’s rare.

What I want readers to know:
If you’re a brand, creator, or thought leader trying to grow an audience, a business, or a movement — we’re the team that helps you break through. We build visibility, credibility, and viral momentum. We clear the noise, simplify the process, and get you into motion fast.

Our entire mission is to help good people and good brands amplify their impact in a world that moves way too quickly.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are a few great ways to work with me or collaborate, depending on what you’re building and where you’re trying to go.

If you’re a brand:
You can work with my agency, ViralBrand, for full-funnel influencer campaigns, ambassador networks, affiliate programs, or premium creator partnerships. We handle everything from AI-powered vetting to UGC production to whitelisting and paid amplification. If you’re trying to scale visibility, traffic, or conversions — that’s our lane.

If you’re a creator or influencer:
You can jump onto CollabsHub and apply to active campaigns. It’s our collaboration marketplace where brands post opportunities and we match them with the right creators using AI scoring and lookalike audience matching. It’s free to browse and apply — and we’re always adding new campaigns across beauty, lifestyle, entertainment, wellness, and more.

If you’re an expert, author, or founder with a message:
You can work with The McCord List Media Network to develop your own show, get into studio production, and distribute your content across major platforms like Roku, Amazon, Apple TV, and multiple FAST channels. We help you build your brand, your audience, and your long-term credibility.

If you just want to support:
Follow our shows, share the content you love, and keep rooting for the creators and brands we’re helping grow. The more visibility you give to rising voices, the more impact they can make.

At the end of the day, I love partnering with people who have vision and momentum. If someone’s ready to build something meaningful — I’m always open to exploring how we can help them break through.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.viralbrand.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viralbrandinfluence/