Content was once a rare thing, but now it has become a commodity.
You can’t just post any-old, average content anymore and expect to see results.
But that DOESN’T mean that content marketing and content creation are a waste of time.
The good news is that even though content is now a commodity, unique content is in demand more than ever.
I’d say that if you’re going to create content, then it has to be original.
It has to stand out.
Otherwise, it’s a waste of time.
But IF your content is engaging and original, you will stand out from the pack and build a valuable audience made up of prospects and customers.
You’ll go from chasing prospects to attracting them to you, your business, or your organization.
How do you create engaging and original content?
That’s what my “31 Types of Content We Crave” training is all about.
If you’ve enjoyed my Christmas content marketing lessons and want to know how to create more unique and engaging content, then don’t miss the special offer to attend my “31 Types of Content We Crave” webinar at a special price.
I’ll not only allow you attend for a special price, I’ll also:
Give you a free PDF copy of my book 51 Content Marketing Hacks
Send you the recording after the webinar
Allow you to invite any of your staff to attend with you (or in your place)
If you’re interested in being a part of the webinar, or just want more details on the date, time, etc., then DM me on LinkedIn.
This is the type of content that has been Santa’s secret for a long time.
Santa’s Secret 3-Step Content Marketing Strategy
Here are three steps he’s used to spread his fame around the world using the power of user-generated content:
1. Determine to do something so bold and amazing that people will want to share your story (content) with everyone.
The way Santa does this is to do something so bold that people can’t stop talking about it. He gives presents to strangers.
Giving gifts to people you know or have heard about is kind. But giving them to strangers around the world? That’s pretty bold and amazing.
Example of How Others Have Done This
Seven years ago the folks at WestJetdecided to borrow Santa’s method.
Watch what happened when they did….
Amazing isn’t it?
When this video first came out, people shared it like crazy!
That’s why doing something so bold that everyone can’t help but tell your story is a powerful strategy. But this is only his first step.
Let’s look at Santa’s next step…
2. Bring on an amazing team and let the story of who they are (content focused on their unique talents, qualities, and gifts) be told for all to see/hear.
Santa does this in many ways: he hires elves, uses flying reindeer, and even uses a reindeer with a shiny nose to lead them.
Example of How Others Have Done This
A woman named Tia Torres has done something similar. She has hired a team of people that most others have overlooked: parolees.
Why would she do this?
Because after her husband was sent to prison, she knew how much getting a second chance meant to someone who has a criminal record.
That’s why Tia decided to hire parolees to help her rescue pit bulls, animals who also know what it’s like to need a second chance.
Now Tia redeems the lives of parolees and pit bull’s through Villalobos.
Her team is so amazing and memorable that Animal Planet decided to do a show about her and Villalobos (create content about them).
Watch her celebrate the ending of parole for the first parolee she ever hired whose name is Earl…
Powerful, isn’t it?
But having a memorable team doesn’t just help you to have something worth creating content about.
It’s the thing that actually enables you to change people’s lives!
Now let’s look at Santa’s last content marketing strategy…
3. Allow and encourage others to freely share your story in many content forms.
Santa has never focused very much on creating his own content.
He’s always focused on doing and being someone worth creating content about.
Then he just lets others tell stories, create tv shows, movies, and even music about him.
I think that Airbnb is a good example of this. I’ve never seen many commercials or ads about Airbnb.
The only reason I originally heard about it is because other people created content about it.
This video from SoniasTravels is an example of content that others have created FOR Airbnb…
Takeaways For You & Your Business:
This post is obviously just meant for fun.
But the more I think about it, the more I realize there are three overlooked content marketing ideas we really need to consider:
Who you are
Who your staff, employees & associates are
What you do
…are ALL a rarely tapped source of powerful content.
With these in mind, here are some questions for you to think about as we enter into 2023:
What bold, different, and amazing things can you do in 2023? Focus on things to make your life and business more exciting. Think of things that will make your story worth sharing.
Are there amazing or interesting things you or your business has done in 2022 that you can share in 2023?
What interesting facts, hobbies, and stories about you and your staff have you neglected to share? (Obviously, your staff needs to give you permission.)
If you sat down as a team and brainstormed/dreamed together, I bet you could come up with some pretty interesting answers to these questions!
BONUS IDEAS:
Don’t focus on doing these things just so people will create content about you.
Focus on them because they would be fun, exciting, and meaningful to do.
Do things that help to change your industry.
Do things that change/improve people’s’ lives (the best reason to do this).
The accidental side-benefit will be that you will have a story worth sharing and content worth creating/spreading – whether it is created by you and others.
How to Create Engaging Content in 2024
Content was once a rare thing, but now it has become a commodity.
You can’t just post any-old, average content anymore and expect to see results.
But that DOESN’T mean that content marketing and content creation are a waste of time.
The good news is that even though content is now a commodity, unique content is in demand more than ever.
I’d say that if you’re going to create content, then it has to be original.
It has to stand out.
Otherwise, it’s a waste of time.
But IF your content is engaging and original, you will stand out from the pack and build a valuable audience made up of prospects and customers.
You’ll go from chasing prospects to attracting them to you, your business, or your organization.
How do you create engaging and original content?
That’s what my “31 Types of Content We Crave” training is all about.
If you’ve enjoyed my Christmas content marketing lessons and want to know how to create more unique and engaging content, then don’t miss the special offer to attend my “31 Types of Content We Crave” webinar at a special price.
I’ll not only allow you attend for a special price, I’ll also:
Give you a free PDF copy of my book 51 Content Marketing Hacks
Send you the recording after the webinar
Allow you to invite any of your staff to attend with you (or in your place)
If you’re interested in being a part of the webinar, or just want more details on the date, time, etc., then DM me on LinkedIn.
Yes, that’s the only way to get more information.
Make sure to subscribe so you’ll be notified when my next article goes live.
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As you probably know, content marketing isn’t just text-based content.
Content marketing can be images, video, audio, and much more. Keep that in mind as I reveal another interesting Christmas content marketing lesson.
Thomas Nast – The Man Who Created the Modern Image of Santa
Thomas Nast was a staff illustrator for Harper’s Weekly, which at the time was one of the most popular magazines around.
Santa first appeared in the January 2, 1863 issue of Harper’s Weekly. His outfit was an American flag. And, get this, he had a puppet with the name “Jeff” written on it.
Who was Jeff? Jeff was short for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States.
Santa dress in an American flag with a doll named “Jeff.”
Yes, it was Nast who came up with the idea of a white-bearded old man with rosy cheeks. But that’s not all, Nast is the one who showed Santa passing out gifts.
But guess who he was passing out presents to? Union soldiers. And when Nast showed Santa climbing into a chimney, it was the chimney of a Union soldier’s house that he visited as the soldier’s wife prayed.
Are you noticing a common theme yet? Yep. Santa was pro-Union Army.
But there’s more. Take a look at his picture.
Look at How Much of Santa’s Story Came from Nast
The center window says, “Santa and his works.”
The top-left circle says, “On the look out for good children.”
The image on the left of the center window shows his workshop.
The top-right circle says, “Account work, record of behavior.”
The image on the right of the center window says, “Holiday week.”
The image at the bottom below the center window shows him riding in a sleigh and says, “Christmas Eve.”
The bottom-left circle shows a pine tree and says, “Christmas tree.”
The image on the bottom-left of the center window says, “Dollie’s tea party.”
The image on the bottom-right of the center window says, “Which Dollie will you have?“
The bottom-right circle shows Santa sewing with a needle and thread and says, “Making Dollie’s clothes.”
Along the top of this illustration, it says, “Santa Claus stable.”
At the bottom of this illustration, it says, “Dollie’s kitchen” and “Dollie’s parlor.”
And the one you won’t believe… along the top-right it says, “Santa Clausville, N.P.” (N.P. = North Pole)
Isn’t it crazy how many of the things we associate with Christmas are in this one image?
But remember that Union theme? It wasn’t just in that first image. Check out this image and I’ll show you what I mean…
The Hidden Pro-Union Message in Nast’s Images
This was a picture he illustrated in 1881 that appeared in Harper’s Weekly. It looks just like a normal Santa picture, right? Nope.
If you knew what some of the things in the picture actually were, you’d realize it’s actually more propaganda.
Believe it or not, the image is actually representing the government’s indecision to pay members of the military a higher wage.
“‘On his back isn’t a sack full of toys—it’s actually an army backpack from enlisted men.’ He’s holding a dress sword and belt buckle to represent the Army, whereas the toy horse is a callback to the Trojan horse, symbolizing the treachery of the government. A pocket watch showing a time of ten ’til midnight indicates the United States Senate has little time left to give fair wages to the men of the Army and Navy.”
That shows that whenever Nast was creating images of Santa, he was subtly, and not so subtly, promoting the pro-Union message.
In other words, his content was always promoting the message he was “selling.”
3 Simple and Quick Content Marketing Lessons You Can Learn from Thomas Nast
Before you go, let me leave you with a few content marketing lessons that still apply today (and apply all year long):
Never forget the value of images to capture attention and share your message. Images capture attention and are memorable.
The power of a story tied to a well-designed image is a powerful combination. Images that don’t say anything aren’t very powerful. Always figure out how to tie them to the message you want to convey.
Never overlook the astonishing power of repetition. If you really want to get your message across, you need to consistently share it. Sharing it only once will probably not have much impact. (Want to learn more about repetition? The previous bolded sentence is a link.)
If you want to see more of these articles, then make sure to come back for tomorrow’s final article.
By the way, if you’re enjoying these, why not just subscribe below?
How to Create Engaging Content in 2024
Content was once a rare thing, but now it has become a commodity.
You can’t just post any-old, average content anymore and expect to see results.
But that DOESN’T mean that content marketing and content creation are a waste of time.
The good news is that even though content is now a commodity, unique content is in demand more than ever.
I’d say that if you’re going to create content, then it has to be original.
It has to stand out.
Otherwise, it’s a waste of time.
But IF your content is engaging and original, you will stand out from the pack and build a valuable audience made up of prospects and customers.
You’ll go from chasing prospects to attracting them to you, your business, or your organization.
How do you create engaging and original content?
That’s what my “31 Types of Content We Crave” training is all about.
If you’ve enjoyed my Christmas content marketing lessons and want to know how to create more unique and engaging content, then don’t miss the special offer to attend my “31 Types of Content We Crave” webinar at a special price.
I’ll not only allow you attend for a special price, I’ll also:
Give you a free PDF copy of my book 51 Content Marketing Hacks
Send you the recording after the webinar
Allow you to invite any of your staff to attend with you (or in your place)
If you’re interested in being a part of the webinar, or just want more details on the date, time, etc., then DM me on LinkedIn.
Yes, that’s the only way to get more information.
In You Enjoyed This, Can You Help Someone Else Discover It?
If you enjoy this article, can you also share this article on social media and with someone that you think will like it?
You’ll be helping your friends, followers, and associates out by pointing them to valuable content marketing ideas.
And you’ll also be helping me out by helping to spread the word about this site.
(If you want to help others that you don’t know find this site, then reference and link to this article in one of your next articles.)
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“The next day, Coke sent Schulz and Mendelson the following telegram: ‘CONFIRM SALE OF CHARLIE BROWN FOR CHRISTMAS TO COCA-COLA FOR DECEMBER BROADCAST AT YOUR TERMS WITH OPTION ON SECOND SHOW FOR NEXT SPRING. GOOD GRIEF!‘”
The Show Almost Didn’t Air
As popular as the show is these days, this might be hard to believe, but the show almost didn’t make it on air.
“The network hated the idea of a religious message in a Christmas TV special. They hated that the special wasn’t non-stop action interrupted with gales of fake laughter (as if cartoons would actually have a live studio audience).
“They didn’t like the soundtrack, thought the kid voiceover actors sounded too much like children, and would rather have played a needle scratch than jazz music. Things got so bad that even the special’s producers and Charlie Schulz (not known for having a cheery outlook to begin with) thought the cartoon would be a critical and commercial bomb.
“In fact, everyone was thinking of simply scrapping the show altogether…except for Cocoa-Cola, who was the special’s main sponsor and was not about to let a half-hour of advertising not make it to air.“
Where Are the Coke Ads in the Show?
The ads for Coca-Cola have been removed from the special over the years, so you won’t see them when you watch it today.
So where were they in the original?
Ted Ryan says that the only Coca-Cola messages were “title slides telling viewers that the production was made possible by the support of the local bottlers around the country.”
Here is a video clip of the title slides mentioning Coca-Cola…
“Create content that your prospects and customers want — especially if it isn’t focused on your business: You must not only create great content, but you must also create content that your desired target group is craving and searching for. And this might seem counterintuitive, but the most powerful kind of content for you to create might actually be content that doesn’t directly focus on your business or industry at all.”
Do you want proof that it was content that marketed Coca-Cola effectively?
You might have thought you couldn’t use content marketing because you’re not a content creator of any kind.
Well, now you know that you can harness the power of content marketing without actually creating it.
You can hire content creators to create content for your business.
It doesn’t have to be someone at the level of Charles Schulz. There are many content creators out there who would gladly create content for you.
Or maybe you thought, “No one really cares about content related to my business.”
Well,now you know that the content doesn’t have to directly focus on your business or industry.
It just needs to be content that resonates with your audience. That’s the key. That’s what Coca-Cola did.
And the result is content that was so popular that it still resonates with people 57 years later.
How to Create Engaging Content in 2024
Content was once a rare thing, but now it has become a commodity.
You can’t just post any-old, average content anymore and expect to see results.
But that DOESN’T mean that content marketing and content creation are a waste of time.
The good news is that even though content is now a commodity, unique content is in demand more than ever.
I’d say that if you’re going to create content, then it has to be original.
It has to stand out.
Otherwise, it’s a waste of time.
But IF your content is engaging and original, you will stand out from the pack and build a valuable audience made up of prospects and customers.
You’ll go from chasing prospects to attracting them to you, your business, or your organization.
How do you create engaging and original content?
That’s what my “31 Types of Content We Crave” training is all about.
If you’ve enjoyed my Christmas content marketing lessons and want to know how to create more unique and engaging content, then don’t miss the special offer to attend my “31 Types of Content We Crave” webinar at a special price.
I’ll not only allow you attend for a special price, I’ll also:
Give you a free PDF copy of my book 51 Content Marketing Hacks
Send you the recording after the webinar
Allow you to invite any of your staff to attend with you (or in your place)
If you’re interested in being a part of the webinar, or just want more details on the date, time, etc., then DM me on LinkedIn.
IMPORTANT: Do you know the Christmas TV specials that used to only come on once a year?
Well, you can think of my Christmas content marketing video below as one of those.
How Content Marketing Gave Birth to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The video you’re about to see contains the little-known story of how a content marketing assignment led to the most famous reindeer of all.
In other words, you’re about to discover a Christmas content marketing lesson. In the video, you’ll discover:
Montgomery Ward’s use of content marketing at Christmas
How the story of Rudolph came to be
The tragedy that almost ended it all
The surprising success of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The offer he had to refuse
The big risk and the big payoff
The rejected song that became a hit
Learn How to Create Engaging Content in 2023
Content was once a rare thing, but now it has become a commodity.
You can’t just post any-old, average content anymore and expect to see results.
But that DOESN’T mean that content marketing and content creation are a waste of time.
In fact, I would say it’s needed more than ever.
The good news is that even though content is now a commodity, unique content is in demand more than ever.
I’d say that if you’re going to create content, then it has to be original.
It has to stand out.
Otherwise, it’s a waste of time. But IF your content is engaging and original, then you will stand out from the pack and you will build a valuable audience made up of prospects and customers.
You’ll go from chasing prospects to attracting them to you, your business, or your organization.
How do I create engaging and original content?
That’s what my “31 Types of Content We Crave” training is all about.
If you’ve enjoyed my Christmas content marketing lessons and want to know how to create more unique and engaging content, then don’t miss the special offer to access to my “31 Types of Content We Crave” training at a special price.
Click the button below to learn more.
In You Enjoyed This, Can You Do Two Things?
If you enjoy this video, then please subscribe to this channel.
You’ll not only learn other Christmas content marketing lessons, but you’ll also learn lessons on how to create engaging content through my behind-the-scenes videos.
Can you also share this article on social media and with someone that you think will like it?
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Sign-up below and you will be emailed whenever a new article is posted. (That means that you will usually be emailed multiple times a week.)
You might not believe this, but I’m about to show you a lesson you can learn from Hallmark movies that can help you to easily create powerful content in 2023.
And it all comes down to knowing the importance and value of patterns. I’ll explain more of what I mean in a minute.
But first, let’s look at the thing that most people think is the flaw of Hallmark movies because it’s actually the genius of them.
When a Bot Writes a Hallmark Movie
Humorist Keaton Patti forced a bot to digest massive amounts of human media to produce these absurdly funny, totally real, “bot-generated” scripts, essays, advertisements, and more. (Check out his book here.)
One of the scripts the bot wrote was one to a Hallmark movie. In this tweet, pictured below, he reveals the hilarious results….
They Laughed When Hallmark Starting Creating Movies – Until the Ratings Came In
Popular meme showing how similar Hallmark movies are
People like to make fun of how formulaic Hallmark movies are – so formulaic that even a bot could write them. But there’s one thing that can’t be denied.
Hallmark movies and the Hallmark Channel itself are both very popular. How popular are they? You might not believe it, but check out these stats:
As of October 2020, the Hallmark Channel is the 7th most popular cable channel. (Source)
Countdown to Christmas has made Hallmark Channel the #1 entertainment cable network during Total Day in Fourth Quarter-to-date among Households, Women 18+, Women 25-54, and Total Viewers, and during Primetime among Households, Women 18+, and Total Viewers (Source)
17 of the 21 original holiday movie premieres on Hallmark Channel were the most-watched entertainment programs of the week among Women 18+ (Source)
To date, the annual holiday programming event has reached nearly 45 million unduplicated Total Viewers (Source)
From @basicallyhallmark
Why is Hallmark Channel so popular? And why are Hallmark movies so popular?
One of the reasons is the fact that people need an escape from this crazy pandemic world we live in.
“That’s a polite way of saying more and more Americans are turning to the Hallmark Channel for relief from the daily news cycle.”
But I think it’s more than that. I think it comes down to people’s deep need for familiar patterns.
One of the things kids are taught in kindergarten is how to recognize patterns. They have to be able to recognize and name the basic types of patterns.
They have to be able to notice “AB” patterns (like the one in the image above that is yellow, red, yellow, red, etc.). They have to recognize “ABC” patterns such as: blue, green, red, blue, green, red, etc.
They also have to be able to recognize other types of patterns. Why do they have to learn these things?
Because being able to recognize patterns in life is an important life skill.
But do you realize that the ability to recognize and form patterns is a powerful tool in content creation and content marketing?
You see, people crave familiar things – especially in a world with so much turmoil and upheaval.
Patterns create a familiar framework that enables people to more easily consume your content.
Extended Preview – Open Hearts – When Calls the Heart
Patterns Do Two Things That Are Important In Content Marketing:
1. They help people to follow along.
2. They create anticipation.
Now, obviously, when I am talking about creating content based on patterns I am NOT suggesting that you create predictable content.
I am just saying that it should have an underlying pattern.
If you start paying attention, you’ll notice that every type of content that you like (TV shows, Youtube channels/stars/shows, websites, authors, etc.) all use patterns.
Whether you realize it or not, what you really like about your favorite content is the patterns that they use.
Two Different Ways You Can Utilize Patterns To Create Effective Content
I want to share with you two ways you can utilize patterns to help you to more easily create effective content.
External Patterns
One way is to utilize external patterns to help you create more effective content. Here’s how:
1. Notice the patterns that other effective content creators and content marketers use.
2. Try out their patterns with your own content.
3. Study the results.
4. Use the patterns that you are the most comfortable with and the ones that produce the best results.
Internal Patterns
The other way is to utilize internal patterns to help you create more effective content:
1. Notice the patterns you tend to already use when creating content.
2. Study which patterns seem to get the best response and are well received.
3. Purposely use the patterns which you determine get you the best response.
4 Benefits Of Using Patterns When Creating Content
1. It gives you a framework to start with, which helps you overcome “the blank page” syndrome that often causes writer’s block.
2. It allows you to begin to create a style of content your reader can get used to and associate with you.
3. People who resonate with your pattern(s) begin to regularly come back because they like the format and know what to expect.
4. It gives you structure and freedom. Structure for the flow of your blog post, or other types of content you use, but freedom to be creative within that framework.
A humorous (but misguided) meme about the simplicity of Hallmark Christmas Movie plots
One Way I Do This
I don’t know if you noticed it before, but I have a pattern I use on a micro-level on this site. Each article generally has a regular pattern I follow.
On a basic level the pattern looks like this:
1. I use something to grab your attention.
2. I present my main thoughts, ideas, or lessons.
3. I challenge you to take action.
Let Others Laugh at Hallmark Channel, While You Learn from Them
Let me be clear one last time. I’m not suggesting that you create cheesy, simple patterns with the content you create..
I am suggesting that you find subtle and powerful patterns that your audience loves and can’t get enough of.
When you do that, you will discover the secret to effortlessly creating powerful content in 2023 and beyond.
How to Create Engaging Content in 2024
Content was once a rare thing, but now it has become a commodity.
You can’t just post any-old, average content anymore and expect to see results.
But that DOESN’T mean that content marketing and content creation are a waste of time.
The good news is that even though content is now a commodity, unique content is in demand more than ever.
I’d say that if you’re going to create content, then it has to be original.
It has to stand out.
Otherwise, it’s a waste of time.
But IF your content is engaging and original, you will stand out from the pack and build a valuable audience made up of prospects and customers.
You’ll go from chasing prospects to attracting them to you, your business, or your organization.
How do you create engaging and original content?
That’s what my “31 Types of Content We Crave” training is all about.
If you’ve enjoyed my Christmas content marketing lessons and want to know how to create more unique and engaging content, then don’t miss the special offer to attend my “31 Types of Content We Crave” webinar at a special price.
I’ll not only allow you attend for a special price, I’ll also:
Give you a free PDF copy of my book 51 Content Marketing Hacks
Send you the recording after the webinar
Allow you to invite any of your staff to attend with you (or in your place)
If you’re interested in being a part of the webinar, or just want more details on the date, time, etc., then DM me on LinkedIn.
Yes, that’s the only way to get more information.
Who Do You Know Who Needs to Read This?
Did you like this article? If so, can you share it on social media and with someone that you think will like it?
Your friends, followers, and associates will appreciate you pointing them to valuable content marketing ideas.
And I’ll appreciate you helping me to spread the word about this site.
(If you want to help others that you don’t know find this site, then reference and link to this article in one of your next articles.)
Get Emailed Whenever a New Article Goes Live
Did you enjoy this article? Then don’t miss when the next one goes live.
Sign-up below and you will be emailed whenever a new article is posted. (That means that you will usually be emailed multiple times a week.)
Riddle: What’s the Type of Content You Create Once and Get Paid for Again and Again?
Content marketing is usually about creating a piece of free content whose purpose is to directly or indirectly play a part in bringing in future sales for a product or service of some kind.
Well, how would you like to create a single piece of content just once, but get paid for it year after year after? Does that sound like some kind of internet scam? It’s not.
In fact, there is a certain category of songwriters who actually achieve this amazing feat. They create one song and then make money off of it year after year after year.
Who are these songwriters? They are the writers behind Christmas songs. Want proof?
It was the summer of 1970 and Jose Felciano was recording a Christmas album made up of classic Christmas songs. That’s when his producer and friend, Rick Jarrard, made a surprising suggestion.
He told Jose that he should create an original Christmas song, one that had lyrics in both English and Spanish. Jose then went into the other room to see what he could come up with.
He started messing around by singing the words “Feliz Navidad” and “Merry Christmas.” Suddenly out of nowhere the melody just came to him.
He didn’t know it at the time, but the song would go on to become one of the most popular Christmas songs. It would become as popular – or even more popular – than some of the classic songs he had already recorded that day.
Just how popular is that song?
According to Billboard, this song has been heard on the radio by an estimated 3.8 billion people. Yes, that’s billion with a “B.”
It is one of the top 10 best-performing songs on Billboard’s Holiday 100 chart.
According to ASCAP, it is one of the 25 most-played Christmas songs in the world.
In 2010, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
How’s that for a song that “just came to him” in the summer of 1970?
50 Years Later and That One Song is Still Going Strong
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Feliz Navidad. You heard that right. Jose Feliciano created one piece of content 50 years ago and he has been paid every year for it for 50 years.
So the story I started with, that you thought sounded like a scam, is actually the story Jose Feliciano has been living out since 1970.
There are some valuable content marketing lessons that you can learn from Jose and other Christmas songwriters that will help you to create content with a lasting impact in 2022.
I’ll share these important lessons with you in just a minute. But first, you might be interested to learn this…
To honor the 50th anniversary of this still very popular song, Jose recorded a special version of the song with 30 top artists.
These artists include CNCO, Isabela Merced, Shaggy, Jon Secada, Jason Mraz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rachael Ray, Gloria Gaynor, Big & Rich, Michael Bolton, Los Temerarios, Sam Moore, and Styx. (If you’re interested in hearing it, you can find it exclusively here on Amazon.com. )
The Surprising Content Marketing Lessons You Can Learn from Christmas Songs
As I said, there are some valuable content marketing lessons that you can learn from Jose and other Christmas songwriters. I’ve packed all of these lessons in the video below.
In my video, you’ll discover:
How to capture your audience’s attention
How to create content that appeals to your audience
How to create content that can appeal to your audience for years to come
Two important content marketing lessons we can learn from Christmas songs
Two takeaways that you can apply to your content marketing
And three methods you can use to produce your content based on the way popular artists create and record Christmas songs
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Does it sound to you like I say, “Christmas sogs” at the beginning of the video? It does to me!
I’m not sure what happened, but let’s pretend it didn’t happen! Haha.
IMPORTANT: Do you know the Christmas TV specials that used to only come on once a year?
Well, you can think of my Christmas content marketing videos that you’ll see over the next few days like those TV specials.
I say that because I will be reposting these videos and related articles during this time every year.
Christmas Content Marketing Examples
If you just pay attention, there are examples of content marketing, and lessons to be learned, everywhere.
There are even content marketing examples and lessons that can be found at Christmas time.
What you’re about to see is just one example. But let me be clear.
This and the upcoming examples are content marketing examples that come from Christmas.
But they are NOT examples that can only be used during Christmas time. They can be used year-round.
How Content Marketing Gave Birth to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The video you’re about to see contains the little-known story of how a content marketing assignment led to the most famous reindeer of all.
In other words, you’re about to discover a Christmas content marketing lesson. In the video, you’ll discover:
Montgomery Ward’s use of content marketing at Christmas
How the story of Rudolph came to be
The tragedy that almost ended it all
The surprising success of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The offer he had to refuse
The big risk and the big payoff
The rejected song that became a hit
In You Enjoyed This, Can You Do Two Things?
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You’ll not only learn other Christmas content marketing lessons, but you’ll also learn lessons on how to create engaging content through my behind-the-scenes videos.
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Riddle: What’s the Type of Content You Create Once and Get Paid for Again and Again?
Content marketing is usually about creating a piece of free content whose purpose is to directly or indirectly play a part in bringing in future sales for a product or service of some kind.
Well, how would you like to create a single piece of content just once, but get paid for it year after year after? Does that sound like some kind of internet scam? It’s not.
In fact, there is a certain category of songwriters who actually achieve this amazing feat. They create one song and then make money off of it year after year after year.
Who are these songwriters? They are the writers behind Christmas songs. Want proof?
It was the summer of 1970 and Jose Felciano was recording a Christmas album made up of classic Christmas songs. That’s when his producer and friend, Rick Jarrard, made a surprising suggestion.
He told Jose that he should create an original Christmas song, one that had lyrics in both English and Spanish. Jose then went into the other room to see what he could come up with.
He started messing around by singing the words “Feliz Navidad” and “Merry Christmas.” Suddenly out of nowhere the melody just came to him.
He didn’t know it at the time, but the song would go on to become one of the most popular Christmas songs. It would become as popular – or even more popular – than some of the classic songs he had already recorded that day.
Just how popular is that song?
According to Billboard, this song has been heard on the radio by an estimated 3.8 billion people. Yes, that’s billion with a “B.”
It is one of the top 10 best-performing songs on Billboard’s Holiday 100 chart.
According to ASCAP, it is one of the 25 most-played Christmas songs in the world.
In 2010, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
How’s that for a song that “just came to him” in the summer of 1970?
50 Years Later and That One Song is Still Going Strong
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Feliz Navidad. You heard that right. Jose Feliciano created one piece of content 50 years ago and he has been paid every year for it for 50 years.
So the story I started with, that you thought sounded like a scam, is actually the story Jose Feliciano has been living out since 1970.
There are some valuable content marketing lessons that you can learn from Jose and other Christmas songwriters that will help you to create content with a lasting impact in 2021.
I’ll share these important lessons with you in just a minute. But first, you might be interested to learn this…
To honor the 50th anniversary of this still very popular song, Jose recorded a special version of the song with 30 top artists.
These artists include CNCO, Isabela Merced, Shaggy, Jon Secada, Jason Mraz, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rachael Ray, Gloria Gaynor, Big & Rich, Michael Bolton, Los Temerarios, Sam Moore, and Styx. (If you’re interested in hearing it, you can find it exclusively here on Amazon.com. )
The Surprising Content Marketing Lessons You Can Learn from Christmas Songs
As I said, there are some valuable content marketing lessons that you can learn from Jose and other Christmas songwriters. I’ve packed all of these lessons in the video below.
In my video, you’ll discover:
How to capture your audience’s attention
How to create content that appeals to your audience
How to create content that can appeal to your audience for years to come
Two important content marketing lessons we can learn from Christmas songs
Two takeaways that you can apply to your content marketing
And three methods you can use to produce your content based on the way popular artists create and record Christmas songs
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Does it sound to you like I say, “Christmas sogs” at the beginning of the video? It does to me!
I’m not sure what happened, but let’s pretend it didn’t happen! Haha.
Many of you who have read my posts and articles in the past know that I see content marketing lessons everywhere.
Well, in this article today, I want to share an important content marketing lesson for those of you who don’t consider yourselves a content creator.
How Apple TV+ Got Charlie Brown Fans Upset
2020 almost gave us another reason to wish it was over sooner than later.
Back in October, it was announced that Apple TV+ had purchased rights to the “Great Pumpkin”, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” TV specials.
That meant that for the first time since 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” would not air on public television.
Apple TV+ probably thought that they had made a great move to provide their subscribers such beloved TV specials.
What they probably hadn’t anticipated was the backlash from people who aren’t subscribers and who are so used to seeing it every year.
For that reason, Apple decided in November that they would allow “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to be aired on December 13th on PBS stations. (Click here, if you want to know how to watch it.)
“The next day, Coke sent Schulz and Mendelson the following telegram: ‘CONFIRM SALE OF CHARLIE BROWN FOR CHRISTMAS TO COCA-COLA FOR DECEMBER BROADCAST AT YOUR TERMS WITH OPTION ON SECOND SHOW FOR NEXT SPRING. GOOD GRIEF!‘”
The Show Almost Didn’t Air
As popular as the show is these days, this might be hard to believe, but the show almost didn’t make it on air.
“The network hated the idea of a religious message in a Christmas TV special. They hated that the special wasn’t non-stop action interrupted with gales of fake laughter (as if cartoons would actually have a live studio audience).
“They didn’t like the soundtrack, thought the kid voiceover actors sounded too much like children, and would rather have played a needle scratch than jazz music. Things got so bad that even the special’s producers and Charlie Schulz (not known for having a cheery outlook to begin with) thought the cartoon would be a critical and commercial bomb.
“In fact, everyone was thinking of simply scrapping the show altogether…except for Cocoa-Cola, who was the special’s main sponsor and was not about to let a half-hour of advertising not make it to air.“
Where Are the Coke Ads in the Show?
The ads for Coca-Cola have been removed from the special over the years, so you won’t see them when you watch it today.
So where were they in the original?
Ted Ryan says that the only Coca-Cola messages were “title slides telling viewers that the production was made possible by the support of the local bottlers around the country.”
Here is a video clip of the title slides mentioning Coca-Cola…
“Create content that your prospects and customers want — especially if it isn’t focused on your business: You must not only create great content, but you must also create content that your desired target group is craving and searching for. And this might seem counterintuitive, but the most powerful kind of content for you to create might actually be content that doesn’t directly focus on your business or industry at all.”
Do you want proof that it was content that marketed Coca-Cola effectively?
