Here's a quick "reversal" that will let you come up with killer Pre-Launch Content Fast
Recent, maddening conversation I had with a potential launch client (Facts have been changed to protect . . . nobody. But facts are kind of boring for a blog intro so let’s be light and funny instead. We’ll get to the “meat” in a second) . . .
Me: “Um, what are these videos you emailed to me?”
Him: “Those are our pre-launch content.”
Me: “These are your pre launch content?”
Him: “Yeah.”
Me: “Uhh. . . but it’s just video of you wearing funny superhero boxer shorts and screaming the lyrics to ‘Thriller’ in Spanish. On a pogo stick.’”
Him: “I know, awesome, right!”
Me: “Not awesome. Bouncy and strange and sexually exciting. But not awesome. Your prelaunch content is supposed to SHOCK AND AWE your market and prime the pump for the sale.”
Him: “This is shocking.”
Me: “Wrong kind of shocking.”
Him: “But you’re in awe.”
Me: “I’ve never seen anyone do that with a pogo stick. I never WANTED to see anyone do that with a pogo stick. I mean . . . where does the handle go?”
Him: “What handle? Anyway, what do I do instead?”
Me: “Great question. Read after the jump to find out. (Super sneaky launch-content creation trick.)
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Yoda knew more about marketing than he was letting on.
You remember Yoda back in Empire Strikes back?
(You know the GOOD Star Wars movie back before big George Lucas decided to make Darth Vader all emo).
In “Empire,” Yoda rides Luke around Dogabah like a whiny pony and teaches him the ways of the force . . .
Near the end of his training, Yoda tells Luke to use the force to raise his sunken Starfighter out of the swamp so he can fly off and get his hand cut off by his Dad.
Luke looks at the multi-ton X-Wing, glances at Yoda with a “you’re nuts” look on his face and (already anticipating defeat) says “OK, I’ll try.”
Which prompts Yoda to utter one of the greatest bits of pop philosophy of the last 50 years (and one of the most quoted lines in movie history.) He says . . .
Do or do not. There is no try.”
Which is great for a couple of reasons.
1. It’s one of the coolest bits of “Pop Philosophy” of the last 50 years (and makes you wonder what happened to Lucas when he started writing the downright-horrible sequels).
2. Hidden in that sage statement is some REALLY good advice for marketers and persuaders of all stripes . . . and some cool little copywriting advice that can subtly shift even “tough” prospects from tire-kicker to eager buyer in just a few little sentences.
Here’s why . . .
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Do you want a MAN or do you want a Puppy?
I got bored at the office yesterday and decided to kill a little time surfing the Craigslist personals (which are almost always HILARIOUS).
I was pretty saddened by what I saw so I wrote up this “advice article” and posted it for the girls to see. Got a LOT of positive feedback so I figured you guys might get a kick out of it too. =-)
Hey ladies,
I’ve spent the last hour skimming through a bunch of the “W4M” ads here on Craigslist and, honestly, have been a little freaked out by what I’ve found . . .
Why?
Because as far as I can tell, most of the women on here aren’t looking for “men” or even “guys” but actually want puppies.
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