Dear Chase,
I write to you today with Mickey Mouse ears atop my head, and a stuffed Baby Yoda by my side.
I just got back from what I would consider one of the most magical weekends of my life.
A "friend" and I went to Disney World in Orlando, and I felt extremely out of place.
I was definitely the oldest person there that wasn't with a child.
However, I didn't go to Disney World for the normal reasons someone goes to Disney World.
I went to do some research.
Here's the thing:
Disney is my favorite brand that has ever existed.
I wanted to write an email as to why that is, and the only way for me to do this properly was to go there myself, as a journalist.
If you're curious as to exactly why Disney is so great, there are 3 lessons I took from it that I think your audience can apply to their own brand (or whatever they're building).
Here they are:
- Nostalgia.
I mentioned this point when I wrote an email about The Drake Effect about a year ago.
Drake has a chokehold on this generation (mine, not yours) because his music reminds you of a simpler, happier time.
Disney is the same.
We remember it from our childhood, and we're always trying to bring our childhood into our adulthood because we miss when things were easier and we had no bills to pay.
And when you think of a memory, it's difficult to distinguish them from dreams. Especially as you go further back.
Nostalgia creates a dream-like state, which feels a bit like magic.
If your brand hasn't existed for over a hundred years like Disney, that's fine. You don't need to wait until the year 2123 until you can make a splash like them.
But you can tie your brand to something that already holds nostalgia.
An example I like is the show "Stranger Things".
That show has only been around for 7 years, but it feels like the 80s. Because that's how they styled it.
If your brand has a certain demographic that they're selling to, sell something that reminds them of their childhood.
Doodle Dazzles is a brand that does this well. Google them and check them out if you're curious.
- Keeping Kayfabe.
Bit of an awkward word but lemme explain.
Disney never lets you peek behind the curtain.
They never break "kayfabe".
Kayfabe is actually a term that comes from professional wrestling (like the WWE) that describes how they never let you know how the sausage is made.
Once you step into the arena, the entire experience is for the customer.
Disney is so good at this that they actually make you think that the people inside the costumes are the real characters.
The princesses are actually princesses.
Spiderman is actually Spiderman.
The castles they built are actually castles, and it's not just an extra space to keep cleaning materials.
The real lesson here is that they have a brand identity that they never break, and they're extremely thorough with it.
I liken it to Nashville.
Nashville is obviously a real place, but it doesn't feel like it because everyone there acts like a cowboy.
Your servers, your Uber drivers, etc.
You feel like you're either in the Wild West or a country music video.
Everyone's putting on a show for you.
You can do the same with your brand.
Even Chic-Fil-A does this.
I've never seen an employee in a bad mood. They're a little bit like Disney characters.
Get creative and apply this to your brand however you wish.
- There's something for everyone.
I get it. I'm a grown-up.
I shouldn't be at Disney.
I was actually there for their Halloween festivities.
Halloween Horror Nights.
That's perfect for me, because I attended with a woman who scares easily, and I got to look like a superhero by being unfazed by zombies and mummies and ghosts and goblins.
But, if you're a 4-year-old girl reading this, maybe you wanna go to see princesses.
Or, if you're a 9-year-old boy reading this, you're there to see the Avengers.
Or, if you're a 40-year-old grown man reading this, you're also there to see princesses.
Everyone says "niche down", and I think that's good advice for new companies. B2B or B2C.
But, at some point, you don't want 1% market share. You want all of it.
How do you get all of it?
You create something for everyone.
Having some inclusiveness with your products makes it so that your brand can bring people together.
And I think that's a beautiful thing.
Hope these tips were helpful, Chase.
When I come and visit, let's bring your daughters to Disney.
It'd be fun for them, and it'd be educational for you.
Yours truly,
Alex.
Sent from my Robotic Thor Glove that I stole from the gift shop
P.S. If you're looking to hire best-in-class freelance copywriters, go here.
P.P.S. If you're looking to hire best-in-class freelance marketers, go here.
No comments:
Post a Comment