The Marketer’s Storybook: December 24, 2024
From Marketing Insights to Holiday Magic: Trends, Stories, and Festive Inspiration
Happy Holidays, Storytellers! 🎄
Thank you for the incredible response to my first newsletter – I’m thrilled to share that over 500 people have subscribed since its launch!
This week, I’m publishing from a cold and snowy New England, where I’m home for the holidays after a wonderful birthday celebration in London. To spread some festive cheer, I’m sharing my carefully curated Spotify playlist, A Very Gioglio Christmas. Created in 2015 and lovingly updated every year, it’s a 6 hour+ journey through 100+ Christmas classics. 🎶 Listen to A Very Gioglio Christmas
Now, let’s dive into the stories making waves in marketing this week – and the takeaways you can apply to your brand storytelling.
This Week’s Marketing Stories
A curated mix of marketing insights and trends, each with a key takeaway to turn news into action. Posted in alphabetical order.
1. 1-800-ChatGPT Brings AI to Phone and WhatsApp: OpenAI launched an experimental service to interact with ChatGPT via calls or WhatsApp. Please write me if you have any funny phone or WhatsApp conversations with ChatGPT. I’m so curious!
Key takeaway: Lowering barriers boosts adoption. Accessibility matters when introducing innovative tools. Read more
2. 2024’s Most Overhyped Marketing Trends, According to CMOs: Celebrity endorsements without authenticity and shallow brand activism were among the flops of 2024.
Key takeaway: Authenticity and substance win. Align your strategies with genuine connections and values. Read more
3. Advent Calendars: A Holiday Win for Brands: Brands like Burger King and Chanel used Advent calendars to drive customer excitement and social engagement. Sidebar: If you ever wondered what to get me for my December birthday next year, I would LOVE an advent calendar – just sayin’!
Key takeaway: Rituals build loyalty. Advent calendars offer an opportunity for daily positive interactions to keep your customers connected to your brand. Read more
4. Duolingo’s Squid Game Tie-In: Duolingo and Netflix’s breakaway hit series Squid Game teamed up with the bold “Learn Korean or Else” campaign featuring their mascot, Duo. While the music video is a bit long, it’s very fun and very in line with Duolingo’s marketing and storytelling vibe.
Key takeaway: Tapping into pop culture creates buzz. Leverage cultural moments like Duolingo to stay relevant. Read more
5. Kleenex’s Breakup Calculator with Amazon: A playful microsite https://www.kleenexbreakup.com/ offered breakup timelines and product recommendations.
Key takeaway: Humor heals (well maybe not at first, but eventually!). Creative problem-solving makes brands relatable in tough moments. Read more
6. LinkedIn’s AI Ad Tool “Accelerate” Expands: Targeting B2B marketers and companies, LinkedIn has introduced AI-driven tools to simplify campaign creation. Disclosure: I haven’t tested this yet but I would love to!
Key takeaway: We’re all looking for AI tools to create efficiencies – file this under one to watch. Read more
7. Nike Reinvests in Brand Building: Nike is shifting from performance marketing to brand storytelling and sports partnerships.
Key takeaway: Nike isn’t the only company to over invest in performance at the detriment of its brand. While there’s always a place for performance marketing, my opinion is that it’s not one versus the other – the magic is in investing in a mix of both. Read more
8. Pepsi’s Gingerbread Flavor Starring Shaq: I love Shaq and this parody baking show promoting the brand’s holiday Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread Mini Cans is equal parts cute and corny.
Key takeaway: Fun resonates. Entertain audiences to create shareable brand moments. Embracing the star power of a celebrity like Shaq doesn’t hurt either if budgets permit. Read more
9. Social Media and the Search for Narratives in a Crisis: The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson sparked a flood of social media reactions, from speculation about the suspect’s motives to heated debates about the healthcare industry. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, left a complex digital trail that defied clear ideological categorization, fueling further discourse. Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas condemned the alarming celebratory rhetoric surrounding the incident, highlighting the dangers of narratives of hate and anti-government sentiment.
Key takeaway: This tragic event underscores the internet’s tendency to fill information gaps with speculation and the broader societal implications of such behavior. Read more from The Atlantic and USA Today.
10. The End of Hashtags? Instagram Signals Change While Elon Trolls: Instagram has retired its hashtag following feature, shifting its focus toward engagement and algorithmic discovery. Meanwhile, Elon Musk declared hashtags unnecessary, emphasizing their diminishing role in social media. These moves highlight a shift away from mass visibility to prioritizing relevance and meaningful engagement.
Key takeaway: With hashtags diminishing in relevance, engagement and keywords – in text and video – continue to help social media platforms serve up the right content to the right people. Read more about Instagram and Elon Musk’s stance
11. The Remarkable Story Behind Off-White’s Debut Golf Collection: The brand launched its golf line thanks to a clever collaboration between Paris Hilinski and Virgil Abloh. What makes the story remarkable is how the collaboration started with Hilinski making her own DIY Off-White golf merch. Instead of ignoring it or sending over a trademark claim, Abloh offered to help her make more until they could make the collection official.
Key takeaway: Creators matter. Most brands are too stuck in their ways or inflexible. The start of this collaboration shows why you should bend the “rules” and co-create when a good opportunity presents itself. Read more
12. TikTok’s Supreme Court Battle
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is fighting a U.S. law that could force a ban on the app unless sold to a non-Chinese entity by January 19. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, citing potential First Amendment violations. Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, despite opposing the ban, met TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the platform’s future, highlighting the app’s impact on young voters.
Key takeaway: Crisis handling shapes perception – but what happens next is anyone’s guess. Can Trump prevent a TikTok ban? Read more and here
13. Vodafone Celebrates 40 Years of Connections: A nostalgic Christmas brand storytelling campaign highlighted the evolution of phones over four decades. Spoiler alert: I loved seeing the old Nokia phones in this campaign.
Key takeaway: Nostalgia works. Celebrate milestones to deepen emotional ties with your audience. Read more
14. Wendy’s Spicy Ornament with a QR Twist: Wendy’s unhinged persona embraced the holidays, pairing a quirky ornament which insulted users while offering a free sandwich redemption via QR code.
Key takeaway: Bold campaigns stand out – but they need to be aligned with your brand. Wendy’s use of a limited edition ornament that spouted Christmas insults is perfectly aligned with the company’s savage social media personality. Read more
Super Useful Links
What Happens on the Internet Every Minute (2024 Version):
Looking to wow your audience (or yourself) with data? These two resources showcase fascinating insights into internet activity every minute. They’re perfect for crafting pitches or prepping for speaking engagements!
My Stories: Getting Into The Festive Spirit
This week, I published a walking tour of Christmas at Kew Gardens in London. It’s a magical 3km (just under 2 miles) journey filled with stunning light installations and festive music.
✨ Watch the video here: Christmas at Kew Gardens Walking Tour
If you’re subscribed to my YouTube channel, keep an eye out tomorrow for a second version without narration—just the sights and sounds of Christmas to immerse yourself in the experience. I’ll include it in next week’s newsletter!
Unlock More of My Stories
🌍 Website: JessicaGioglio.com
Your one-stop shop for all my books, speaking engagements, and blog posts on marketing and storytelling.
📚 Books:
- The Power of Visual Storytelling: Learn how to shape a visual story around your brand using images, videos, GIFs, infographics, and more. Get your copy here.
- The Laws of Brand Storytelling: The definitive guide to using storytelling to win over customers’ hearts, minds, and loyalty. Grab it here.
📱 Social Media:
Let’s connect and keep the conversation going!
Until Next Time
Thank you for reading The Marketer’s Storybook. Whether you’re here for the latest marketing news or a touch of inspiration, I’m thrilled you’ve joined me.
Got feedback, ideas, or a story to share? Hit reply – I’d love to hear from you.
Keep telling the stories that matter,
Jessica