And the marvelously funny Mrs. Maisel can be a source of inspiration to do just that. “People were asking for directions to a fallout shelter… you bombed.” Even though Midge is a funny woman, Susie reminds her that everyone bombs when they’re trying to perfect their act. In Midge’s case, all of her stories and jokes are inspired by her own personal life. When we do something that is self-deprecating, when we look vulnerable, and when we let our guard down a little bit that’s when we make a connection.” Another great part of using personal experiences is that you’re creating content based on personal knowledge, making it more authentic, credible, and genuine. Comedy in general, and especially in Midge’s case, is all about making fun of yourself. Finding Marvelous B2B Content Marketing Success If there’s one thing that this show is about, it is finding out who you are and what you have to say to the world. It’s imperative in the world of comedy and in B2B content marketing. But the steps towards doing that is the same for both: be unapologetically yourself, know your audience, poke fun at yourself, draw from personal experience, and find your unique voice. So, go forth and kill it, B2B content marketers. Want help nailing your content marketing set?
WARNING: This post contains spoilers for Season 1 of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” If you haven’t seen Season 1, please do so immediately. Oh, and read at your own risk.
The year is 1958. You’ve been an amazing wife. You’ve dedicated your entire life’s purpose to your husband—only to find out he’s leaving you for his secretary.
That is the situation that Miriam “Midge” Maisel finds herself in as the first season of Amazon Prime’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” kicks off.
However, her reaction is not what you’d expect from a “traditional” 1950’s housewife. While outside forces are pushing her to reconcile with her husband, Midge is firm in putting her own happiness first for once in her life. It’s this decision that leads her to a career (gasp!) in stand-up comedy.
This sets Midge on a mission to find her voice and achieve success on her own terms, something that all B2B content marketers can certainly identify with.
In today’s competitive landscape, B2B content marketers are experiencing more pressure than ever to establish an authoritative, authentic, and trustworthy voice that resonates with audiences, compels them to act, and ultimately drives results. And the marvelously funny Mrs. Maisel can be a source of inspiration to do just that. Let’s dive in.
#1 – You’ll bomb if you can’t relate to your audience.
Based on trailers for the show and Midge’s epic first performance, you’d think her newfound comedic talents will take her right to the top. But the reality is that Midge goes on to bomb quite a few of her sets.
In the episode “Doink,” she faces a diverse audience and struggles to tell jokes that resonate with the crowd. Midge’s initial reaction? “What is wrong with these people?”
Her manager, Susie Meyerson, is quick to correct her.
“Another comic was up there an hour ago. He killed. Same audience,” Susie boldly states. “People were asking for directions to a fallout shelter… you bombed.”
Even though Midge is a funny woman, Susie reminds her that everyone bombs when they’re trying to perfect their act. Susie also warns her that next time she needs to prepare her set and not rely on spontaneity.
For B2B marketers, this should resonate on multiple levels. Nailing the “resonance factor” right away is a longshot, and that’s OK—but you need to learn from it. With careful planning, as well as collecting and internalizing insights as you go, you’ll be able to refine, optimize, and personalize.
Today, personalization is par for the course, and just like a good comedy set, your content needs to be tailored for your B2B target audience—an audience that isn’t just made up of potential business buyers, but everyday consumers, too.
Packaged messaging intended for the masses makes it harder for you to make a genuine connection with the audience you’re trying to reach. Similarly, you can’t just pull a good, relatable story out of thin air. It needs to be carefully crafted for the people you want to attract and engage.
Packaged messaging intended for the masses makes it harder for you to make a genuine connection with the audience you’re trying to reach. – @annieleuman #B2B #ContentMarketing Click To Tweet
#2 – You are your best story.
Comedic timing and a natural knack for humor are not what makes a comedian funny. It’s his or her ability to use humor in a way that makes a personal connection with their audience. And there’s no better way to do that than using their own experiences — experiences that their audience can identify with.
In Midge’s case, all of her stories and jokes are inspired by her own personal life. Whether it’s joking about her husband leaving her, or her parents’ obsession with being the perfect Jewish family, Midge always uses her own experiences to influence her stand-up.
If you’re all…
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