Long story short, Robert and I believe that McDonald’s focused not on content with purpose, but on simply creating a video for YouTube. Michael Jr., an amazing comedian, was one of our keynotes for Content Marketing World 2016. He received the highest score for any keynote we’ve had over our six years doing Content Marketing World. To quote Michael Jr., “If you understand your why, you have a lot of options for what. But your why never changes.” For example, he says, “My why is to comedically inspire people to walk in purpose. The key is to understand why you are putting it out there and whether it connects with your why or just a why.” Michael Jr.’s words explain a lot about the state of content marketing right now. Or are you too busy jumping from ‘what’ to ‘what’ to even ask or answer that question?” Well, are you? Or are you jumping from article to podcast to video without truly understanding the purpose for creating it? Here’s what I ask of you: Right now, stop creating all the “whats” and really put some thought into your “why.” Find a “why” that has purpose for you as well as a deep purpose and meaning for your audience. Did you like Michael Jr’s message?
In our last PNR: This Old Marketing podcast, Robert Rose and I talked about the failed McDonald’s “Channel Us” YouTube campaign targeting Millennials. The 12-month program, which included nine films and integrated a few YouTube stars, didn’t do much of anything for the brand. Long story short, Robert and I believe that McDonald’s focused not on content with purpose, but on simply creating a video for YouTube.
In other words, McDonald’s focused on the “what” and not the “why.”
Now, I’m not picking on McDonald’s here. Many companies of all sizes, including ours, have made this mistake, and it’s important to look at why the failure happened.
I think my friend Michael Jr. has the answer. Michael Jr., an amazing comedian, was one of our keynotes for Content Marketing World 2016. He received the highest score for any keynote we’ve had over our six years doing Content Marketing World.
I want to talk about some aspects of his keynote; but first, as a preview, here’s a five-minute snippet that is well worth the watch. I urge you to do so when you have a free second.
To quote Michael Jr., “If you understand your why, you have a lot of options for what. But your why never changes.”
For example, he says, “My why is to comedically inspire people to walk in purpose. But my ‘what’ looks like doing stand-up comedy, writing more books, doing more TV shows, doing more touring… I have a lot of options for ‘what,’ but my ‘why’ doesn’t change. So if you understand your ‘what’ your ‘why’ has more impact. The key is to understand why you are putting it out there and whether it connects with your why or just a why.”
Michael Jr.’s words explain a lot about the state of content marketing right now. So many companies are creating articles and podcasts and social media posts; but is there a clear why behind the ‘what’ they are creating? Sadly, most businesses don’t have this. They just run to the ‘what’ first.
At the end of the keynote, Michael Jr. asks the audience, “What is your why? Or are you too busy jumping from ‘what’ to ‘what’ to even ask or answer that question?”
Well, are you? Do you know the “why” behind your content? Or are you jumping from article to podcast to video without truly understanding the purpose for creating it?
Here’s what I ask of you: Right now, stop creating all the “whats” and really put some thought into your “why.” Find a “why” that has purpose for you as well as a deep purpose and meaning for your audience. Once you find that, all the “whats” will easily present themselves.
Did you like Michael Jr’s message? What resonated most with you? Do you know of other inspiring and informative speakers? We’d love to hear what you have to say!
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