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Content Marketing Lessons From
Kevin Spacey
Don’t Let Your Content Marketing Strategy
Be a House of Cards
Kevin Spacey and content marketing? That seems like an unlikely pair,
but there is much that Mr. Spacey can teach us.
Enjoy this sage advice from Kevin Spacey and his characters we love
(and some we love to hate).
KS
“Over the years, I’ve been trying to build a relationship with an audience.
I’ve tried to maintain as much of a low profile as I could so that those
characters would emerge and their relationship with audiences
would be protected.” ~ Kevin Spacey
Lesson:
Focus on your audience’s needs and interests, not your own.
KS
“It’s okay. I wouldn’t remember me either.”
~ Lester Burnham, American Beauty
Lesson:
Too often marketers want to be as good as their competitors
rather than clearly different. If you want to be memorable,
you’re going to have to take some risks.
“Before you go out and change the world, you have to ask
yourself, ‘What do you really want?’”

~ Buddy Ackerman, Swimming with Sharks
Lesson:
Start your content efforts by creating a documented content marketing
strategy that includes audience personas, business goals,
and a plan for measuring results.
“You try to do the best work that you can do to give audiences something
that maybe they haven’t seen before and keep challenging yourself.”
~ Kevin Spacey
Lesson:
The best content marketers live in a state of mild anxiety and discomfort;
they’re trying to accomplish things that haven’t been done before.
KS
“Wanting people to listen, you can’t just tap them on the shoulder anymore.
You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you’ll notice
you’ve got their strict attention.”
~ John Doe, Seven
Lesson:
Create content that is so useful, valuable, or unique that your audience
can’t help but pay attention (i.e., Youtility).
“You can’t win a marathon without putting some bandaids on your nipples!”

~ Dave Harken, Horrible Bosses
Lesson:
Don’t expect your content to generate returns right away.
You need to make consistent, ongoing efforts. And never use the word
“nipples” in conversation. Likely not brand relevant.
“I feel it’s a responsibility for anyone who breaks through a certain ceiling...
to send the elevator back down and give others a helpful lift.”
~ Kevin Spacey
Lesson:
True thought leaders focus on guiding others,
not advancing their own interests.
KS
“If they can’t start a meeting without you, well, that’s a meeting worth
going to, isn’t it? And that’s the only kind of meeting you should ever
concern yourselves with.”
~ Buddy Ackerman, Swimming with Sharks

Lesson:
Choose content topics that allow you to lead the conversation and
distinguish your brand. Take time to find your brand story.
“You can’t purchase loyalty, Raymond. Not the sort I have in mind. If you
want to earn my loyalty then you have to offer yours in return. And if we
can agree to that, well, you’re a man with imagination…”
~ Francis Underwood, House of Cards
Lesson:
Your competition is not your direct competitors. It’s ANYTHING that
is taking your prospects’ attention. To put a spin on a Jay Baer quote: “Is
your content more interesting than my wife?”
“And now try to follow me, because I’m gonna be moving in a kind of
circular motion, so if you pay attention, there will be a point!”
~ Buddy Ackerman, Swimming with Sharks
Lesson:
You literally have seconds to capture your audience’s interest.
Don’t blow it.
Kevin Spacey will be Closing Keynote at
Content Marketing World 2014
September 8-11, 2014
Cleveland, OH, USA
 
Register today! Use code CMWSOCIAL for $100 off main
event and all-access passes
www.contentmarketingworld.com
#CMWorld
KS

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Content Marketing Lessons from Kevin Spacey - Don't Let Your Content Marketing Strategy be a House of Cards

  • 1. Content Marketing Lessons From Kevin Spacey Don’t Let Your Content Marketing Strategy Be a House of Cards
  • 2. Kevin Spacey and content marketing? That seems like an unlikely pair, but there is much that Mr. Spacey can teach us. Enjoy this sage advice from Kevin Spacey and his characters we love (and some we love to hate). KS
  • 3. “Over the years, I’ve been trying to build a relationship with an audience. I’ve tried to maintain as much of a low profile as I could so that those characters would emerge and their relationship with audiences would be protected.” ~ Kevin Spacey Lesson: Focus on your audience’s needs and interests, not your own. KS
  • 4. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t remember me either.” ~ Lester Burnham, American Beauty Lesson: Too often marketers want to be as good as their competitors rather than clearly different. If you want to be memorable, you’re going to have to take some risks.
  • 5. “Before you go out and change the world, you have to ask yourself, ‘What do you really want?’”
 ~ Buddy Ackerman, Swimming with Sharks Lesson: Start your content efforts by creating a documented content marketing strategy that includes audience personas, business goals, and a plan for measuring results.
  • 6. “You try to do the best work that you can do to give audiences something that maybe they haven’t seen before and keep challenging yourself.” ~ Kevin Spacey Lesson: The best content marketers live in a state of mild anxiety and discomfort; they’re trying to accomplish things that haven’t been done before. KS
  • 7. “Wanting people to listen, you can’t just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you’ll notice you’ve got their strict attention.”
~ John Doe, Seven Lesson: Create content that is so useful, valuable, or unique that your audience can’t help but pay attention (i.e., Youtility).
  • 8. “You can’t win a marathon without putting some bandaids on your nipples!”
 ~ Dave Harken, Horrible Bosses Lesson: Don’t expect your content to generate returns right away. You need to make consistent, ongoing efforts. And never use the word “nipples” in conversation. Likely not brand relevant.
  • 9. “I feel it’s a responsibility for anyone who breaks through a certain ceiling... to send the elevator back down and give others a helpful lift.” ~ Kevin Spacey Lesson: True thought leaders focus on guiding others, not advancing their own interests. KS
  • 10. “If they can’t start a meeting without you, well, that’s a meeting worth going to, isn’t it? And that’s the only kind of meeting you should ever concern yourselves with.”
~ Buddy Ackerman, Swimming with Sharks
 Lesson: Choose content topics that allow you to lead the conversation and distinguish your brand. Take time to find your brand story.
  • 11. “You can’t purchase loyalty, Raymond. Not the sort I have in mind. If you want to earn my loyalty then you have to offer yours in return. And if we can agree to that, well, you’re a man with imagination…” ~ Francis Underwood, House of Cards Lesson: Your competition is not your direct competitors. It’s ANYTHING that is taking your prospects’ attention. To put a spin on a Jay Baer quote: “Is your content more interesting than my wife?”
  • 12. “And now try to follow me, because I’m gonna be moving in a kind of circular motion, so if you pay attention, there will be a point!” ~ Buddy Ackerman, Swimming with Sharks Lesson: You literally have seconds to capture your audience’s interest. Don’t blow it.
  • 13. Kevin Spacey will be Closing Keynote at Content Marketing World 2014 September 8-11, 2014 Cleveland, OH, USA   Register today! Use code CMWSOCIAL for $100 off main event and all-access passes www.contentmarketingworld.com #CMWorld KS