Mr. Skullhead’s brief interventions in Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures make up some of the most entertaining (and informative) cartoonage ever drawn. The segments consist of “Good Idea, Bad Idea” sketches that are just as applicable to content management, social media, and marketing in general. Like this one:
Good Idea: “Giving your dog a bath.”
Bad Idea: “Having your dog dry-cleaned.”
Applying the same principles as “Good Idea, Bad Idea,” here are a few examples we’ve thrown together for media strategists and content marketers.
Good Idea: Staying active on newsfeeds
There’s a fine line between posting on social media and overwhelming followers. Stick to a publishing schedule so your content surfaces when your market groups are active on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms. Mix up your posts by striking a balance between entertainment and information.
Bad Idea: Being actively fed to newsfeeds
The prospects of such a thing are daunting. Friends would be sharing you all over the place and would like every second of it. What would be worse? Being fed to a newsfeed and never being liked, shared, or even noticed.
Good Idea: Publishing content on a blog
Blogs are highly searchable, uniform, and easy to turn into a pseudo-homepage. Company-operated blogs should have everything from contact info and links to fresh content and easy media opportunities for quick shares and likes.
Bad Idea: Publishing content off a blog
Who would ever see it? No one. Most people stumble onto websites and avoid the “blog” section and are instead routed there through outside sources. Not only are blogs effective, they are easy to use and easy to share on social media.
Good Idea: Keeping your fans up to date
Use social media, blogs, and websites to inform your clients and followers. They follow you because they are interested — don’t let them down.
Bad Idea: Keeping your fans on a date
Sounds like a hostage situation. Put in marketing terms, this is when a media manager tries too hard to force one-on-one conversations. Don’t push too hard or else you might lose more than an existing follower.
Good Idea: Redesigning a website
Websites are an online marketer’s primary hub of activity. It’s where social media, content, and other assets come together. Building up an active website takes time and a bit of investment, of course, but it’s never too late to simplify navigation, cut down on slow-loading images, and write up some fresh content.
Bad Idea: Being redesigned by a website
Sounds like a self-replicating machine, though any website with the ability to redesign an actual person is a terrifying thought. Still, it would be nice to hit the “home” button and wind up on the front lawn.
Good Idea: Listening to your audience
Farm your followers, commenters, and business networks for content ideas. This creates more hype from a reader’s perspective and is a great way to break out of a slump. When in doubt, ask your fans on social media what they want to read about.
Bad Idea: Listening to the silence
What a dismal end for a content writer. Without monitoring the success of blogs, posts, and other assets, not to mention outright ignoring comments, a blog or media account has no chance of drawing in business.
Good Idea: Tweeting to be heard
Tweet away all you want as long as your 140-character messages are informative and entertaining. You can also use Twitter as a way to advertise deals, discounts, blogs, and new releases.
Bad Idea: Tweeting to be absurd
Nothing kills off Twitter followers like saying something arrogant or wrong. Avoid posting anything that is reaching too far (e.g. tying your craft business to a pop star) or controversial.
Good Idea: Asking for help
You have resources and need to use them. Only have 100 Facebook fans? Find out what others are doing and apply similar principles to your own campaign. As a side note, it is helpful to stay up with content trends by paying attention to popular blogs and marketing websites.
Bad Idea: Asking for help from yourself
What more can you say? You’ve extended the possibilities, are out of ideas, and no one is reading your blogs or sharing your content. Branch out.
And there it is, our short rundown on “Good Idea, Bad Idea: Marketing Edition.” There are countless little quips to consider, though like most successful marketers, we understand the golden rule of content: Too much is asking for trouble.
In closing, another favorite from Mr. Skullhead:
Good Idea: “Feeding stray kittens in the park.”
Bad Idea: “Feeding stray kittens in the park to a bear.”
Amanda E. Clark founded Grammar Chic in 2008. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holds degrees in Journalism, Political Science, and English. She launched Grammar Chic after freelancing for several years while simultaneously leading marketing and advertising initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies.