Why Twitter Marketing Is A Waste, Job Ads For Witches and a $400B Desert City  | Non-Obvious Insights #286

Dear Newsletterest,

You might have a deep reaction to some of the stories this week. In the ones I selected for you below, we'll talk about religion, parenting, rural schools and why Twitter marketing is a waste of money. Why are "Chicken Blood" parents the new tiger moms in China. Does Body Heat Power need a new brand? Should religion ever be described as a myth? What can anyone do to turn around the hopeless situation in rural schools? These are some of the questions that you will read in this week's newsletter. I'd love to hear what you think about any of them. Just hit reply to let me know.

Why Twitter Is A Stupid Place To Spend Your Marketing Dollars

Everyone on Twitter isn't stupid, but it certainly seems like all stupid people have something to say on Twitter. Nonetheless, according to one article from marketing pub The Drum, Twitter is in the midst of a "comeback as one of the most popular social channels." The problem is, the points made in the article are pretty shallow. Here's one of the flawed arguments: "Twitter has become a place to find breaking news before news stations publish anything." 

Twitter very rarely "breaks" news, unless you consider celebrity gossip or juvenile politicians and billionaires insulting one another to be news.

Instead, the vast majority of breaking news on Twitter is actually Twitter users linking to and sharing links to news stories with varying levels of credibility. The article is one-sided piece of content marketing written to encourage brands to increase their ad spending on Twitter. Unfortunately, it does so at the expense of real journalists who could actually use more brand support, such as struggling local news stations. For brands, a better priority would be to find a way to support the storytellers who are really creating news instead of the people lazily pushing a button to share it.

The Tragedy of America's Rural Schools

This week I read the story of a high school student in Mississippi about the same age as one of my boys. It was a sad story, filled with people trying to do good and failing at almost every turn. And the students that continued to suffer for it. The frustrating thing about reading this story was that it was hard to find a single thing or person to blame for it. As reporter Casey Parks shared one character after another at the heart of the failing school district of Holmes County, the futility of every well-intentioned effort hits you hard. People try. Then they fail. Then they leave. 

Along the way, the children who struggle either continue to struggle ... or they make it out, and then they leave. Or they come back, try to help, fail again, and leave again. So the cycle continues. The article and the situation it describes seems hopeless because it has been, even as each new generation continues to hope for something different. The story of how America has forgotten these rural kids is heartbreaking. And there doesn't seem to be a solution coming. For once, the title of the story wasn't hyperbole. The story of rural schools in America is indeed a tragedy.

Cameo's Most Bankable Star Might Surprise You

Last year for my wife's birthday I hired five of her favorite TV stars to wish her happy birthday in recorded video messages. The platform that enabled my gift for her was Cameo, a site that has grown exponentially over the past year and a half. Right now you can request short greetings for any occasion from your favorite musicians, actors and others directly on the platform. Someone, someone and someone are all available to book. As Cameo founder Steven Galanis recently revealed, one of the top earners on the platform who took home over $1 million dollars last year was no A-lister. It was actor Brian Baumgartner, best known for playing Kevin Malone on the hit TV show The Office. 

When asked about his popularity, Baumgartner credits his success to the fact that during the pandemic, "people wanted to make a connection. It's not really about me. I'm the person who gets two people together." That's some beautiful humility there, but I think his popularity is at least a little bit about him. I mean, the scene where he unsuccessfully brings his homemade chili into the office is probably one of the funniest acting I've ever seen. I wonder how much he would charge to recreate that on a Cameo?

Brazilian Artist Uses Trees As "Hair" For His Creations

Every city should have a budget specifically to pay for street artists to do what they do. It is a beautiful thing to walk through streets where walls or fences or traffic dividers are all covered in color. These creations can make the ugliest parts of an urban landscape something beautiful and human. Perhaps one of the most creative examples of that you'll ever see is the work of Brazilian artist Fabio Gomes Trindade, who uses the leaves of trees as "hair" for the women and children that he draws. It a beautiful non-obvious idea, and one that has helped his art go viral around the world. Architects and artists are always trying to find a way to achieve a harmony between their designs and the natural landscape around them. This art is a perfect example of both. 

Why Religion Should Never Be Called a "Myth"

The longer a religion has been around, the higher the probability that others may describe them not as beliefs but as "myths." We already talk about the ancient Greek religion this way. And some people put the Hindu Epics of The Mahabharata and The Ramayana in the same category. In this article, writer Neha Patel explores the difference between an "epic" and a "myth" and whether it matters how we describe them.

The problem, she shares, is that in our modern language the term "myth" often refers to something that is fiction. In fact, the dictionary defines a myth as "an unfounded or false notion." In contrast, a term like "legend" or even "epic" indicates that a story has basis in fact. If Biblical stories are not referred to as myths, then why are stories from Hinduism described that way? As Patel concludes, "I personally prefer to refer to them as Hindu epics. The term suggests a continuity of traditions that myths don't."

Glasgow Nightclub Uses Body Heat of Dancers To Power The Venue

To coincide with the COP26 Climate Change Summit, a Scottish nightclub is trailing a new system that can harness the body heat of dancers to power the venue and reduce it's carbon emissions. The system works by using small "boreholes" dug out underneath the dancefloor and across the venue. If it works, the applications of this could be amazing for many other situations beyond nightclubs such as gyms, train stations, playgrounds and more. Now we just need to create a name for this so it can be advocated for like solar power or wind energy. Bounce energy? Pedal power? Kinetic transfer? Now I'm pretty sure I'll be thinking about this all day ... 

Even More Non-Obvious Stories ... 

Every week I always curate more stories than I'm able to explore in detail. In case you're looking for some more reading this week, here are a few other stories that captured my attention ...
Join the Launch Team For My Book!

Beyond Diversity is coming on November 9th! The book features more than 200 voices and explores how to create a more inclusive world. You can be among the first to read an excerpt and request a digital or physical review copy by joining our Launch Team!

Join the Launch Team >>
How are these stories curated?
Every week I spend hours going through hundreds of stories in order to curate this email. Want to discuss how I could bring this thinking to your next event as a virtual speaker? Visit my speaking page to watch my new 2021 sizzle reel >>
Be Part Of Our Community ...
Join our LinkedIn Group for the Non-Obvious Nation to read stories and see the world a little differently. Join Now >>
Want to share? Here's the newsletter link:
https://mailchi.mp/nonobvious/286?e=f7921ac548
The Non-Obvious Insights Newsletter features this week's most underappreciated stories, curated for you. | View in browser
Copyright © 2021 Influential Marketing Group, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive weekly Non-Obvious Insights.

Our mailing address is:
Influential Marketing Group
1111 19th St. NW
Washington, DC 20036

Add us to your address book


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Older messages

Why Cash Isn't Dead, Yahoo's Meaningless Rebrand and How Dogs Know You're Teasing Them  | Non-Obvious Insights #285

Thursday, September 2, 2021

The most interesting and non-obvious stories of the week. Dear Newsletterest, The world is burning and flooding, which made it hard to focus on anything else in the stories this week ... but it was

Nirvana Album Cover Baby Sues Band, Potatoes With Human Fat Genes and the Most Epic Paralympic Sport | Non-Obvious Insights #284

Thursday, August 26, 2021

The most interesting and non-obvious stories of the week. Dear Newsletterest, The skies around me are filled with smoke this week as I sit in a Lake Tahoe hotel room preparing for an outdoor keynote

Remote Workers Secretly Work Two Jobs, Deepfake Movie Trailers and Big Trade Shows Require Vaccines | Non-Obvious Insights #283

Thursday, August 19, 2021

The most interesting and non-obvious stories of the week. Dear Newsletterest, Are you more productive working remotely? Probably not as productive as a handful of people who have figured out they can

Why Entrepreneurs Lie, Luxury Co-Working, Psychic Candy Bars and a Hopeful New Climate Report | Non-Obvious Insights #282

Friday, August 13, 2021

The most interesting and non-obvious stories of the week. Dear Newsletterest, I am back from a week on the road and getting ready for an exciting Fall season. Later this month I will be sharing lots

American Consumers Are A Nightmare, Black Algae T-Shirts and the Neuroscience of Eating | Non-Obvious Insights #281

Thursday, August 5, 2021

The most interesting and non-obvious stories of the week. Dear Newsletterest, I have been on the road traveling for live events this week for the first time in more than a year, and people are excited

You Might Also Like

Orders went up by 20%

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Today's hack Walmart's responsive redesign boosted their sales by 20% Wal-Mart Canada boosted their sales by 20%. Here is what they did: 1. Analyzed their audience. 2. Noticed that a big and

India feels the Baltimore blues

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Also in today's edition: Going green is costing the government; Tata's bucket lists ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

🔍 The Best Guide to Influencer Marketing Pt. 2

Thursday, March 28, 2024

March 27, 2024 | Read Online All Case Studies 🔍 Learn About Sponsorships Hey hey. Last week I sent part one of the influencer guide. Today we're hitting part two. It's a deep dive. So, I'm

Recap#1 of FMOps: key concepts, techniques, and resources

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Systematizing the knowledge about foundation models that are the backbone of generative AI ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Content that delivers reach and engagement…

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Today's Guide to the Marketing Jungle from Social Media Examiner... Presented by Social Media Marketing World logo It's Manatee Appreciation Day, Reader! Aren't sea cows the cutest? In

Jontay Porter, hilarious dummy

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Wed, March 27th, 2024 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

How to Get TONS of Traffic from Google Discover...

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Getting traffic from traditional SEO and Google is one way to get visitors to your website. But with all the algorithm updates, things are currently a bit uncertain. However, there's a lesser known

🤯[$110k] Remote Full Stack, Junior Developer, Freelance and more!

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

March 27, 2024 | Read Online 🤯[$110k] Remote Full Stack, Junior Developer, Freelance and more! fb tw in email Welcome to another CrackedDevs Daily, this time with some hot new jobs! 🚀 1. Web Developer

DOJ Indicts KuCoin for $9B Laundering

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Plus House GOP Questions Prometheum's SEC Approval ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Shopify Dispatch Issue #444 - Create a marketing strategy

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

​ Issue #444 - March 27th, 2024 How to Create a Marketing Strategy: 7 Steps Michael Keenan writes a guide for to getting started with a marketing strategy. Planning is great but more often than not,