Why the greedy no-good-niks–!!
And you know they’re just gonna go out and spend it on hay…
![Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/258/2589012/waylaid-in-a-manger-humor-utility-advertising-L-xZinof.jpeg)
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A little Christmas humor– and it inspired a few thoughts:
![Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/258/2589012/waylaid-in-a-manger-humor-utility-advertising-L-Qg_wsQ.jpeg)
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Humor springs from the unexpected. It’s mostly looking at something familiar from a different angle.
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You need to take the same approach to blogging, marketing, and copywriting– to creating any kind of content. Because it’s all been said, really.
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You have to find a different way to say it.
![Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/258/2589012/waylaid-in-a-manger-humor-utility-advertising-L-9JjLci.jpeg)
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It helps to think funny. Be weird, make jokes. Toss out ideas that would never work. You’ll be surprised how doing so will trigger new thoughts and ideas.
![Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/258/2589012/waylaid-in-a-manger-humor-utility-advertising-L-sE1HMN.jpeg)
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You’re probably reading this because you laughed at the cartoon. It put you in a good mood. You decided to keep reading.
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Humor does that. It helps people relax. They lower their shields and give you a chance.
![Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/258/2589012/waylaid-in-a-manger-humor-utility-advertising-L-RIVXJI.jpeg)
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I came across the following quote recently. It’s from Martin Boase, who founded a famous London ad agency. It refers to television advertising, but I think it’s true for all advertising, and all content marketing:
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If you’re going to invite yourself into someone’s living room for 30 seconds, you have a duty not to bore them or insult them by shouting at them.
On the other hand, if you can make them smile, or show them something interesting or enjoyable – if you’re a charming guest – then they might like you a bit better, and then they may be a little more likely to buy your product.
![Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising blank vertical space, 24 pixels high](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/258/2589012/waylaid-in-a-manger-humor-utility-advertising-L-ZkbkXV.jpeg)
So add some humor to your content. Humor opens up a channel called shared humanity. It’s about putting people at ease and making them feel welcome.
![Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/258/2589012/waylaid-in-a-manger-humor-utility-advertising-L-AQYpXH.jpeg)
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The above cartoon also triggered a funny memory:
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I once worked as a bank teller for about six months. An older guy came in one day to cash a check. There was a reference to the Screen Actors Guild on it.
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I asked him if he was an actor. He told me he’d been an extra on the old Phil Silvers Show (“Sergeant Bilko”) which ran from 1955-59. He was still getting an occasional royalty check because of syndicated reruns of the show.
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So like the ox and ass, we all have roles to play. The Nativity Story wouldn’t be the same without them.
![Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/258/2589012/waylaid-in-a-manger-humor-utility-advertising-L-9O2vmo.jpeg)
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The cartoon also made me think of utility, meaning, “the expected return on an investment.” Freelancers like myself incorporate utility into our fees.
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Have you ever wondered why some design agencies charge thousands of dollars for a logo? (OK, you might be able to buy a logo for $5 if you hire someone on Fiverr, but that’s not a serious investment.)
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Think about Nike’s famous “swoosh“– so simple!! Why should it be worth a lot of money?
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Utility. Think about how much use it gets. It’s everywhere and instantly recognizable. You’re paying for something that will be used over and over again.
![Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising Waylaid In A Manger: Humor, Utility & Advertising](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/258/2589012/waylaid-in-a-manger-humor-utility-advertising-L-7VY4zC.jpeg)
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