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Modern Christmas Was Invented by a Copywriter

by Mark Pescetti
12 replies
I'm always stunned by the power of Christmas... from a marketing perspective.

Very few marketing campaigns have successfully made millions of silly Americans feel utterly obligated to participate in a singular shopping event.

After all...

If you don't go buy presents for your family and friends, you're a scrooge.

Simply Brilliant.

Much of the accepted modern ideas about Christmas were spawned from a poem written by Clement Clarke Moore calledA Visit From Saint Nicholas (a.k.a. [FONT=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]"The Night Before Christmas.")

This one piece of copywriting history persuaded companies (like Coca Cola) and even the United States government to get on the St. Nick bandwagon.

They used the likeness of Santa Clause to push an American ideal (and sell some stuff too.)

It worked.

Now Christmas is the most profitable time of the year for retail stores EVERYWHERE.

And parents all over the country protect the story of Santa Clause like it's the bible or something.

Oh wait, the story of how Christmas became about the bible, Christianity and Jesus is a whole other marketing campaign...

...Sorry...

Anyway...

My question to you (the person reading this who desperately wants to attract more customers and clients) is:

How can you fabricate an idea or ideal (whether it's based on another myth or completely made up) that captures people's imaginations and makes them feel like it's WRONG for not participating in what you offer?

Come on now...

...That's what the spirit of Christmas is all about!

Mark

P.S. I'm sitting here drinking egg nog, listening to Bing Crosby (White Christmas) and eating gingerbread cookies. I'm a sellout just like everyone else... but at least I know it! Silly Americans indeed...

P.P.S. http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tu...r-on-christmas
#christmas #copywriter #invented #modern
  • Profile picture of the author Doceye
    And all this time I thought little baby Jeebus invented Christmas.

    Figures a fellow copywhore did the deed.

    Doc

    P.S. Oh ... peace to all, and to all a good night.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
    Banned
    If I hear Christmas mentioned one more bloomin' time, I'm going to ruddy scream.

    Christmas this, Christmas that, Christmas bloomin' something else, Merry blinkin' Christmas.

    All it is is a major bloody interference which gets bang in the way of putting in some useful work.

    You'll have to pardon me, I'm in a right grumbly old mood today. Nobody to celebrate Christmas with (as usual). All the bloody family are JW's, you know, those infuriating bloody Sunday morning doorknockers. And if that's not bad enough...

    ...today was my son's 18th birthday and my ex wife, she's gone awol yet again. Found out she sold the house on August 5th and now the telephone is as dead as a doornail too.

    Goodness knows where they are. This is about the 5th time she's done one of her classic disappearing acts.

    Roll on the new year, that's all I've got to say.

    Sorry for being an old grouchbag. But...

    ...I do hope the rest of you have a lovely day on Sunday.

    Me? I'll just carry on working to keep my mind off it all. Not even a drop of alcohol in the house.

    Hey! In what year did Christmas Day and New Years day come in the same year?

    Chin chin!


    Mark Andrews
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    • Profile picture of the author Doceye
      Mark,

      At the risk of suffering another infernal infraction, I believe the absence of ethanol may be exactly why you are where you are.

      I don't recommend rushing out and buying any of that sweet cr*p that proliferates this time of year. Go straight for a bottle of single malt that'll make your wallet squeek with terror.

      Apply liberally (but not overly so) and you'll awaken tomorrow all warm and fuzzy.

      Or some approximation of that.

      Doc
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    • Profile picture of the author Pusateri
      Originally Posted by Mark Andrews View Post

      If I hear Christmas mentioned one more bloomin' time, I'm going to ruddy scream.

      Christmas this, Christmas that, Christmas bloomin' something else, Merry blinkin' Christmas.

      All it is is a major bloody interference which gets bang in the way of putting in some useful work.
      Is this an intentional paraphrase of Dickens? You even invoked the doornail!

      Tonight you will be visited by three spirits.
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      • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Doceye View Post

        Go straight for a bottle of single malt that'll make your wallet squeek with terror.

        Apply liberally (but not overly so) and you'll awaken tomorrow all warm and fuzzy.

        Or some approximation of that.

        Doc
        Whiskey? Y'rrrRR'Ack! Disgusting stuff. Russian vodka maybe or Greek ouzo definitely but no thanks to the whiskey. Awful stuff. Dreadful.

        I've not drunk a drop of alcohol since the beginning of September, I'm not starting now either.

        Stuff that malarkey.

        Why drink when you can work instead? That's the only drug I'm addicted to these days. And this I'll carry on doing, right through Christmas Day.

        It's either that or the bloody JW family thrusting the blinkin' Watchtower and Awake! down my lug holes.

        Grrrrr...

        Originally Posted by Pusateri View Post

        Tonight you will be visited by three spirits.
        As long as they're hot women I don't mind, they're more than welcome.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
    Banned
    Usually I write as I think Ken, albeit I have to watch it because often I'll drop into the local lingo which hmmm, well, is a bit on the iffy side at the best of times.

    Adult content only, bad language possible although hellishly funny, one of our local comedians - viewer discretion strongly advised...

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    • Profile picture of the author Steve The Copywriter
      Hey Mark,

      Christmas is not for everyone.

      It's 8.45am in the UK and before it all starts I want to finish off some work.

      And then it'll all kick in (lol).

      Some love it, others are more than happy to let it go.

      Best bet - just have a good day.


      Steve
      Signature
      http://www.warriorforum.com/warriors...right-now.html
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      • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Steve Copywriter View Post

        Best bet - just have a good day.


        Steve
        Yeah triffic. Cosmic. Mark replies drily.

        Lovely day. :rolleyes:

        Thanks Steve, I feel so much better now.

        Mark grins stuffing a banana in his mouth and looks at the tantalising mug of hot tea beside him with not even a mince pie in sight.

        I hope this bloody van goes through the MOT on Wednesday. That's my biggest worry today. Garage want friggin £54 per hour to put it right should it fail. And with a king pin gone on the front NS, that'll be another £200 bill right there plus the retest fee of £54 for a Class IV not to mention what else needs doing.

        This country does my bloody head in. As fast as money comes in all it ever seems to do is to go off again in a never ending ream of bills. Where's the pleasure in that when you're working your butt off 100 hours per week year in, year out?

        Sooner I get out of here, the better.

        Oh well... 2012 will be my year. And (***) to everyone else.

        Chin chin!


        Mark Andrews
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        • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
          Originally Posted by Mark Andrews View Post

          This country does my bloody head in. As fast as money comes in all it ever seems to do is to go off again in a never ending ream of bills. Where's the pleasure in that when you're working your butt off 100 hours per week year in, year out?
          Mark, do yourself a favor and stop focusing on getting clients.

          That's not where the money and true fulfillment is!

          Start putting your unique assets and knowledge to work and create some passive income products.

          Cause I'll tell you what...

          If I didn't have a steady (and even increasing) stream of income coming from my ebooks and JV's, I'd be in a position to take on clients that aren't in harmony with with me and my copywriting approach.

          I'm currently working on two more ebooks and hope to launch them by summer time.

          The bottom line is...

          (and this goes for anyone!)

          ...Create as many viable, valuable products as you can (or feel inspired to) and open yourself up to receiving what I call mailbox money.

          It's great to wake up in the morning and send off some download links to people who paid you while you were sleeping.

          Where can you apply your awareness' and position a product (ebook, copywriting learning kit, tshirts, etc.) and position yourself to make massive amounts of money?

          Take a look at one of my new products (coming soon!)
          Signature

          Do you want a 9 figure copywriter and biz owner to Write With You? I'll work with you, on zoom, to help write your copy or client copy... while you learn from one of the few copywriters to legit hit 9 figures in gross sales! Discover More

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          • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
            Banned
            You're completely spot on Mark.

            Trouble is with me, I start putting an eBook together or some other product, work at it hell for leather with a desire to deliver the best quality possible, get halfway through it and then start reading back what I've got down and just think to myself... what a load of bloody cobblers.

            I'm never satisfied with the stuff I produce. I've got countless products here I've started on but to date, call me stupid, I've never brought one of them to market. Even though the information I've shared with one or two other top copywriters and their feedback given to me has been excellent.

            I guess I just take my knowledge for granted and can't see the value myself in whacking a price onto it and charging for my expertise.

            If anything, I'm as guilty as anyone suffering from information overload. I'm addicted to taking on more and more knowledge so the second I start writing something, well, one subject naturally leads into another and before I know it, I've got 300 pages written down explaining every possible step in great detail all the while striving to keep it all as simple as possible, so even the layman in the street can understand what I'm trying to teach and/or convey.

            Fact is, I'm my own worst enemy. I'm a perfectionist, never satisfied with what I can bring to the table. It annoys me no end. But then I look at some of the crap out there which other people are charging for and by all accounts doing pretty well too in terms of sales coming in and well, I despair at my own lack of finally getting one product completely finished.

            I just cannot abide by selling crap like so many others seem to take pride in delivering. For me it has to be all about over delivering the highest value possible. If I'm not doing this, if I'm not able to accomplish my own lofty ideal, well, you get the picture.

            Perhaps if I limit myself to a set number of words, that could work.

            Thanks for the healthy kick up the backside mate. You're completely right of course.


            Mark Andrews
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