WTF Does Mindy Kaling Know About Content Marketing?

Content Marketing World, the premier event for content marketers, always has many sought after guests. This year, the keynote will be given by actress and writer Mindy Kaling. Mindy has built a super successful career and is obviously a funny and smart woman. But WTF does she know about content marketing?

I’ve asked this question before when Hollywood stars have shown up at content marketing events. Mark Hamill was a past keynote speaker (Cough, cough. He mentioned me on stage. Uh-hm. No big deal.) John Cleese, came to Cleveland too. He loved it. William Shatner was there. And more.

And, I’ve usually come to the conclusion that these non-marketers actually have a lot to offer. Their experiences have translated well to content marketing because an actor, just like your company, is a brand that has the need to attract audiences and keep them coming back.

What Can We Expect from Mindy?

Back to Mindy and what she might bring to the conference. In her book Why Not Me, she said, “The truth is, it’s hard to get people to like you, but it’s even harder to keep people liking you.” Ain’t that the truth?

That statement absolutely applies to content marketing. Content marketers often struggle with the likability factor. You want your content to mean a lot of things to a lot of people. You want it to be genuine and attract attention.

However, once you have an audience member hooked, how do you keep them coming back so that they become not only a customer but a loyal one. Mindy has to keep her fans interested as well, and in show business, it’s the most competitive game out there.

Hopefully, she’ll share some insights on how she stays likable and how you can use her wisdom to energize your content marketing.

Mindy’s No Wallflower

Another great quality that Mindy brings to the world of content is not being shy about feelings. Her character on The Mindy Project often took the leap without looking and was never hesitant about letting someone know about her interests and that’d she do whatever it takes to make it work.

Translated to marketing, this could be called being obsessed with your customers and always having their perspective in mind when you develop content. Your content should be customer-centric, digging into their pain points or challenges.

And you have to be prepared for your audience to change their mind. Thus, you have to ensure you understand where they are, in that moment, and that your content is moving them toward your company as the solution. Data and analytics are a must here to check the pulse of your efforts regularly.

Mindy Wrote Her Own Ticket to Success

Mindy made her own way. In her book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? she said, “Write your own part. It is the only way I’ve gotten anywhere. It is much harder work, but sometimes you have to take destiny into your own hands.”

Mindy didn’t fit the bill of the typical girl next door or leading lady. She’s unique, and probably a lot of casting directors didn’t think audiences would appreciate her. They were wrong. Mindy had been behind the scenes for years as a writer before she began to write her own roles.

She knew no one was going to lead her into success. She had to take matters into her own hands. She took a chance on herself.

And you should, too. Content marketing is a changing game. You can rest on the success of what worked six months ago or you can keep evolving your vision. It’s time to be fearless.

When you check fear at the door, you’re going to be more likely to step outside your comfort zone and create something exceptional. It doesn’t mean you won’t fail or make mistakes. You can’t hit a home run every time. But by pushing boundaries and testing new ideas, you can enhance your content marketing and possibly see some substantial results.

I think Mindy probably knows more about content marketing than we might think. I don’t have an inside look at what her session will be about or what concepts she’ll weave in, but I think it will be an energizing talk that we’ll all come away from with inspiration and ideas.

PS – Mindy. If you’re reading this. Hit me up on Twitter. I can give you some tips. 😉

If you’re attending, please consider joining me at Content Marketing World 2019 for a half-day workshop called Content Marketing 101: Setting and Documenting Your Strategy and Building Your Team.

In this session, we’ll talk about the difference between content and content marketing as well as how to run a content workshop for your team. Additionally, we’ll cover why you want your employees involved in content.

Register today and save $100 on your general conference fee with code “BRENNER19.”