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5 Innovative Brands Display an Unexpected Approach to Content and Storytelling
In a time when brands are constantly upping the innovation ante, the element of surprise goes a long way in delighting customers. From hidden listings to debut novels and gaming experiences, learn how these five companies are differentiating themselves through clever content and storytelling initiatives.
Connect with KFC’s Founder on LinkedIn
KFC’s founder Colonel Harland Sanders may have been born in 1890, but that hasn’t stopped him from embracing modern technology to create a robust LinkedIn profile. In the Colonel’s LinkedIn Summary, he shares his story, modestly admitting to doing “a whole mess of jobs poorly” until age 65 when he “finally found the thing I could do better than anyone in the world: cook fried chicken.” The profile also details descriptions of all the jobs the Colonel has held in his impressive 115+ year career, including “Goat-milker,” “Student of the Law,” and “Band Leader.”
What’s unique about this effort is that it’s hard to find any notable brand personalities or mascots on the platform. KFC’s founder is a core part of the company’s brand persona and marketing efforts, and LinkedIn offers a unique opportunity to tell the story of his background and accomplishments, even if it’s in a more humorous way.
Tip: If you are a Founder or work for a business with a founder, make sure they tell their story on their LinkedIn profile!
In order to raise awareness for the his profile, the Colonel also took to Facebook, encouraging fans to endorse him “for any one of my plethora of skills.”
Purchase Walter White’s House on Craigslist with Century 21
With millions of viewers awaiting the Breaking Bad series finale, Century 21 took a surprising approach by putting character Walter White’s house on Craigslist. The company advertised the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house for $150,000 and snuck in insider plot details, like a “secret crawl space great fun for kids.” The listing even included a working phone number for interested parties. Within 24 hours, the effort was covered in numerous…
