Scary Good Marketing Lessons from "Stranger Things"

With Halloween right around the corner, we couldn’t imagine a better time to dive into how the spooky Netflix hit Stranger Things can teach you a thing or two about content marketing.

1. Throw It Back

Stranger Things is littered with retro influences, inserting careful nods to the past through music and wardrobe selection. The show builds on 80s nostalgia to connect with its audience.

While you might cringe to think about more dated content, it’s important to look back at what connected with users in the past. After all, you just might be able to repurpose that old blog into a new piece of relatable content to reach a wider audience. You can remix successful articles into an email nurturing campaign or a webinar topic. 

2. Switch Up Your Perspective

In Stranger Things, several residents of Hawkins, Indiana disappear and find themselves in the Upside Down. One of the most remarkable (dare I say strange?) things about the Upside Down is it isn’t a distant place at all. In fact, it’s the same Hawkins – just a different version.

Don’t worry, we aren’t suggesting you fall through a portal into a dark, goo-filled alternate reality. However, the ability to see things differently is a powerful tool for all facets of your business, not just content marketing. Learning to turn things upside down may offer an unexpected perspective.

Use our guide to calculate the state of your marketing in 2018.

To start changing your POV, you need distance. Start by evaluating your overall efforts. Take a few steps back to consider what’s worked for your content marketing, and what you can start doing differently.

3. Be True to Yourself

The reason behind Stranger Things’ popularity is the familiar references for its viewing audience. From the set design to Barb’s haircut, the show’s dedication to authenticity never wavers, and it is stronger for it.

Just like the 80s references, your company’s values have not changed. However, your ability to adapt them to current trends will resonate with your audience, helping you stay relevant. Consistently weave your values into your content, and users will pay attention.

Watching Stranger Things is not only a fun way to pass the time, but it is also a great reminder that in pop culture and content marketing, everything old can be new again.