Great Marketing is a Joke

Marketing Shenanigans (#026)

What’s the secret to great marketing? Think of it like telling a joke. But not just any joke—a great one. Stick with me here.

Why Great Marketing is Like a Killer Joke

When you tell a killer joke, here’s what happens:

• Step 1: People laugh. Instant connection. You feel like a rockstar.

• Step 2: If it’s really good, they pass it on. They share it with someone else.

• Step 3: That person gets the same reaction, and the cycle repeats. Suddenly, it’s not just your joke—it’s theirs, too.

That’s exactly how great marketing works. A simple, sharable story that makes people feel something and compels them to pass it along.

But here’s where most people get it wrong: They overcomplicate it. They’re busy chasing “viral formulas” or downloading yet another eBook about “growth hacks.” Meanwhile, they forget to ask the one question that really matters:

What do people actually want to share?

The 3 Ingredients of Shareable Marketing

Great marketing—like a great joke—has three key ingredients:

1️⃣ A story that’s easy to follow. Nobody’s memorizing your five-slide blockchain analogy. Keep it simple and clear.

2️⃣ A punchline that lands. The best ideas stick. They resonate. They’re the kind of thing someone wants to repeat because it makes them look smart, funny, or interesting.

3️⃣ Timing that’s spot on. You wouldn’t tell a joke at a funeral (hopefully). Same goes for bad ad placement or launching at the wrong moment. Timing matters.

Stop Overcomplicating It

Think less like a “marketer” and more like a storyteller. Ask yourself:

• Does my campaign have a clear story?

• Is there a moment people will want to share?

• Am I showing up at the right time and place?

If your marketing feels like a joke people can’t wait to tell their friends, you’ll never have to force virality. It’ll happen naturally.

TL;DR: Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated. Start simple, and watch what happens

Stay bold,

Teddy

Teddy Giard

In case you don’t already know, my name is Teddy, and I operate a firm that specializes in marketing strategies for outdoor brands. Our approach is simple: align your product development timeline with your marketing production timeline; by doing so, we can own the distribution of our message and our products.

If you’d like to explore working together, feel free to fill out this form, and if we’re a good fit, we can schedule a discovery call. We ask this because we keep a fairly narrow target for whom we work, and we like to be as open about that on the front end as possible. After all, time is life’s most valuable resource.