Marketing and storytelling go together like green eggs and ham. The author of over 60 children’s books, Theodore Seuss Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss) shaped millions of childhoods around the globe. But is there something in his work that’s relevant to us in the business world? We think so. Here’s a list of lessons marketers can take from Dr. Seuss’s books:

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” (Horton Hears a Who)

It doesn’t matter if your customer is an “A” customer or a “D” customer, it is important to value and nurture each and every one. With the right approach, “D” customers can turn into “A” customers.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” (Oh, the Places You’ll Go!)

Your company is unique and there is nobody like you. Your marketing messages should reflect your corporate differential and unique selling proposition. Be yourself.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” (I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!)

The sign of a true professional is that they are always learning. To gain a competitive edge, read, participate in webinars and listen to podcasts. Just 15 minutes a day of continual learning can multiply your marketing effectiveness in no time.

“Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest. Except when you don’t. Because, sometimes, you won’t.” (Oh, The Places You’ll Go!)

Try as we might, not every marketing initiative will succeed. It’s important to remember that failure provides the opportunity to evaluate, learn, refine and try again.

“If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.” (One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish)

Marketing doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it shouldn’t be. To be effective, messaging should convey information in an engaging and interesting way. To keep content customer-centric, solicit suggestions from customers, internal stakeholders and members of your target market.

“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” (How Did It Get So Late So Soon?)

No matter how well we plan, time slips away and tasks fall through the cracks. Schedule time for marketing and then keep that appointment. Create a calendar of initiatives and break tasks down into monthly, weekly and daily assignments to stay on track.

“I like green eggs and ham! I like them Sam I Am!” (Green Eggs and Ham)

The moral of Green Eggs and Ham is to try new things; you might like them. Successful marketers are constantly experimenting with new tactics. Launch an initiative once or twice and measure the response. Tweak and improve upon it until it generates the results you seek.

Could you? Should you?

Children’s books have a magical ability to draw readers in time and time again. Additionally, their simplicity is something kids and adults can relate to and appreciate. Wouldn’t it be amazing if your content did the same thing? With a little forethought and creativity, you can tap into Dr. Seuss’ genius and apply his lessons to reinforce your branding, engage your target markets, and experiment with messaging that delights your audiences. To learn more about how to apply Dr. Seuss’ lessons to achieve your marketing goals, contact Trade Press Services today.