Image courtesy of David Beale @davidbeale
A few years ago, the New York Public Library ranked the top three Christmas carols:
3. Jingle Bells
2. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
And the winner…
1. Deck the Halls
Saying those three words probably makes you want to belt out, "Fa la la la la, la la la la!”
Christmas carols are a holiday staple, just like the spiked eggnog at Cousin Eddie’s house.
But have you ever thought about the connection between carols and marketing? They’re more similar than you think.
The 3 Connections Between Christmas Carols and Marketing
The first connection is language.
It all comes down to the language. Words move people.
Think about some of these Deck the Halls lyrics: "Strike the harp and join the chorus”; "Follow me in merry measure”; and "While I tell of Yuletide treasure.”
Those beautiful, stately phrases gussy up a simple melody.
It’s also true in marketing.
Consider Nike’s Just Do It; or Apple’s Think Different; or Disney’s Where Dreams Come True.
More recently, Arby’s enjoyed a wildly successful campaign using four words: We Have The Meats.
The right words inspire both the head and the heart (and sometimes the stomach).
The second connection is creativity.
The best carols stick in our heads because of symbolism and imagery.
One of the lyrics in Deck The Halls says, “Troll the ancient Yuletide carol.” No one talks like that, but it’s a creative way of saying, “Sing Christmas songs loudly!”
Creativity takes ordinary phrases and transforms them into something magical.
Likewise, thoughtful marketing connects a product to memorable images, colors, and messages. Connecting two unconnected things sparks new life and unique storytelling opportunities.
Think about McDonald’s. They connected a clown to their hamburgers — and the rest is Happy Meals history.
Instead of saying, “Eat our cheeseburgers!” their message implied, “Come see Ronald McDonald!”
Are clowns creepy? Sure, but that's a blog for another day.
The third connection is repetition.
Repetition is a device used heavily in songs, especially carols.
These simple structures allow choirs to quickly learn and memorize them. For singers, it’s a shared experience that creates a feeling of unity.
In marketing, repetition makes a brand or product familiar. People buy familiar things. That’s why it’s important to repeat a slogan or use consistent visual elements and color schemes.
Over time, repetition can build brand recognition, product loyalty, and a passionate community of fans.
For example, can you finish this line? “Melts in your mouth, _______________________”
How do you know it? Hint: M&M’s have repeated it for many years.
And yes, you’re welcome to stuff those yummy sugar rockets into my stocking.
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Schedule a call or email us.
The right message to the right people will grow your business. Then you can truly say, "Tis the season to be jolly!” Which is a lot better than, “Grandma got run over by a reindeer.”
About Me
Hey, I’m Brian, co-founder of Genie Jar Digital. Born a Tar Heel but now a Virginian, I’m a father of five and the husband of one amazing lady. My family has a thing for Golden Retrievers. Given the right circumstances, I can do a smooth moonwalk on a slick kitchen floor. I recently released a young adult novel called The Jungle Within.
