Khan Academy nails marketing—and your new Flashdance lifestyle

I recently started taking a certification course in digital marketing, and things were going pretty smoothly, until I had to write about a great digital marketing campaign.

Here's the problem: I hate most digital marketing. The last campaign that brought me unbridled joy was for a poop spray, and that was back in 2013.

I'd still totally wear that outfit, though.

I'm also a fan of the Dove Real Beauty Sketches, but that campaign's already been discussed to death. I needed something new, at least new to me.

"Astrid," I can already hear you asking, "if you're so bitter about digital marketing, why are you spending your free time and approximately a thousand post-tax dollars learning more about it?"

I've got a few reasons, based mostly on my personal experience:

• All marketers are expected to be digital gurus now. If you aren't, you're more expendable as an employee.
• Senior management are now more desperate than ever to have well-informed marketers to recommend digital strategies, since all things digital have gotten so overwhelming.
• Someone needs to make better digital marketing campaigns, I figure I might as well learn best practices and then try to improve the industry from the inside.

But I was still stuck with the problem of covering a decent marketing campaign. What do I write about? What active campaign resonates with me, and hasn't been covered ad nauseam yet?

Enter Khan Academy's #YouCanLearnAnything, suggested by one of my classmates. This ad only came out about a year after the Poo-Pourri spot, but Khan Academy still seems to be using the same video, slogan, and hashtag today. If you're looking for a rousing, Dead Poets Society / "Seize the day" message, watch this now. I'll wait.

I love the line, "Failure is another word for growth," cheesy as that sounds. I love the POV shots, so you can't help but empathize with each person as they crash and burn before finally triumphing. I love an ad that reminds us that we're part of something larger than ourselves, and the struggle to improve ourselves is part of a greater movement.

Best of all, this ad made me curious about the classes Khan Academy offers. They seem very heavy on the math and science, not that that's a bad thing, but it's not immediately applicable to me as someone who already has an MBA. However, I did find a treasure trove of classes under "Careers," including: Dance! And welding!

Be still, my Flashdance-loving heart.

Anyway, if you're looking to up your digital marketing game, or if you think your team might benefit from becoming digital marketing ninjas, check out the program I'm in: Udacity's Digital Marketing NanoDegree. I'm still in the first half of the course, so I can't give a fully-informed recommendation yet, but I can tell that I've gotten way savvier already. And my heart's a bit less crusty these days, thanks to exposure to heartwarming campaigns from around the world that I'd missed. I'd say it's worth it.

Of airships and mermaids

It all began when I stumbled upon Ralph Eugene Cahoon. See for yourself:



Mermaids! Sailors! Hot air balloons! Anarchy!

Love it.

So I went on a hot air balloon/airship/dirigible kick, and have dug up some more paintings and photos of these fabulous vehicles:









I love absolutely everything about hot air balloons et al, except actually going up in the air in one. I'd probably lose my lunch, since I've developed a fear of heights over the years. Oh, well. I'll just remain a wistful landlubber and keep collecting balloon-inspired art, I guess.

My Own Private Neuromancer VII

View part VI here.

Inadvertent lessons I've learned from movies

CITIZEN KANE
If you're dating someone with no singing talent, for goodness' sake don't encourage them.


THE GODFATHER
Don't go for a massage when you know a Mafia don is mad at you.


CASABLANCA
Pianos are very handy for hiding legal documents.


THE WIZARD OF OZ
Sometimes you have to put up with a lot of crap for a decent pair of shoes.


STAR WARS
There aren't very many women in space, dammit.


PSYCHO
Never trust a taxidermist.


2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
Cover your mouth when you speak in front of a computer.


SUNSET BLVD.
If you're an aging Hollywood star, don't wear a turban. It doesn't do you any favors.


THE GRADUATE
Don't waste your time trying out SCUBA gear in a swimming pool -- it'll be really, really boring.


CHINATOWN
Jack Nicholson was hot.


SOME LIKE IT HOT
Guys go for ukulele players.


E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
If you need to forge positive diplomatic relations with aliens, try candy.


TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Never walk through a dark forest dressed as a ham.


MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON
If you have to filibuster, bring sandwiches.


ANNIE HALL
If your significant other ever orders their deli sandwich on white bread with mayonnaise, you might as well break up with them immediately.


DR. STRANGELOVE
You have to maintain peace in the Pentagon's War Room.


THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Never trust your boyfriend's nanny, even if she was studying to be a nun.


THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
New boots are never classy.


IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
Be careful how you dunk your doughnuts. There's an art to this, apparently.


TAXI DRIVER
Mohawk + mirrored glasses = awesome.


NORTH BY NORTHWEST
Mount Rushmore offers a slightly better foothold than you might otherwise imagine.


JAWS
Don't swim in the ocean at night. Also, small-town mayors are twerps.


AMERICAN GRAFFITI
American teenagers are twerps. Also, boring.


A CLOCKWORK ORANGE
Men are not allowed to be furniture, only women are. Dammit.


THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
Don't let prisoners have posters.


THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
You don't need to moisturize cows to get supple leather from their hides, but human skin needs a lot more TLC before harvesting.


THE APARTMENT
In a pinch, a tennis racket may be used as a spaghetti strainer.


SWING TIME
Black face is socially acceptable if you're Fred Astaire.


PULP FICTION
Any time of day is a good time for pie.


BLADE RUNNER
In 2019, tortoises and turtles will be considered the same thing.


TITANIC
Rich people are boring, until they decide to hang out with poor people. Poor people are always interesting, resourceful, and good dancers, much like elves.

My Own Private Neuromancer VI

View Part V here.