How to Build a Creative Powerhouse with Melissa Rosenthal (ClickUp, Buzzfeed)
Jun 5, 2024
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Legendary creative leader Melissa Rosenthal shares insights on maximizing creativity in content creation, assembling diverse teams, embracing speed and experimentation, and leveraging emotional resonance. Highlights include Buzzfeed's impact on the content game, the importance of authenticity in marketing efforts, and crafting scroll-stopping ads at ClickUp. The conversation also touches on the challenges of maintaining creative freedom, agile video production strategies, and the value of unconventional creativity in sparking innovation.
Diverse backgrounds enhance creativity and rapid content production.
Speed and experimentation are vital for capturing viral moments.
Emotional resonance and relatability drive engagement and impact.
Deep dives
Evolution of Virality at BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed started as a small team experimenting with creating viral content, aiming to understand what resonated with different audiences on various platforms. They utilized insights from tracking content shares to identify trends and understand audience preferences. With the rise of Facebook, their approach shifted towards leveraging the platform's sharing dynamics to become a prominent source of viral content. This evolution led to BuzzFeed becoming a renowned hub for viral trends.
Culture of Creativity and Experimentation
BuzzFeed fostered a culture of creativity and experimentation where no idea was deemed bad. The team constantly generated, revised, and shot multiple pieces of content in a week, honing their skills in identifying resonant themes like nostalgia and emotional engagement. This creative environment empowered them to rapidly produce engaging content that aligned with evolving audience preferences.
Transitioning from Content Creation to Monetization
As Melissa's role at BuzzFeed evolved, she transitioned from content creation to monetization, spearheading a team dedicated to advertiser content. This shift involved leveraging viral concepts to create compelling content for brands while maintaining a balance between brand messaging and viral potential. Through campaigns like heartfelt nostalgia-focused content and self-deprecating humor, BuzzFeed successfully integrated brands into engaging narratives, setting a new standard for brand integration in creative digital content.
The importance of creative momentum in content creation
Measuring the ROI of content, such as videos, is crucial but focusing solely on metrics like engagement and business performance may not capture the full impact. Beyond ROI-driven metrics, considering shareability, resonance within communities like developers, and the long-term brand effects is vital. Creating content that stands out, generates conversation, and connects with the audience through innovative and engaging approaches is key to establishing a brand.
The significance of speed, conviction, and creativity endurance in the creative process
Maintaining speed in content creation to capture relevant moments and trends, along with having the conviction to stand by creative ideas, is essential for success. Endurance in the face of differing opinions and setbacks, coupled with the ability to rest, recharge, and draw inspiration from everyday experiences fosters a continuous flow of innovative ideas. Building a team aligned with a shared vision and collaborating with leaders who encourage creative freedom and rapid experimentation contributes to sustained creativity and impactful content generation.
Melissa Rosenthal is a legendary creative leader, brand builder, and keynote speaker.
She’s been named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Business Insider’s 30 Most Creative People Under 30, and one of Digiday’s “Changemakers”, to name a few of her many accolades. Not only is she one of the most creative minds in the industry, but she’s also the force behind the innovative content strategies at ClickUp, where she built an internal agency, and that team was comprised of nearly 80% of her former BuzzFeed employees.
In this episode, we’re diving into how to maximize your creativity in content creation, tips for building a killer internal creative team, and insider secrets for leveraging viral opportunities. Here are 3 key takeaways you can expect from our conversation:
Tips for assembling a team with a shared vision and diverse backgrounds to ignite creativity and rapid content production
Why you should embrace the power of speed and experimentation to stay relevant and capture viral moments
How to align your content with emotional resonance, relatability, and shareability to drive engagement and impact
Jump into the conversation:
(04:02) How did BuzzFeed change the content game?
(28:21) “You can’t force a meme.” - Creativity & Review Process
(32:39) Melissa’s Scroll-Stopping ClickUp Ads
(51:45) Speed + Relevancy = Great Content Marketing