Copywriting Ideas From Home Alone

"Kevin!!!!"

Many of us can still hear in our head the voice of Catherine O'hara and, the picture the look of horror on her face when she realizes belatedly - very belatedly - that they left their 10-year old child Kevin alone in their spacious mansion alone. On Christmas eve.

Like many eventual commercial successes, Home Alone started as a ho-hum production - at Warner Bros. studios - but production was shut down after its budget went over its limits. In came 20th Century Fox - and boy, were they the lucky winners! You can imagine the WB executives (and some notable film critics) grinding their teeth as Home Alone stayed atop the US box office charts week after week after week [side note: I recommend watching he Netflix series The movies That Made Us, one episode concerning the production of Home Alone. Highly informative and entertaining, with interviews of cast members and producers]. It's been recgonized as one of the best Christmas movies ever, and registered in the National Library of Congress for preservation for its "cultiral, historical and aesthetical significance."

As its success (and that of its sequel) showed, Home Alone resonated with millions of people. So what copywriting ideas from Home Alone can we extract? Let's ring the doorbell of the MacCallister's and find out (just look out for that swining iron)...

Ideas can come from anywhere:

The idea for Home Alone came to the late film director John Hughes when he was planning a vacation and he was thinking, "better not forget my kid." Then he mused: "What would happen if I left my 10 year-old kid at home?" (accidentally, of course...). Lesson? "What would happen" or "What if I were in the shoes of [user/customer] are always good questions to ask before, or even during, the creative process.

"Boy, that MacDonald's AI ad really sucks, don't it?"

First choices are not always what ends up in the final product:

Robert De Niro was the director's first choice for the role of Harry, but he turned it down. Instead, it was taken by...Joe Pesci (a Christmas Mafia movie connection!). Just to show that not always the first choice - of anything - ends up published. Things are dynamic.

Always leave room for improvisation:

Actor John Candy spent one day on the set, taking part in the movie as a favor for John Hughes. In return, he was allowed to improvise all his lines - Always have room for improvisation.

Trivia is a great source for engaging content:

Did you know that Joe Pesci's character, Harry Lime, was named after the Orson Wells character in The Third Man? Probably not....And probably a lot of users. Which makes this - and other Home Alone anecdotes excellent trivia items for your content.

"There are 15 people in this house, and you're the only one who has to make trouble."

Supposing yours is a product/service in a crowed market. How can you make it stand out? There are dozens of products that can do...but only one that can...

"Shut it Marv!" "Go back!" "What are you scared Marv, you afraid?"

There's always room to improvise - like these lines were (you wouldn't know it if I hadn't mentioned it, right?)

"I made my family disappear!"

What's more attention grabbing than an image of a family member under that header? (Also useful as an email subject line)

"A lovely cheese pizza. Just for me."

If you're promoting a donut brand, would you sell it as "this donut - just for you!" Or "this delectable, scrumptious donut - just for you!"

"Barfolomiu? I'm afraid you're mistaking me with someone else..."

"This is my house. I have to defend it."

Customer may have a roach problem. Customer isn't that cetain what to get, if to get, if it's worth spending the money. Give the user a creative reason to open your email, click on your CTA, download your PDF, or leave their email.

"How can you give Kris Kringle a parking ticket on Christmes eve? What next, rabis shot for the Easter Bunny?"

When writing a piece of content during the holiday season, add some festive touches, such as: BREAKING: SANTA'S REINDREERS GO ON STRIKE or What B2B companies can learn from Elves?

"Nobody throws bricks at me and gets away with it!"

During holiday season, customers expect sales, or discount coupons via emails. But what if they don't? "Nobody offers me no discounts and gets away with it!"

"Keep the change, ya filthy animal!"

While I wouldn't use 'ya filthy animal' when you're trying to attract users or potential customers, using noir-style language can be a refreshing change.

"Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner, and the people who sold it on sale. Amen."

"Ma'am, I'm eight years Old. You think I would be here alone? I don't think so."

Sometimes, pointing the obvious is the most direct way to send a message. But you want to do it in a creative way, such as: 'Would you leave your kids at home with a box of Entemman's chocolate chip cookies? Of course not. You'd buy an extra one and put away for yourself.'

"This house is so full of people it makes me sick. When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone."

Re: "Don't you sometimes find your house/office so full of people it makes you [fill in the blank]? With the XYZ app, you can do it all by yourself!"

Receiving last-minute email revisions suggestions like...

"You can be too old for a lot of things, but you're never too old to be afraid."

And...

"Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back."

Believe it or not, poignancy works also sarcasm-free - especially during the end-of-the-year holidays. In this case, "you're never to old to....start something new/forgive/embrace/learn/travel."

"Harry, it's our calling card! All the great ones leave their marks. We're the wet bandits!"

Re: 'All the great ones leave their mark...what's yours?'

See you at the New Year's campaign...