This book on screenwriting snuck into marketing circles for a reason. Save The Cat! by Blake Snyder breaks stories into 11 archetypes and shows exactly what makes audiences care. Marketers can steal these same storytelling tricks for ads, emails, and brand campaigns.
Marketing Analysis
The cover sells the promise instantly: a cat literally hanging on for dear life. It’s visual tension and empathy in one shot. The rope hints at danger, the cat grabs attention, and the title tells you there’s a hero worth saving.
Why It Works
- Grabs emotion before logic
- Uses a single strong image to tell an entire story
- Clear benefit: “The last book on screenwriting you’ll ever need”
- Relatable symbol (who doesn’t root for the cat?)
Examples
- Apple’s “Think Different” campaign: emotional story first, product second
- Airbnb’s “Belong Anywhere”: taps into universal human emotion
- Dollar Shave Club’s viral video: character-driven story, not just features