It’s not always easy to create persuasive content that can stand out in today’s saturated market. And while this struggle is universal among copywriters and businesses worldwide, we at Presscart suggest looking to renowned music producer Rick Rubin for inspiration.

Throughout his 40-year career, Rubin has honed a distinctive production style that he applies to artists of all genres, refining and enhancing their vision with his own personal touch. In doing so, he’s played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of artists like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Run-DMC, helping them sell millions of albums.

While it might seem strange to turn to a music producer for writing and marketing advice, we believe professionals of all disciplines can benefit from examining his work. It’s why we’ve encouraged our writing team to apply Rubin’s wisdom in their work, helping them create some of our best content that carries a unique, interesting voice.

Without further ado, here’s how you can use Rick Rubin’s approach to improve your content marketing strategy.

Show Your Enthusiasm

“The best work is the work you are excited about.” — Rick Rubin

When Rick Rubin first entered the music industry, immersed himself in a specific niche that fascinated him: the burgeoning New York hip-hop scene. He found this subgenre very inspiring and would eventually contribute to its global expansion over the years.

In a similar way, you need to surround yourself with a team that shows real interest in your brand and mission. If everyone around you is just as excited about your product or service as you are, you ensure that your passion permeates every aspect of your company and shows itself to your target audience. 

This is especially true when it comes to content creation. Your marketing team (including writers, designers, strategists, etc.) must be enthusiastic about their work and committed to capturing the essence of your business in creative ways. This eagerness will bleed through your content, making it more engaging and compelling for potential customers.

Remember: enthusiasm is contagious. By expressing your vision and passion through your content, you inspire your audience to engage with your brand on a deeper level, strengthening its position as a leader in its field.

Feel Free to Break the Rules

“Temporary rules may be useful to break a pattern. They can challenge you to become better, to innovate, and to bring out a new side of yourself or your work.” — Rick Rubin

One of Rubin’s greatest ideas — fusing rap and rock with Run-DMC and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” may sound simple now — but at the time, it was a groundbreaking achievement that introduced both artists to wider audiences.

This is a prime example of how essential it is to try new things to keep your content engaging and appealing to new demographics — even if it means breaking long-respected “rules.”

For example, SEO is often seen as king in the realm of content marketing. “If it’s not optimized for search, it’s a waste of time and resources,” you’ll hear many say. And while search engine optimization can go a long way toward getting you exposure, it’s an obsession that cripples creativity and hinders innovation. Especially as Google increasingly rewards useful content and places less emphasis on keyword-rich blogs and landing pages, prioritizing quality over optimization will become more important.

At Presscart, for example, we make sure we include relevant keywords in our writing, and we use best practices like bullet points and headers for scannability. However, our primary focus is on creating interesting, high-quality writing that inspires and sells.

Get to the Point

“There's a tremendous power in using the least amount of information to get a point across.” — Rick Rubin

Rubin is known for his stripped-down, minimalist production approach — famously summarized by his credit on LL Cool J’s album Radio: “Reduced by Rick Rubin.”

What Rubin suggests with this method is simple, and it’s what we always tell our writers: less is more. In a world where attention spans are shorter than ever, stripping your content down to its bare essence can make your brand messaging more impactful and memorable.

With this in mind, make sure your marketing team applies a rigorous editing process to refine your campaigns and make them tight. Instruct your writers to use clear, straightforward language that emphasizes your company’s values, avoiding complex jargon and pointless repetition. Work with your designers to create clean and simple visuals that draw your audience’s attention without overwhelming them.

Once you’ve focused on your key ideas and stripped away all the excess, what remains should be the core of your brand’s message — enhanced by your content.

Unlock Your Brand’s Vision

Rick Rubin’s straightforward mindset and willingness to embrace new techniques have made him a prominent, influential figure in the music industry. Our team at Presscart has followed his example to create top-tier content, which is why we believe that adopting his approach can enrich your brand and expose it to new audiences.