Ep #20: Marketing insights from Lord of the Rings
Fri Jan 30 2026
Zach just rewatched the extended edition of The Fellowship of the Ring in theaters for its 25th anniversary — and came back with a full notebook of marketing, branding, and design lessons straight from Middle-earth.
Join Nick Loudon, Corey Haines, and Zach Stevens as they break down timeless principles from Peter Jackson’s masterpiece and show how they apply to building better brands, writing stronger copy, and designing more compelling websites.
Whether you’re a Tolkien nerd or just love great marketing, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can steal for your own work.
Timestamps:00:00 - Intro & why we’re talking LOTR00:29 - The power of deep world-building01:18 - Zach’s theater experience + extended edition realizations04:19 - Lesson 1: More context = more belief & investment09:38 - Lesson 2: Abstract vs. literal shots (visual rhythm in design)13:56 - Lesson 3: Contrast without red (better than red Xs)17:24 - Lesson 4 & 5: Introduce your villain early + repeating villain theme24:17 - Lesson 7: Differentiation through cultural context (Gondor vs. Rohan vs. Elves vs. Dwarves vs. Hobbits)27:53 - Lesson 6: Great brands aren’t created — they’re stolen (Tolkien’s real-world inspirations)30:38 - What franchise should we break down next? (Dune, Breaking Bad, etc.)31:27 - Outro
If you enjoyed this, hit that LIKE button, drop a comment with your favorite LOTR marketing takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more breakdowns of storytelling, copywriting, design, and branding.
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The Factory Floor is hosted by the three co-founders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth, marketing, and tech trends. Episodes are released on Twitter one day early, @coreyhainesco
Every other week Corey, Zach, and Nick break down what’s working right now in SaaS marketing, share real-world lessons from the field, and give you the strategies you need to outpace the competition.
Don't fall behind. Subscribe. Like. Drop a comment. Or not. The ball is in your court.
You can also listen to the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify
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Zach just rewatched the extended edition of The Fellowship of the Ring in theaters for its 25th anniversary — and came back with a full notebook of marketing, branding, and design lessons straight from Middle-earth. Join Nick Loudon, Corey Haines, and Zach Stevens as they break down timeless principles from Peter Jackson’s masterpiece and show how they apply to building better brands, writing stronger copy, and designing more compelling websites. Whether you’re a Tolkien nerd or just love great marketing, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can steal for your own work. Timestamps:00:00 - Intro & why we’re talking LOTR00:29 - The power of deep world-building01:18 - Zach’s theater experience + extended edition realizations04:19 - Lesson 1: More context = more belief & investment09:38 - Lesson 2: Abstract vs. literal shots (visual rhythm in design)13:56 - Lesson 3: Contrast without red (better than red Xs)17:24 - Lesson 4 & 5: Introduce your villain early + repeating villain theme24:17 - Lesson 7: Differentiation through cultural context (Gondor vs. Rohan vs. Elves vs. Dwarves vs. Hobbits)27:53 - Lesson 6: Great brands aren’t created — they’re stolen (Tolkien’s real-world inspirations)30:38 - What franchise should we break down next? (Dune, Breaking Bad, etc.)31:27 - Outro If you enjoyed this, hit that LIKE button, drop a comment with your favorite LOTR marketing takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more breakdowns of storytelling, copywriting, design, and branding. ... The Factory Floor is hosted by the three co-founders of Conversion Factory, the marketing agency at the forefront of SaaS growth, marketing, and tech trends. Episodes are released on Twitter one day early, @coreyhainesco Every other week Corey, Zach, and Nick break down what’s working right now in SaaS marketing, share real-world lessons from the field, and give you the strategies you need to outpace the competition. Don't fall behind. Subscribe. Like. Drop a comment. Or not. The ball is in your court. You can also listen to the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify