Creative Marketing: What We Can Learn from a Crazy Idea About Instagram’s Terms & Conditions

At Hustle Sunday, we pride ourselves on uncovering innovative and inspiring ideas. One of our daily habits involves browsing platforms like Twitter and Reddit to discover unique stories, business concepts, or case studies worth exploring. Some days we strike gold, and some days we don’t. This week? Jackpot.

Let me take you through it.

The Discovery

It was a regular Monday at the Hustle Sunday, and the team was diving deep into their research. Suddenly, someone stumbled across a peculiar website:

zzZuckerberg.com

Curious? We were too. The site essentially plays Instagram’s terms and conditions in audio format to help people fall asleep. Yes, you read that right—terms and conditions AS a sleep aid!

Crazy, right? Even for us—a company that thrives on unconventional ideas—this one felt completely out of this world.

But the discovery didn’t stop there. Naturally, the next question we asked ourselves was, “How do they make money from this?”

The Real Business Behind the Idea

Turns out, they don’t. The website isn’t a direct revenue stream; it’s a clever marketing tool for their real business:

TLDR.Legal

TLDR.Legal connects students with graphic design gigs tailored to the legal industry. While this isn’t a fully automated service—it’s more like a curated gallery—it’s still a niche and interesting business.

But here’s the thing: we’re not talking about them today because of their primary business.

Instead, it’s their marketing approach that has us impressed.

Breaking Away from the Marketing Mold

Marketing often falls into the same tired patterns:

• Bragging about services.

• Listing features.

• Claiming to be "the best."

yawn.

TLDR.Legal took a different approach by creating something fun, creative, and memorable. The Instagram T&C sleep site is not just attention-grabbing—it leads by example. They don’t just tell people they’re creative; they show it.

This strategy made us reflect on the power of non-traditional marketing. It’s a game-changer for building trust and standing out.

Why This Type of Marketing Works

So, why does this kind of marketing hit harder than regular ads? Here’s why:

1. It’s Different: People remember the unusual. A website that helps you sleep by narrating legal jargon? Unforgettable.

2. It’s Proof-Driven: Instead of saying, “We’re creative,” they demonstrate it in a way that leaves no doubt.

Now, imagine applying this principle in a business pitch.

Reinventing the Pitch

Let’s say two people are pitching a website design to a dentist.

• Person A says:
  Hi Dr. X, we’re a web design agency, and we’d love to create a beautiful website for you. Interested?

• Person B takes a different approach:
  Hi Dr. X, we’ve created a mock website for your dental practice. Here’s the link. We’d love your feedback. If you like it, we can discuss further.

Which approach do you think has a higher chance of success? Obviously, Person B.

Let’s tweak this approach further for maximum impact:

Hi Dr. X,

I created a sample website for your practice with a focus on A, B, and C. I noticed your current site doesn’t highlight these aspects, so I thought it’d be fun to try something fresh. Feel free to check it out and share your feedback—I’d genuinely appreciate it.

If it aligns with what you’re looking for, I’d love to chat further. No strings attached!

Why This Works

This pitch feels less like a sales attempt and more like a genuine offer to add value. By showcasing work upfront and inviting feedback, you’re doing three critical things:

• Building trust: It’s clear you’ve put effort into understanding the client’s needs.

• Displaying creativity: Your work speaks for itself.

• Inviting collaboration: By asking for feedback, you’re involving them in the process.

Takeaway: Think Outside the Marketing Box

The story of zzZuckerberg.com and TLDR.Legal offers a valuable lesson: You don’t have to stick to boring marketing strategies. Whether you’re selling a product, pitching a service, or sharing your work, creativity is the ultimate differentiator.

Here are a few ways to reimagine your marketing approach:

1. Create for Fun: Make something cool or quirky, like a humorous website or a viral video, to showcase your talents indirectly.

2. Lead with Value: Show, don’t tell. Demonstrate what you can do instead of just claiming to be good at it.

3. Be Bold: Don’t be afraid to take risks and stand out. Traditional marketing won’t grab attention the way bold, out-of-the-box ideas will.

Brainstorm Your Next Bold Move

Let’s think about how you can market differently:

• Instead of saying “we’re the best,” show how you’re unique through an engaging project or example.

• Instead of sticking to templates, tailor your approach to each client or audience.

• Instead of playing it safe, embrace the unusual.

Wrapping Up

The creative marketing strategies of TLDR.Legal remind us of the importance of breaking away from the norm. From helping people sleep with Instagram’s terms & conditions to connecting students with niche graphic design gigs, their ideas demonstrate that the best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing at all.

So, what’s stopping you from trying something new? The next time you’re planning your strategy, channel a little bit of zzZuckerberg energy and think, “What would grab attention in a memorable, creative way?”

After all, boring marketing is so last year. Let’s redefine the game together.