The end of a year always brings best of / worst of lists. In what might make the list of most overused phrases of 2020, this was an unprecedented year. So this penultimate post for 2020 features 11 of the best of the best of lists for 2020. And yes, 11 feels a little random, but hey, it’s 2020. And some of these have nothing to do with marketing or strategy, but once again, it’s the 2020 list.
- From the Washington Post‘s list of 20 Good Things That Happened in 2020, “A record number of Americans turned out to vote in our national election, pandemic notwithstanding.” Americans wanted their voices to be heard – from protecting democracy to fighting for racial justice to much more.
- Also from the Washington Post, a baby panda was born at the National Zoo!
- Mailchimp gave away 31,706 custom domains to help businesses establish an online presence during the pandemic. This is one example of all the ways businesses supported one another – large and small.
- Kalaya taking home best new restaurant accolades from Esquire. Hometown pride because #goodthingshappeninPhiladelphia.
- Obama’s memoir, A Promised Land, landed on the New York Times best books of 2020 list. Plus, Obama’s speech for the Biden campaign at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia made CNN‘s year in pictures.
- Who knew how entertaining a person skateboarding and drinking cranberry juice while rocking out to Fleetwood Mac would be? Great viral moment from The Year on TikTok: Top 100.
- A lesson on how to recycle effective content was Jake from State Farm. The campaign remained memorable and funny, landing State Farm in the Ad Age 2020 Marketers of the Year. What are you wearing?
- In the entertainment world, Disney+ was the Users’ Choice App of 2020 according to Google Play. Disney+ also took home best Apple TV app honors. I wonder how many downloads were just for Hamilton.
- All of the virtual cast reunions as listed in Entertainment Tonight‘s Good News Stories That Brought Us Joy in 2020. I for one enjoyed the nostalgia and laughs that these and other reunions brought.
- Dolly Parton. From starting the social media personality meme listed in c|net‘s Best Memes of 2020 to helping fund the Moderna vaccine.
- José Andrés. Yes, he was named CEO of the Year by Washington Business Journal, but his name has become more synonymous with humanitarian relief efforts and addressing food insecurity.
In reading through all of these various lists, it’s clear there were a lot of good things and inspirational moments in 2020. Then again, hindsight is always 20/20. So let’s all remember to celebrate the big and small moments and to laugh out loud when something really funny happens in 2021 and beyond.
Kirwei Lo Consulting 