Source: Wikipedia

At $4.2 million for thirty seconds of exposure, the purchase of a Super Bowl ad spot during face off XLIX was "the most expensive advertising choice a brand can make", according to Nasdaq.

You better believe the athletes weren't the only ones prepared to go big or go home. Companies shelling out that kind of change, this year and historically, brought their A-game to ensure their ads stood out from the rest. They're great case studies for creating memorable content.

I guess, basically, what I'm getting at here is that we marketers can really count time watching the Superbowl as professional development.

Seriously.

In fact, in case you've missed the array of learning opportunities offered by this year's game, here are some study tools.

I should specify: Lessons besides not to attempt a touchdown pass 36 inches from the endzone on the second down in the final seconds of the Super Bowl... Yes I'm still a little salty. But will the unexpected ending make it a game to remember? Probably.

So last week we featured a piece titled Secrets to Creating Memorable Content. I really hope you don't need a refresher if you read it, because that would be embarrassing...

But in case you didn't get to it in the heat of your big-game preparations, we discussed the theories in a book called Moonwalking with Einstein. In it, Joshua Foer discusses memory tricks such as associating things you don't want to forget with shocking or absurd images in your mind. We elaborated that marketers can use this technique in their work. Anything out of the ordinary, or things that evoke strong emotion and can be tied back to memory triggers in everyday life will do, really.

Below, I'm going to highlight how the very best ads of Superbowl XLIX used these memory tricks to wiggle their way deep into your brain and how content marketers can emulate them.

Snickers' Brady Bunch Spoof

• Memory-Triggering Aspect(s): The ridiculous idea that Marcia and Jan could transform into these alter-egos from hunger, within the iconic setting of the Brady household
• Application to Memorable Content Marketing: This combination is a prime example of building a brand foundation on top of your existing neural connections and positive memories, with just enough absurdity sprinkled in to solidify your memory and facilitate talking social recaps. To capitalize on this in your own work, leverage shared experiences and positive affect-examples with humor.

Mountain Dew KickStart "Come Alive"

• Memory-Triggering Aspect(s): Just plain absurdity, really.
• Application to Content Marketing: Even though the whole "tab pop, chug, dance" spiel seems to be overdone in beverage commercials, this ad is effective because the characters are unexpected. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, just put your own spin on it (no pun intended). If you see a technique that works, don't be hesitant to repurpose it.

Nationwide Was a Real Debbie Downer

• Memory-Triggering Aspect(s): The unexpectedly negative turn of events, and extreme emotional trigger playing on a large portion of the audience's greatest fears.
• Application to Content Marketing: I don't necessarily endorse Nationwide's doom and gloom approach here, but if watching a Super Bowl ad actually saves some kid's life because her parents watched her a bit more closely... good for them. But while parents were frozen in fear, it made their subconscious association of Nationwide with safety a little more likely. Short of exploiting parents' darkest nightmares, capitalizing on how your brand can prevent less personal pain points is a good idea.

Finally, while we're on the topic of sports, I suggest you check out this recent post by our very own Carson Reider on Sports Marketing's Biggest Obstacle.

You can find a comprehensive list of Superbowl 2015 ads courtesy of AdAge here.

What do you think about how companies used these techniques of creating memorable content this year? I'm sure if you watched the game (and commercials) you can elaborate. I want to hear if anything in particular stood out to you, in the comments, please. What's one ad you'll never forget?