We get questions from people all of the time looking for the best way to market themselves. They want to know the right strategy and tactics to developing great sales and marketing funnels, going viral, getting a higher ROI... the list goes on. Well, there is, in fact, a root ideology that we believe strongly impacts all of these things:
Be uniquely YOU and the rest will follow.
It's easier to market yourself if what your marketing is true to who you are and what you are passionate about. And if what you create resonates with you, it's more likely to resonate with others. Why is this? Because marketing is about humans reaching humans. Nothing reaches us more deeply than things that resonate with us.
Marketing at Magnolia
Right now, Joanna Gaines and Magnolia are trending for a beautiful sign they have in their store lobby that encompasses the theme they're going for this Spring season:
I don't know about you. But when I saw this picture, it took my breath away. It resonated with me on a deep level. This image prompted me to dig a little deeper. I found myself watching behind-the-scenes videos of their ideating and creating in preparation for their Spring season. As I watched, I felt like I connected with their vision and grew to appreciate the heart behind what they were doing.
You want to guess what I did next?
Obviously, I bought some things. I wanted to bring a piece of what I felt in that moment to my home.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is marketing at its finest.
Magnolia is one of the top retail stores in the U.S. for a reason. They don't copy what every other retail store is doing. They (Joanna and her team) look at what's around them that inspires them, and they share that vision utilizing the creativity they have collectively. They bring their customers into the fold by giving them an experience they can connect with.
What Makes you unique?
Every person, company, and brand has a story to tell. Maybe you haven't discovered yours yet, and now is a perfect opportunity to sit yourself down and ask yourself these questions:
- What do we have to offer that is unique?
- How are we different than others in our industry?
- How can we connect with our customers in a way that resonates with them and makes them want to purchase our products/services or do business with us?
Don't allow yourself to stoop to where you're just "doing things the way they've always been done", or copying what others are doing because "it works for them so it should work for me". Granted, there is wisdom in copying some things... but take what you can from other brands and companies that are seeing success and alter it all to make something that is uniquely YOU, because "the world needs who you were made to be."
Written by Sarah Wai
Former Content, Email, and Social Media Marketing Specialist of Tribute Media. Bachelor of Science in Digital Communication Arts and Master in Business Administration.
