MAGPIE MARKETING

It may seem silly, but we as human beings tend to forget the whole point of marketing. Is it to get sales? To drive customers to your website? To hit your KPIs? Sure! All of those are absolutely a direct result of quality marketing. But when we uncover the root of the purpose of marketing, it's a lot simpler.

You, as a business owner, are presumably a human being (such a shocking statement, I know). And you would like to market your services/products to potential customers–– who, again, are likely human beings as well. You might be wondering why insist on calling people "human beings"? With the rise of social media, artificicial intelligence and bots have flooded our markets. Click-bait ads have evolved into wild comment sections driving content––without humans behind the wheel.

How do we combat bots, AI, and scammers utilizing those tools to make a quick buck? We humanize our marketing. What does that look like? Read on, my human friend.

1. Remember Who You Are

If you have worked on your branding, you might be familiar with all of the touchy-feely stuff it takes to really nail down who you are as a business or individual, and what you bring to the table that helps you stand out from the crowd. A lot of branding is essentially boiling you and your business down to your values and dreams. If all you do is try to replicate what the bots are doing, you won't stand out. People––despite wanting things to be easier–– do not trust things that are unhuman. Click-bait may have tricked previous generations, but Millennials and Gen Z do not fall for those. We are coming full circle, right back to mom and pop shop vibes. Lean into what makes you human. Humans are flawed and silly. Don't be afraid of narrowing the style of your marketing to align with who you and your business are at your cores.

2. Maintain Ethics

This one might sound silly––of course you are an ethical business owner! But just as a reminder, there are plenty of marketing tactics that lack basic ethics. Promising something for free with a tiny, illegible disclaimer that the product isn't actually free is legal, but not ethical. Try to be as authentic and honest as humanly possible. If you like to maintain an air of mystery that can work beautifully as well! Just think about how it would feel if you were on the opposite end of your marketing. Does it feel a little shady? Are you representing yourself and your business with integrity?

3. Share Your Story

Sometimes owning a business is entirely difficult. It is often a one-man-band, where you are the marketing team, social media manager, product designer, sales person, accountant, you name it! We often try so hard to be the most professional we can be. So much so that we start to water down a wonderfully human piece–– our story! Peppering in personal information performs better with customers than maintaining strict boundaries. Keep in mind we aren't suggesting inviting all customers over for your birthday party, but hey–– you do what feels authentic to you! Boundaries are important, but learning to incorporate pieces of you in your marketing can impact your customers for the better, and help them remember the feeling they got when they worked with you!

4. Add Personal Touches

You wouldn't believe the impact of a handwritten card included in someone's order, or sent as a "thank you" after you conclude your business. A genuine, heartfelt note that can be as short-and-sweet or drawn out as you want can be a game changer. Not your thing? Find out what is! Adding things you value, like a set of stickers, into your packaging as an extra gift can make someone's day. Gifting around the holidays, or even a simple holiday card from your business can give you an edge. Treating your customers like they will always be a part of your life can remind them that you are always there for them!

5. Be a Human

Okay, okay. That one you do regurlarly. But oftentimes it is easy to slip into a super-charged business mode and forget that you are a human being. It is so simple to just work 24/7, 365 days a year. But you're only human! The beauty of a small business is usually the love that is poured into each project. Not many people can successfully do what they enjoy and make a profit off of it. Set healthy boundaries with your business so you don't burn out. You might lose a customer who wants something on Christmas Eve, but you and your famly matter too! Chik-Fil-A (despite having a lot of questionable morals on the corporate end) remains closed on Sundays in observance of their religion. That doesn't slow down business––if anything it creates a more intense demand for their chicken and wonderful customer service! You can't be a healthy and happy human if you allow your business to run you ragged. Choose you, and the right customers will do the same. Honor your personal values. You aren't looking to market to everyone, but to customers that want you.

Still stuck on how to humanize your marketing? We got you. Send us an inquiry with your jumbled, human ideas and we can collaborate together for a human marketing strategy. Even if we don't end up working together, we wish you the best of luck, humans!