What does all of this hooey have to do with marketing?
I had the best question - why do I write about personal and professional development when what I do for work is marketing? It's true. What I do for a living as a placemaker helping small towns and destinations tell their best stories and as a micro, small business and nonprofit consultant moving clients towards their targets, goals and what is possible for their business isn't specifically about developing as people.
Except it is.
Marketing is about understanding ourselves (our businesses, products, goals, brand and our stories) in order to share that information to our customers. Which is reason enough to develop deeper understandings of ourselves and how we relate with the world.
But... it's also about understanding our current and potential (dream) customers. It's about having empathy with what they need, who they are, how they interact in the world, what their own ambitions and dreams are in order to see if our product is a match. You have to understand people - your people - in order to develop strong marketing.
I come at all marketing from that place - the place of empathy. Who are the customers and what are their lives today and the life they want to have? And in order to do that developing my own sense of self and depth of understanding of my own needs, wants and dreams makes that process easier. It allows me to have greater understanding and empathy of people - all people - which, when targeting to your people and potential customers I can do that with greater ease and results.
Marketing, in my view, is as much about the data as it is about the relationships and the stories. It's the full spectrum of our experience in this world.
All of this makes me very good at what I do, but it also drives me to peel back the layers of my own self in order to be able to continue to have deeper understanding of people.
If anyone ever tries to tell you that marketing is about tools, platforms, apps, influencers, ads, seo, or clicks know that they may very well understand their trade, but they may be missing the whole point. It's about why someone wants to go on vacation and how they want to feel, why someone wants a new vacuum and what that vacuum will do for their home/status/life, and why someone chooses to bank with you to make their goals happen and how you will understand them throughout that process. Yes, I use all of the trade tools and data, but I come at it all with a knowing that it's much more than clicks and datasets... it's about stories and people and dreams and desires.
Do you have a question - marketing or anything else? I'm happy to answer. In fact, if you email back your email system will learn that you and I are friends. I'd love to send you a personal answer to whatever is burning or you might just be next weeks Sunday Sermon. Just reply back!
I'll be live on Facebook on Wednesday at noon to talk more about marketing and the why of it all. If you are struggling to reach the customers that you really really want or are feeling like you aren't able to pivot fast enough in this market stop by and we will chat. I'm happy to answer your questions there, too.
As always, let's #DoGoodWork
and I hope to see you over on Insta!
xo - Jackie Wolven
Shop is Open! You can now shop my #DoGoodWork products right on Facebook and Instagram. I'm developing more products all of the time and can't wait to see them in the world. Your support encourages my creativity, helps spread the evangelism of #DoGoodWork and, hopefully, uplifts your life and work. You can also visit the shop online if social media just isn't your thing.
Work with me: I've been doing a lot of small business and artist consulting - if you are wanting to pivot, launch or need someone to talk through and idea I am available. Connect and let's see how we can work together.
Why is this called "the Sunday Sermon"? I send it out on Sunday, but mostly it's my way of fulfilling my life long wish to be a Unitarian minister. That path didn't materialize for me and instead I share my mistakes, life journey through professional and personal development here with the hope of uplifting and spreading the gospel of #DoGoodWork around the world. tinylette