Getting Real — A Blog Carnival on Authenticity
Posted by Mark on 16 Jul 2007 | Tagged as: Branding, Strategy
The notion of authenticity in branding and marketing is arguably neither new nor complicated. It’s just devilishly hard to pull off.
And, in the uptight and highly risk-averse world of non-profit communications, it’s sometimes downright scary.
This week, six intrepid bloggers and observers of the non-profit marketing world have taken on this critical dimension of marketing, producing a rich array of perspectives and advice:
- Nancy Schwartz offers a framework for looking at the issue of authenticity and how it comes into play in your communications. She uses the metaphor of chatting with someone at a cocktail party who is completely honest and open:
…with the person you can really talk to, time flies by. That person is being authentic, sharing herself with you. You both let down your usual filters, opening the door to a real connection.
- Long-time authenticity proponent Marc Sirkin takes a similar tack, drawing inspiration from a blog post by online maven and Moveon alum Zack Exley:
- Melanie Schmidt usefully reminds us that authenticity is a process, rather than a list of key messages, and that our ability to “stay real” is being constantly tested.
it means writing to your supporters from the campaign trail in the same way that you might write to your spouse (without the smoochy stuff)
But authenticity is hard, partly because our job as marketers goes beyond being who we are as organizations — our job is to persuade.
- Kivi Leroux Miller (who is the power behind this whole carnival thing) offers concrete advice on how to do spin in an authentic way:
Even if the packaging of your message flops, as long as you were completely honest and sincere in delivering it, you’ll be OK.
- Paul Jones offers a concrete example of marketing gone wrong. In this case, Paul surmises, the lawyers got a hold of this project, and in the effort to take out the risk, they took out the heart and soul.
- Finally, the ever-quotable Jeff Brooks offers a review of Citizen Marketers, an important new book that highlights two complicated realities of authentic marketing — first, it involves third party sneezers who may help you or may hurt you; and second, marketers are increasingly not in control of the marketing process:
Like them or hate them, citizen marketers are beyond your control. “Control is slipping out of control.” You can work with them, do things that make them more likely to treat you well, and minimize any damage. And by all means, don’t try to fake citizen marketers!
Want to read more about Authenticity-based Marketing? Start with this fabulous cover story from Fast Company.
[...] Sea Change Strategies brings us a round-up of articles on being authentic in your nonprofit communications and marketing as the host of this week’s Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants. You’ll find some good examples of what’s considered authentic, what’s not, and how to get better at it in your own work. Thanks to first-time host Mark Rovner for this great edition! [...]
My esteemed colleague Mark Rovner has a great blog carnival this week on authenticity. In this era of withering sketicipsm about all things marketing, we’re best off being honest and flawed rather than slick and slimy.
Check it out, it’s worth the read. You can discover some new blogs in the process.
I think when you’re unsure of what to do, especially when it comes to talking to your audience, authenticity can help you out of the dark.
Wondering how often you should contact your supporters and by what means? Tell them you’re unsure, and ask them what they want. They’ll love it - no one else bothers.
Concerned that your story isn’t perfect? All the better, it’s human.
Worried people aren’t opening your mail or electronic newsletters? Label the next one, “did we bore you last time?” and ask your supporters what interests them.
Candor, directness and truth cut through the clutter.
[...] I’ve been beating the drum about reputation management and social media (mostly at Search Engine Strategies conferences) for awhile now, so I’m glad to see the new Citizen Marketers book getting some attention and spawning another round of conversations about authentic engagement, especially in the nonprofit world. [...]