MARKETING TIPS FROM YOUR MUM
As we head into Mother’s Day, we got to thinking about all that awesome Mum advice that you hated at the time and live by later. What we didn’t know then is that Mum was a marketing genius – and we learned everything we need to succeed before we started school.
USE YOUR MANNERS
Ever noticed how Mums are obsessed with manners? Second only to Grandmas and Great Aunts, a Mum can spot a missing ‘please’ a mile off. And quite right too. As a fundamental pillar of the ‘treat others as you’d like to be treated’ strategy, manners really matter.
In a marketing context it’s all about empathy. If you want someone to do something, it helps to say please. Sometimes it’s as simple as using the word, more often it’s about wrapping your shouty sale in something creative or interesting. Either way, it’s recognising the human in the transaction – which makes ‘thank you’ a no-brainer too.
Tip from mum: Marketing works best when we use our manners.
TELL THE TRUTH
Let’s be honest, telling the truth can backfire. In a Pavlovian world of action and response, it’s nearly always a short-term downer. But bigger picture, honesty builds trust. And hiding stuff nearly always backfires bigger.
So if you’re having a sale, make it a genuine sale. If the truth is in the Ts and Cs, put it in the ad. And if something went wrong, own it and say sorry. You may get a short-term punishment, but people will like you better in the long run.
Tip from mum: Marketing works best when we tell the truth.
EAT YOUR GREENS
While not immediately analogous to marketing, the eating of one’s greens could be seen as a metaphor for the importance of balancing the boring stuff with stuff you love. Because marketing, like dinner, is better on a balanced diet.
Every job has fun bits and boring bits. That’s why they call it work. But the fun bits don’t work if the boring bits aren’t done. The research, the reporting, the timesheets, the boring stuff. Before you tuck into the sausages, eat a sprout.
Tip from mum: Marketing works best when you eat your greens.
DO YOUR BEST
Casually dropped into the daily dismissal at the school gate, ‘Do your best’ is some of the most underrated advice of all. What are you thinking, Mum? That I’ll schlep onto the pitch and wander around dodging the ball? Or half-arse the role of second King while wondering why you told me to break a leg? Of course I won’t. Or will I?
What we didn’t know then is that doing our best is the heart of a growth mindset. If we don’t try, we don’t grow. And if we don’t grow we don’t get to make Mum proud. If only it was as easy as those throw away words make it sound. Or maybe it is?
Tip from mum: Marketing works best when we do our best.
YOU’LL FEEL BETTER IN THE MORNING
In a world of wonderful Mum advice, this is the best of all. Because it really helps. Whether someone else scored the goal, nailed the test, called you names or dumped you like a cup of cold sick. The enormity of that emotion always feels better the next day.
So, if you’re tangled in targets and drowning in deadlines, think back to what your Mum would say. She’ll give you a hug, wipe away your tears and send you to bed with the best Mum wisdom she has. No matter what matters right now, it always feels better in the morning.
Tip from mum: Marketing works best when we leave it at work and come back better in the morning.
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