This document discusses creative strategies on a shoestring budget. It emphasizes finding your truth through questioning why, how, and what. It stresses that no one cares until you make them care through storytelling. Knowing the truth sets you free to craft a strategically consistent and contextually relevant story that resonates with people.
Rather than tell you, I’d prefer to show you a couple things. It’s probably best to start with a definition of what is breakthrough creative? I have a couple of examples of ideas that started small and produced out-sized results for clients. But let’s start with this baseline of understanding- it’s all about the idea. The power of the idea. What I hope to communicate to you today, is a repeatable means of creating those ideas that doesn’t take an agency, or a ton of cash. But will take some time.
Rather than tell you, I’d prefer to show you a couple things.
This is probably the hardest part of my job. Knowing the difference between what’s good and what’s rubbish. I wish I had a better answer for you, but...in the end...
This is probably the hardest part of my job. Knowing the difference between what’s good and what’s rubbish. I wish I had a better answer for you, but...in the end...
This is probably the hardest part of my job. Knowing the difference between what’s good and what’s rubbish. I wish I had a better answer for you, but...in the end...
This is probably the hardest part of my job. Knowing the difference between what’s good and what’s rubbish. I wish I had a better answer for you, but...in the end...
But, I will also give you a way to codify that feeling. Remove the subjectivity, somewhat and give you an objective way to assess whether what you’re up to is any good. Anyone ever hear of Simon Sinek?
The Golden Circle. What’s your purpose? What’s your cause? What’s your belief?
Usually, it’s simple. We communicate from the clearest thing to the fuzziest thing. What is simple. Everyone in business knows what they do. In the case of Apple, we make computers. Some know how, sure, we all know how, it may even be the original reason you started a business--your Unique Selling Proposition. So, when you construct a message for a computer company, from the outside in, it might sound like, What: We make great computers. How: They’re beautifully designed, easy to use and user friendly. Want to buy one? Meh. Tell you what we do, then tell you what makes us different, then, expect a response, a purchase, a vote, a like on facebook.
What’s your purpose? What’s your cause? What’s your belief? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? Why should anyone care? Everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently. The way we challenge the status quo is by making our products beautifully designed, simple to use and user friendly. We just happen to make great computers. Want to buy one?
The why becomes your truth. It should be the sole focus of your message. As Simon Sinek says, people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. No one cares until you make them care. Lead with the truth about why you do what it is you do, rather than how or what, and your story is much more compelling, because it’s human. It’s how humans instinctually think. We believe when someone believes, we believe when someone is telling us the truth. The truth is what drives breakthrough creative.
Rather than tell you, I’d prefer to show you a couple things.
Rather than tell you, I’d prefer to show you a couple things.
This is the hardest part of my job. Knowing when you have the truth in your hands. Knowing it in your heart. Like Einstein said, if given a certain amount of time to solve a problem, how would you go about it? I’d spend 95% of my time defining the problem. That’s where the work is in developing breakthrough creative. In identifying the truth. Fortunately, the only thing it costs is maybe some sharpee markers, paper and time. But once you have it, you have your reason to believe. You have the one thing people will identify with.
Facebook is not LinkedIn is not Pinterest is not Twitter is not print is not TV is not Ambient is not Direct But armed with your truth, it doesn’t matter. You can craft a message for the medium, in fact, if you know the truth of how people utilize the medium, you can use the truth of the medium to amplify the truth in the story you’re telling. That’s exciting. That’s what makes innovation in marketing. That’s the power of creative communications at their best.
McLuhan fans in the crowd this afternoon? They’re probably already off at the bar.
The good news is that you and you alone own your truth. Plain and simple. It can be your biggest asset. It can be a detriment. But what you choose to do with it, it is your content. And people share good content.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with your brand. One of the most prestigious in the region. It’s been an honor and a pleasure to travel this far down the road .
Thank you for the opportunity to work with your brand. One of the most prestigious in the region. It’s been an honor and a pleasure to travel this far down the road .