Marketing has shifted from reaching a mass market to connecting with smaller, niche groups of people.
Effective marketing involves creating unique, remarkable experiences for a small group of people.
Deep dives
The Importance of Embracing Marketing as an Act of Service
In this podcast episode, the guest Seth Godin discusses the shift in marketing from being self-centered to focusing on serving others. He emphasizes the need to understand the needs and wants of the people we seek to serve. Godin suggests seeing through their perspective and creating a culture that leads to meaningful change. The technology revolution of the past few decades has transformed marketing from solely relying on advertising and money to connecting with smaller, niche groups of people. He also highlights the importance of leadership over management in marketing, where leaders test, evolve, and find what resonates with their audience. Instead of focusing on what to say, Godin encourages marketers to focus on what will elicit a positive response from their audience.
The New Marketing Landscape
The podcast explores the evolution of marketing in the digital age. In the past, marketing relied on using money to reach a mass audience and promote average products. However, with the advent of technology and various platforms, marketing has shifted towards building connections within smaller, more targeted micro-markets. The focus now is on voluntary engagement and leadership, as marketers cannot force people to interact with their content. It is about finding a niche group of people and creating unique, remarkable experiences for them. The podcast highlights success stories of companies, such as Coca-Cola, Airbnb, and TED, that started by serving a small group and eventually gained mass appeal.
Leadership vs. Management in Marketing
The podcast explores the difference between leadership and management in the marketing context. Management focuses on existing processes and getting things done efficiently, while leadership is about forging ahead into uncharted territories and inspiring others to join you on the journey. Marketers who embrace leadership are willing to take risks, fail, and learn from their experiences. They see marketing as an opportunity to create change and solve problems rather than just following established practices. The podcast encourages marketers to step into the role of leaders by taking responsibility and caring deeply about the needs and desires of the people they serve.
Building an Authentic Connection with Your Audience
The podcast emphasizes the importance of building authentic connections with your audience. It suggests focusing on a minimum viable audience - the smallest group of people who will engage with your message and take action. Instead of trying to reach everyone, marketers should focus on delighting the right people who align with their message and values. By creating something meaningful and specific, marketers can overcome the fear of going against the traditional mass market approach. The podcast encourages marketers to let go of the desire to be universally liked and instead focus on creating value for their select audience.
Seth Godin: This is Marketing
Seth Godin was recently inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Hall of Fame and is the author of one of the most popular blogs in the world. He founded TheMarketingSeminar.com and the altMBA. Seth is the author of eighteen best‑sellers that have been translated into more than thirty‑five languages, including his newest book, This Is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See*.
Key Points
The world is fragmented into many groups; there is no more mass market.
Each of us has the ability to market the work we are doing through our actions.
The hard work begins by choosing the smallest group of people you can live with and ignoring everyone else.
Pick ten people. Find something that will amaze and delight the ten. And if you can’t, then start over.
Resources Mentioned
This Is Marketing* by Seth Godin
Tribes* by Seth Godin
Permission Marketing* by Seth Godin
First, ten by Seth Godin
Book Notes
Download my highlights from This is Marketing in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
Getting Things Done with David Allen (episode 184)
Start With Why Featuring Simon Sinek (episode 223)
How to Be a Non-Conformist, with Adam Grant (episode 238)
How to Succeed with Leadership and Management, with John Kotter (episode 249)
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