156. From Marketing Mess to Brand Success, with Scott Miller

Today I am so excited to have Scott Miller back on the podcast to talk about marketing and branding, some of my favorite things! I really love the way Scott puts his books together, broken into 30 chapters with great, brain-friendly tips that you can begin implementing one day at a time. Essentially, the thought is that you can take a month and learn one lesson each day to uplevel in that particular area. 

As you’ll hear more in the conversation, this is the second book in a planned series of 10; the first of which Scott discussed Management Mess to Leadership Success last time he was on the show. Today is about going from Marketing Mess to Brand Success, plus a funny story about a popular product that was originally called the “I-Suck” – can you guess what it is? Hear the answer and learn more about Scott and his work in the show. 

Show Notes:

• [00:06] In today’s episode, I’m delighted to bring back Scott Miller of Franklin Covey.
• [01:17] Today is about going from a marketing mess to brand success. 
• [04:15] Scott shares more about who he is and what he does. He is a 25 year associate of the Franklin Covey Company. 
• [05:00] Today, we focus on Marketing Mess to Brand Success – the second of a ten-book series. 
• [05:56] If you have something to say, write a book. Your book has not been written until you have written your book. 
• [07:44] Scott’s books are very practical and they all follow the same format with 30 challenges. The chapters are very intentionally breezy and short. 
• [09:14] There is enormous power in teaching through your messes. 
• [10:38] Scott shares his favorite marketing messes from the book. 
• [12:51] A lesson he learned is that you can’t control all the outcomes of a marketing campaign. He shares some of the lessons he has learned in his book. 
• [14:49] Melina shares her own funny story from a marketing campaign she was part of. 
• [17:25] It’s The Customer, Stupid is the first challenge in his book. As a marketer, you have to be the voice of the customer. 
• [18:55] The best salesperson isn’t the person who has committed their third-quarter goal to memory, they’ve committed their client’s third-quarter goal to memory. 
• [20:07] We tend to market the way we like to be marketed to. Don’t always do what you like and know best. It may not always be the right vehicle. 
• [22:34] Marketers need to be close to the cash. 
• [23:27] A marketer’s number one job is to generate revenue-paying clients. 
• [26:38] There is a massive difference between facts and your feelings, emotions, and opinions. 
• [27:48] As marketers have you done your research? Do you know what circumstance your client is in or are you guessing?
• [29:38] What you say are the facts might just be your own biases creeping in because you are so passionate about your idea. 
• [30:22] 93% of organizations achieve success with an emergent strategy, not their deliberate strategy. They often have to pivot and search for new opportunities. 
• [32:02] It is important to speak your customers’ language. 
• [33:15] The biggest messaging mistake people make is that they tell their story. They don’t tell a story that their client can find themselves in. 
• [36:01] Never forget you have two buyers. You have an internal and external buyer. 
• [37:58] Marketing is very reactive. Branding is this touchstone and is proactive. 
• [39:35] You have to build a brand and earn a brand with some of the outcomes of your marketing efforts. You need to have a strong marketing strategy that helps you build revenue and a brand. 
• [40:07] Your brand is a result of this: did you make and keep a promise? Brands are hard to build. 
• [41:19] Scott shares his story about a brand being a memory with Ralph Lauren.
• [44:51] Melina shares her closing thoughts. 
• [45:47] Melina’s first book, What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You is officially available on Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and Booktopia. 

Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show. 

I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect:

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• Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going!

More from The Brainy Business:

• 🎉🎉🎉 Buy Melina’s new book, What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You on Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and Booktopia 🎉🎉🎉

Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode:

• Marketing Mess to Brand Success: 30 Challenges to Transform Your Organization's Brand (and Your Own) by Scott Miller
• Management Mess to Leadership Success: 30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow by Scott Miller
• Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M. R. Covey
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• You're Invited: The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence by Jon Levy
• The Life-Saving Skill of Story: The Life-Saving Skill of Story by Michelle Auerbach
• Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller
• Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step StoryBrand Guide for Any Business by Donald Miller
• Neurobranding: Strategies for shaping consumer behavior by Dr. Peter Steidl

Connect with Scott: 

• Scott’s Website
• On Leadership with Scott Miller Podcast
• Franklin Covey Website
• Scott on Twitter

Past Episodes & Other Important Links:

• Episode 148: The Speed and Economics of Trust, an Interview with Stephen M.R. Covey
• Episode 69: Management Mess To Leadership Success, an Interview with Scott Miller, EVP of Thought Leadership at FranklinCovey
• Episode 150: Using Behavioral Science to Build Connections, an interview with Jon Levy, author of You’re Invited
• Episode 145: The Power of Story, an Interview with Dr. Michelle Auerbach
• Episode 147: What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You: All About Melina’s First Book
• Episode 18: Priming: Why You Should Never Have A Difficult Conversation With Someone Holding An Iced Coffee: A Behavioral Economics Foundations Episode
• Episode 102: Confirmation Bias: How Your Subconscious Beliefs Shape Your Experiences
• Episode 126: The Most Important Step in Applying Behavioral Economics: Understanding the Problem
• Episode 44: Rebrand, Refresh or Reinforce?
• Episode 43: A Guide for You to Create a Brainy Brand
• Check out What Your Customer Wants and Can’t Tell You on Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, and Booktopia