Everything changes - nothing changes at all.
Everything changes - nothing changes at all.
The best marketers I knew 2 years, 5 years ago are still the best marketers I know today.
It isn’t that my circle hasn’t expanded.
Don’t worry - I’ve made new friends mom, I promise.
It’s that the marketers who were amazing 5 years ago grasped the core basics of marketing, and that's what keeps them at the top of their game even now.
At its core, marketing isn't about dark social, scraping lists on clay, building a media company or whatever else the talking heads are droning on about on Linkedin.
It's about understanding people.
The best marketers have always been those who can get into the minds of their audience, understand their needs, desires, and pain points, and then communicate in a way that resonates.
Know Your Audience: The best marketers have an almost uncanny ability to know their audience inside and out. They don't just create generic customer personas in google slides and move on; they live and breathe them. They understand that without this deep, empathetic insight, any marketing effort is just a shot in the dark.
Storytelling: Humans are wired for stories. The best marketers are master storytellers. They know how to craft a narrative that not only grabs attention but also builds a connection. It's not about pushing a product; it's about telling a story where the product is the hero that solves a problem.
Consistency is Key: Consistency builds trust. Whether it's the brand's voice, the frequency of communication, or the quality of the content, the best marketers maintain a consistent presence.
Value First: Exceptional marketers focus on providing value before anything else. They know that if you offer genuine value, sales will follow. It's about educating, entertaining, or inspiring the audience, rather than just selling to them.
Adaptability: While the core principles remain the same, the best marketers are also incredibly adaptable. They stay curious, continuously learning and evolving with the industry. They integrate new tools and platforms, but they never lose sight of the foundational principles.
Sure, marketing has changed dramatically with AI, and all the tech now available. But the best marketers from years ago are still the best today because they never lost sight of the basics.
They understood that trends and tech come and go, but the fundamentals of understanding, connecting with, and delivering value to people remain timeless.
Keep marketing simple and human.
Thanks for reading.
Adam