You know the drill. Someone comes up with something in marketing. And it works. Brands pick it up. Next thing you know, everyone does it.
Everyone uses it in their headlines, their about us pages,
their blog posts.
Even if they don’t mean it. Or maybe, especially if they
don’t mean it. Because that word is now just another meaningless buzzword.
Another pretend clever punchline.
It’s the same every time. And we’re used to it. We just
move on to another word.
But how in the world has this happened to words like “authenticity”?
Or “transparency”?
I’m baffled.
Authentic is *the* opposite of fake. The exact opposite
of phony.
And now it’s become its own antonym.
It’s like some people didn’t get the memo. And started
wondering how to make their brands *look* authentic, slapping “authenticity” on
top of their usual BS. Hoping it’ll just make it, you know, authentic. As in
“real” and “genuine”.
As in “true”.
And bam, another word that’s ruined for us, thank you
very much.
Now, where did this come from?
Marketing’s never had a very good reputation. And it’s
earned it for decades.
I know a lot of people who don’t want to be called
copywriters or marketers. Who feel embarrassed at the very thought of being
associated with marketing. Like it’s a dirty word.
Because they think of it as tricking people into doing
stuff: pressing that button, buying that add-on, getting charged for the next
12 months of subscription without getting notified.
Selling stuff people don’t need, making them think they
do.
Being inauthentic (another word for lying.)
(One of the most poignant sentences I’ve read on the internet in the last weeks said the economy’s about to collapse because people are now only buying what they need. And it felt so on point.
But, let’s not get too philosophical about this now.)
I’ve always felt it’s not right. Marketing is not about
typing random keyword-stuffed sh*t on your website.
Not about writing tips on remote work if you’ve never
worked a day remotely in your life.
Not about telling people how they should run their
businesses if the only knowledge about running your own business you have comes
from playing Monopoly.
It can’t be. Right? (I’m an idealist, I know.)
Not good marketing, anyway. Definitely not great marketing.
So what is good marketing?
I have a feeling you might already know what I’m on to
here.
Because, what if it is authentic?
What if it tells you the truth about your product and service (and is particularly good at it.) Showing you ways the product or service can be helpful. Yeah, what if it is helpful?
Just a thought.
Think about it.
Hint: you don’t have to spell it out. Maybe just try being it.
I’ve come to think writing marketing copy is like having
a conversation with your customer. That’s what I tell people at the start of
every copywriting workshop I run.
You’re talking to a real person reading. You’re taking up
their time (if they decide to pay attention.) Please don’t
make it feel like you have nothing to say.
Or, I mean, go ahead and do it. But don’t expect a
response.
(And if you have a response to anything you’ve just read, leave it in a comment. If you want.)
