As someone who works in the retail/entertainment/needs-consumers industry, I have become increasingly fascinated with how companies and brands can engage their customers. It is with this thirst for understanding that I have created this blog. It will be a documentation of my journey into the inner sanctum of the consuming public, into the circles from which you and myself develop our brand loyalties. My journey begins today...
Before you follow me through the woods of "marketing darkness", wade across rivers of distractions, and over the mountain ridges of truth let me tell you a little bit about me.
I live in Virginia Beach, VA with my beautiful wife and two dogs, Diesel and Lilly-both dacshounds. I am the General Manger of a retail-ish establishment. I use the ish, because we are difficult to classify, as we are not your traditional tangible goods store. We offer more of an entertainment experience. That is beside the point. I love to learn about things that I do not know, so my quest for knowledge is ever-expanding. I fully buy into the notion that if you are not learning something new every day, then you are falling behind your professional (both inter-office and industry) competitors.
It is through my professional endeavors that I have noticed consumer's buying habits change, including my own. Before I go to a restaurant, I Google it on my iPhone or Macbook. I read reviews or check blogs. If there is something that turns me off in that review, I look for somewhere else to go. I look at Facebook to see if there are any events going on, or any other cool happenings around the area. What am I doing when this happens? I don't know these people who write the reviews, just like I don't know the actor on the company's commercial. Why do I trust this person to help formulate my decision? What factors lead to that? What mediums and channels am I using to find this information? Where is the movement heading?
These questions, among many others I will answer. Times have changed and are changing every day. It does not need to be a terrifying shift for business, but an exciting one. One about establishing relationships with your customers, and engaging them for a mutually satisfying experience.
Ok, now we are ready to embark. If you understand that this IS where branding and consumer decision making is heading, please follow along and feel free to offer your own views. If you are still in denial and think you will grow your business relying soley on traditional forms of marketing...you will figure it out eventually-but your competition will be miles ahead of you.
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