Books

Book Discussion:
“Sticky Branding” by Jeremy Miller

Continuing our reading journey of Sticky Branding, we reached Principle 4. In case you missed the first three principles, you can find them on my website. It starts with a brief Introduction to the book and continues on a weekly basis with Principle 1, 2 and 3.

Let’s dive into Principle 4 and the law of attraction. 

Whether we want it or not, there is something about the first couple of seconds that shapes our opinion of someone or something that we can’t deny. 

I still remember the first time I consciously saw a Mini Cooper. I fell in love with this cute, colorful, and spirited little car. Each time I saw one I got all excited. I associated a lot of positive feelings with it even before I had driven one. 

When Miller writes “Attraction is magic” (page 67) his words exactly describe my emotional experience with the Mini. Attraction plays to our primal instincts and our lizard brain. In other words, we can’t avoid its grasp. If we find something attractive we notice it, we’re drawn to it. We like to associate ourselves with these products or groups or persons because they reflect who we are, they are part of our identity. Miller writes: “We also choose products and brands to enhance our own sense of self-worth.” (page 67) Guilty as charged. Here’s a little example from my world: 

I’m sure you’ll agree that a Mini Cooper is mostly a fun car. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but if you intend to drive kids to soccer practice or if you need to go grocery shopping the car quickly reaches its limits. Knowing this full well, I still couldn’t resist its charms and bought one. I loved it because I could customize it to my liking, when I ordered it (yes, I had to wait eight excruciating weeks before I could pick it up), the sales rep made a couple of great suggestions that I incorporated (no, it didn’t cost more money), but most importantly, each time I drove my little Mini, it was pure joy for me. I loved every moment of it, and getting into the car and driving it made my day. 

Why is this so important, especially if we’re thinking about prospective customers? Because we judge products or services at every visual touch point. In a blink of an eye, we decide if we like a product and find it worth a second look. This very first impression guides our next move: are we interested, or are we not interested? Did the visual presentation catch our attention or not? Did it tell the right story? And for our purpose: how do I tell my visual brand story. It’s not just about the logo or color; it’s about all visual aspects of your product or service. It’s about the font on your website, images, icons, the overall design of your website or printed material, the navigation of your website, and all your marketing material such as brochures, flyers, newsletters… you name it.

Every one of these components tells a story, and, when combined, they tell your (prospective) customer your story. What you stand for, what you are like and what your product is like. The more unique you are, the easier it will be for customers to distinguish you from the crowd. To pick you or your service for a reason.

In order to find your uniqueness you have to dig deep. Miller recommends to work with metaphors. They are universally known and easily understood. They help us make sense of the world and our experiences and guide our actions. One of the best known ones is the hero story: Harry Potter, Star Wars and the like. But don’t drift into clichés. Dig deep, and find what really matters to you and your customers. Miller quotes Gerald Zaltman from his book “How Customers Think”: “Marketers who wish to influence the stories that consumers create must build stories around archetypes, not stereotypes. A story built around an archetype involves a universal theme, that is, a core or deep metaphor simultaneously embedded in a unique setting.” Zaltman distinguishes between seven deep metaphors which he labels: balance (or imbalance), transformation, journey, container, connection, resource, and control. (page 74) 

LEAPJob, Miller’s own company, researched where career transition and job-hunting fit in with these seven metaphors. His team often heard words like “I’m stuck” or “change directions” or “go down a new path” and realized that a career transition or job change is a journey. The next step for LEAPJob was to determine how they could help their clients on this journey. They found that they often used the words “We don’t just guide salespeople to find their next job, we help them leapfrog to the next stage in their career.” (page 74) The words “leap” and “leapfrog” became the basis for their visual identity, and Leapy the Frog, their mascot, was born.

To make the point here, a strong visual identity tells your story and speaks to your customers on an emotional level. It attracts their eyes and tells them without words what experience your company will deliver. Like in Principle 1 “Simple Clarity,” simplicity is queen. Pay close attention to any feedback, especially when testing different versions. Ask industry outsiders what they see, what they feel, and what story your images tell them. 

Did I mention that Sticky Branding is an ongoing process? That’s also true for your visual brand identity. Like fashion, it has a shelf life. Not only because styles change over time, but also because you, your company or your offering may have changed. You want your brand identity to look fresh, inviting and up-to-date. Miller says: “Make your business stand out by really working to enhance the visual appeal of your brand. Look to each customer touch point – website, marketing materials, your products, your office, and any other areas your customer engages with regularly – and consider how you can deliver a compelling visual experience.” (page 78)

Before I close this chapter, let’s have a final look at the questions you should ask yourself when creating your visual brand identity. They are mainly the headlines from Miller’s exercise section: 

1. Pick a story
2. Select pictures
3. Share your story
4. Listen to the feedback
5. Find common phrases
6. Identify your deep metaphors
7. Pick your metaphors

Now it’s your turn. How did you come up with the pictures, colors, font, etc. for your brand? Do you find Miller’s approach helpful or did you take a different approach for your visual presentation? Please let me know in the comments below. 

Until next week
Regine

Book Discussion:
“Sticky Branding” by Jeremy Miller

Today I’d like to talk about Principle 3 of Miller’s book “Sticky Branding.” But before I do, here’s a quick recap of the previous Principles.

• Principle 1 was about clarity and its importance for helping prospective customers in their decision-making process. If you want to refresh your memory, go here.
• Principle 2 was about consistency in our messaging, which means saying no to opportunities that don’t fit. Here is my take on this principle.

So, let’s move on to Principle 3 and what Miller means by “Function that Resonates.” In a nutshell: products or services of sticky brands must be intuitive, easy to use, and work. And you should strive to always over-deliver and wow your customer. In Miller’s words: “Sticky Brands are positioned to win, because they have a clear understanding of how they deliver value to clients, and they invest in the operational excellence to deliver on those needs.” (page 62)    

The example that resonated with me in this chapter is about a used car dealership called Wheels and Deals. I find that buying a car is no fun. Truth be told, I don’t like it at all. In my many car-driving years I can recall only one occasion where I enjoyed shopping for and buying a car; it was when I was buying my Mini Cooper. For the first time I had the feeling the sales rep actually enjoyed what he was doing and was proud of what he was selling. He gave me the feeling I should get the best and most beautiful Mini ever. Why does this come to my mind right now? That is where Miller’s example comes into play. 

Wheels and Deals, a small local used car dealership, did well until the competitive landscape started changing. A competitor with deep pockets opened their doors nearby. Their bigger inventory attracted a lot of customers, hurting the “little guy,” Wheels and Deals. Instead of sticking his head in the proverbial sand, Jim took the time observing his competitor, noting what they did well and what they didn’t do so well. I’m not surprised by his discovery, because he noticed that their sales reps “…were aggressive, commission driven, and they didn’t care what they sold to their customers.” (page 54) 

This is exactly how I felt so many times when buying a car. Sorry, I digress. Let’s continue with the example. 

Wheels and Deals used Jim’s observations to their advantage. They started focusing on better quality cars and better service. In addition, they communicated and showed their customers how they’ll keep their promise of selling higher-quality cars. 

Here is what they started doing for higher quality: Each car they purchased for resale was inspected and serviced beyond government regulations. Before they put a car on the sales lot, they “invest, on average, between $800 and $1,200 in every car.” (page 54) It means making less money on each sold car, but making up for it in volume and customer loyalty. This customer loyalty wasn’t built overnight. It took time. They didn’t only speak of higher quality cars and better service, they lived and breathed it and earned their customers’ trust. 

And here is how they welcome new customers: Friendly staff greets them in a beautiful showroom, they get a tour of the dealership which includes a visit at the mechanics’ bays, and an introduction to the Customer Care Manager. And to top that, Wheels and Deals gives a 90-day warranty with each car. I’m sure their customers don’t think the sales rep is pushy or doesn’t care. On the contrary, by taking the time and showing their customers around they demonstrate what their customers can expect. Did I mention the word trust?

I can only attest to how important both customer service and genuine caring are for someone who is purchasing a car. It proves that “Even commoditized markets can stand out and create Function that Resonates” with their customers. (page 53) Having said that, only a company’s core skills and assets can sustain this competitive edge and make it an integral part of their value proposition. 

• Finally, and a quick flashback to Principle 1, I quote: “The customer is working with an organization that delivers a tangible benefit, and they can see it, talk about it, and experience it.” (page 56) 

COVID 19 has changed our business landscape to an extent that I can’t fathom yet. I’m very impressed by some entrepreneurs’ and solopreneurs’ creativity and their ideas on how to provide value to their customers and keep their businesses running. I met them in virtual networking groups. We were and still are trying to help each other through brainstorming. Here are some of the examples:

• A swim teacher creates online birthday parties for children 
• A photographer offers an online photo shoot 
• A realtor provides additional information relevant to people buying a house or moving 
• Yoga studios and gyms teach online classes

To me the “Function that Resonates” or customer value is obvious. All of the above offerings are a product of today’s shelter in place situation helping people celebrate children’s birthdays, getting their exercise, or keeping in touch with their prospective clients by providing helpful information pertaining to buying a house or moving.

I believe I mentioned it in the introduction to this series, building a sticky brand isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes time, adaptability, creativity, an open ear for your customers, a lot of work, and a long-term commitment. But looking at the current situation proves to me that it is the only way, especially for small businesses, to survive. 

 “When you identify an area that can make a real impact on your clients, hold on to it. Invest in it. Make it your own.” (page 62)

And with that I would love to hear what you think about Principle 3. What is your take on it? Put your thoughts in the comments below. 

See you next week,
Regine

Book Discussion:
“Sticky Branding” by Jeremy Miller

Have you read the Introduction? Did it persuade you to continue on this branding adventure?

Let’s continue with “Principle 1 – Simple Clarity” and dive right into it.

Simple Clarity sounds… simple, doesn’t it? You know what you are doing, so it should be easy to put it into words. If I’m honest, I found this to be quite difficult. Like your elevator pitch, your sales pitch takes a lot of editing and revising before you hit the mark. It’s a process; one that I would consider well worth your time and effort. Here is why: “It makes your brand easier to talk about, easier to remember, and easier to find. The right words make all the difference in the world.” (page 30)

Using the right words, words or language your customers use, creates a connection. You show your customers that you feel their pain, their frustration and understand their problem. Be like Sherlock Holmes, shed light on what your clients search for. How do they respond to your “pitch”? Keep it short, descriptive and make it memorable. Don’t be clever or overthink it. Focus on the most important service or feature of your business or product. If you’re perceived as complicated you’ll lose their interest.

This is due to the way people process information. Miller refers to a book “The Dynamics of Persuasion” by Dr. Richard Perloff, Professor of Communication, and a scholar of persuasion and political communication perceptions and effects, who distinguishes between two modes of information processing:  centrally processed information and  peripherally processed information.

Bear with me to understand why this is relevant for your business. Processing information centrally means people are engaged, they want to go deep and research all angles of a topic. This kind of research takes place after you have narrowed down your options and have a closer look before making your final decision. Processing information peripherally, on the other hand, means taking only a few cues and rules that we trust or that we believe are valid to make our decision. Most of the time this is the way people make a decision in order to, among other reasons, prevent analysis paralysis ( in a nutshell: not being able to make a decision at all).

I believe this makes it quite clear why Simple Clarity is so important in our communication, online or in person. If our customers have to think about what we have to offer, or how we can help them, their brain turns off. Our words fall on deaf ears. They may think, consciously or unconsciously: too complicated, not interested. And we have lost them. If, however, we clearly state in their language what we do, or even better, do for them, then their eyes will light up, and we have created an opportunity for  a conversation that may lead to a business relationship.

And this brings us to the “how” of finding Simple Clarity for our business. Miller came up with three clarity types. Here they are:

1.            Category answers the question: What is your company’s specialty? Using his company as an example, it looked like this: “sales recruiter Toronto”. This category distinction only works if your company is not in a highly competitive industry.

2.            Function answers the question: What does your company do? He uses Cardinal Couriers as an example. Their differentiator in courier services is standard pricing for deliveries before 8:00am. That’s their focus, delivering before anyone is in the office. Their competition, on the other hand, charges a premium for this type of service.

3.            Situation answers the question: Whom does your company serve? It is the most difficult and complex of the three categories. It sets guidelines with whom a company is working, which may not be achievable in a few words. Therefore, this description is most useful for companies which operate in a “well-defined market with educated buyers.” In his example Miller describes one company that uses qualifying questions in their on-boarding process to find out if a prospective client is a fit or not.

Looking at my own business, I’m certainly in the “Function” category. I have to emphasize that my Taekwondo background (yep, I’m proud to say that I’m a third-degree black belt and instructor) is my basis for working with clients when I help them transform a feeling of chaos and overwhelm to a feeling of clarity and focus, from not getting anything done to progress and success. Did I say branding is a work in progress….

Last, but for sure not least, important is the aspect of making your company memorable and easy to talk about. If your (prospective) customers perceive your message as complicated or confusing, you can forget that they will or want to talk about you. They wouldn’t know how. That’s why Miller compares this part with a label. He suggests using 10 words or fewer, 10 words that are descriptive, explain the “content,” and are memorable.

For me the most important aspect of Principle 1 is the feedback from (prospective) customers. I put a lot of thought into the answers about who I am, what I do, and whom I serve, but I wasn’t as diligent about the feedback I got. As Miller says, it looked good on paper, but it didn’t necessarily resonate with my clients. I noticed when I struck a chord, but I didn’t make a note of the specific words that were used. That is something I had to start doing. Miller writes, and I couldn’t agree more now, that “Every time you share your Simple Clarity description it is a learning opportunity. Keep track of your responses. […] The market will tell you when you have Simple Clarity. Listen.” (page 39)

And with that, I’d like to hear what stood out for you in this chapter. Do you have your “Simple Clarity” nailed? Did the questions help you tackle it? What helped you through this process?

Tell me in the comments below.

See you next week,
Regine

Book Discussion:
“Sticky Branding” by Jeremy Miller

Are you in the market for some serious work on your branding? Join me in reading Sticky Branding by Jeremy Miller. It is a branding crash course or refresher course for all the aspects that are important for creating an outstanding brand. Miller explains in 12.5 Principles the important aspects of what he calls a sticky brand, and what one needs to do in order to create one’s own.

The wealth of information, examples, and exercises to make the principles stick (pun intended) is especially relevant for business owners who would like to grow and reach the next level. And if you just got started, it’s a great way to gain the clarity you will need in order to build your business on a solid foundation. Mallika from Miki Foto recommended this book to me, and I immediately got hooked. I’m currently re-branding my business, Coaching with a Kick, and found the questions in the exercises thought-provoking and helpful.

If you object and argue that branding is only for big companies, then hang on and go on this branding adventure with me. You may be surprised by what branding is or could be, according to Miller, even for the smallest of businesses. He poses a lot of questions. For example:

• Do you know if your “pitch” to your clients or prospective clients is successful?
• Do you know if you use the right channels to approach your prospective clients, social media or otherwise?
• Do you make it easy for your prospective clients to pic you and not your competition?
• Do you know how they feel about the purchasing process of your service or product?
• Do you miss opportunities to be present for your clients or prospective clients?

And this is only a sneak preview into the many aspects Miller mentions.

I will post a blog every week focusing on a different chapter or, to use Miller’s words, “Principle.” I’m going to summarize what resonated with me, what I found particularly helpful, and how I implemented the lesson(s) learned. It would be fun to hear what struck a chord with you, what you discovered and what changes you will make in your business.

I’m sure there will be aspects that will make you think about your own business practices. You may find that your business can be tweaked or changed to be more client-focused or client-friendly.  After all, that’s what every business is, or better, should be about, right? So, let’s get started with Part 1, the “Introduction.”

Jeremy Miller wrote Sticky Branding because he was desperate. He had joined his parents’ family business, and a year into being at the helm of it the business started suffering. Even though they were “firing on all cylinders” (page 8) it didn’t show in the numbers. On top of low sales figures, they were working with clients that didn’t appreciate their services and, to make matters worse, were difficult to work with.

He needed to find out what was going wrong, and quickly. Miller and his team started by comparing other IT recruiting companies with his own: services, features, benefits and customer service. They came to realize that they were just “another tree in the evergreen forest” (page 9): same offer, same service, same features, same benefits, same customer service.   

This “discovery” triggered a re-evaluation process which led to a complete repositioning of his ailing family business. What used to be a mediocre, indistinguishable IT recruiting company at the brink of collapse transformed into a first class, outstanding recruitment company in sales and marketing.

It will come as no surprise that this transition was an extremely painful and scary time for Miller and his company. Not everything he and his team tried ended in success. But after they went through the 12.5 Principles and nailed each aspect of it, they had achieved what Miller calls a “sticky brand”  or, to use the analogy from the book, they created a company that “stand(s) out like an orange tree in an evergreen forest.” (page 9)

Do you know what a sticky brand is? I believe it’s time for a definition. A sticky brand ….

• stands out and is remarkable.
• is raved about by colleagues and friends.
• exceeds customer expectations.
• builds on and learns from each customer interaction.
• brings together purpose, vision, a remarkable customer service experience, passion, and operational excellence.

The underlying theme is curiosity and the all-important question: “How can we serve our customers better.” Creating a sticky brand will never be a done deal, it will always be a continuous process.

This may sound a bit daunting and overwhelming. Especially for us entrepreneurs who are wearing so many hats. But before you throw in the towel and don’t even open the book, think about this: sticky brands, for the most part, don’t have customers, they have fans. Reason enough for me to put a lot of effort into my branding. How about you?

Part 2 of this series will be about “Principle 1: Simple Clarity.”