SHORT STORIES
by Robin Gagne
6/18/2017 1 Comment Marketing: CommunicationMarketing is all about familiarity. Done right and the marketing is so deeply engrained it controls behaviour. Brand loyalty. They repeat the message. You repeat your purchasing pattern. It’s simple. I like simple because it’s incredibly complex. Done right and looking at a box of Rice Crispies will bring me back to my childhood with a Snap, Crackle, & Pop. Cold milk over a fresh bowl.
So how is marketing and culture related? Well we’ve all been branded culturally. Worldviews are passed on and hard thing to change. You know the internet? It’s an echo chamber of values, thoughts, & perspective. Each sorted by algorithms. A potential problem. Divisive. Yet, our digital accents speak on same things differently. It’s interesting. Marketing shows the irony. We all need clothes. Simple. Yet, we dress differently. That’s the complexity I’m interested in. If you’re interested too I would recommend reading up on Meme theory. Yes, memes. A meme is an idea, behaviour, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture. A shuttle of cultural characteristics. Subconscious marketing. Spiral Dynamics gives insights into these various value systems, or memes. They are descriptions of our invisible motives described by color. Intrinsic motives strongly determine perspective, thoughts, emotions, actions and avoidance mechanisms. They can be expressed through speech. Memes are important when marketing ideas door-to-door. It's important for communication. Instead of focusing on clothing style; I focus on cultural keywords. It's important while canvassing for the Ancient Forest Alliance. Certain neighborhoods care less about community and more about innovation. Some care less about the environment and more about the economy. So, I speak the same thing differently. I market the idea to the value system I think is present at the time. It’s a small but important component to my job. If I get it right? They get involved. They donate. Or, they Volunteer. Understanding this is also important when communicating today. The internet is filtering us into cultural bubbles. Each with its own unique perspective. I’m looking for the bridge. How can I connect to you through dialogue? It’s all part of the craft I suppose. Can you let me know how I did? Was the article interesting, easy to read, or did it suck? Your thoughts are important to me so let me know in the comment section below.
1 Comment
6/14/2017 2 Comments Attention: MarketingI heard time is money and that’s why we pay by the hour. Time is scarce. So I keep it short. Simple. Give me space and I’ll take it. Time is everything; so its nothing. A game.
How does this relate to canvassing? Well for starters no one wants to talk at the fucking door. I think that’s obvious. “I’m busy.” I totally respect that. But, we’re an organization that protects a unique temperate rainforest. It’s also endangered. Have you ever gone to an old-growth rainforest? Did you see what I did there? We call it acknowledging and ignoring. The goal is to create space and take it. I have less than a minute to gain your attention. After that 5 minutes total. Any longer and you’ll probably lose interest or realize what I’m doing. I want you to pay attention and then I want you to donate. If time is money could we say attention is gold? It’s the way our economy is going. Door-to-door canvassing is no different online. You’re attention is everything. People are constantly knocking on your front(door) page. The game is the same. Give us space and we’ll take it. Simple. Space is just a synonym for attention by the way. Now I have to ask. (It’s part of the canvass.) Did you find this post easy to read? Was it conversational? I’ve started blogging recently and I’m constantly playing around with form. Everything is an art and art takes practice. It also takes feedback & I love feedback. It helps me get better. You should tell me what you think in the comments below. I appreciate you taking the time. |
Robin Gagnewww.ottersidemedia.com/collages.htmlIs a British Columbia based freelancer. He offers cheap services for online writing, editing, and copywriting. Check out the Marshall McLuhan series, essays, and collages also found on the website! He sets high standards for the content he produces but recognizes that he's new. Drop this recent UVIC graduate a job offer @ ottersidemedia@gmail.com ArchivesCategories |