"OUT OF THE BOX" MARKETING: WHEN YOU NEED TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE "NORM"

10/25/2022

As a marketer, you spend your day writing blog posts, designing social media graphics, and creating email campaigns to help drive business. But what if everything you do is starting to feel a little the same? For some brands, that feeling might be creeping up sooner than later. Many companies today are operating within a narrow zone of marketing strategy. They're trying to fit as many tactics into their daily routine as possible so they never get left behind by the latest trends. But this can have a negative effect on your brand.

Movies like The Truman Show and Getting Out have taught us that when you constantly force yourself to stay within the box of what's considered normal or acceptable, it has consequences in the long run. That's why it's important to stay open-minded, look at things from new angles, and break away from the norm when necessary.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH STAYING IN THE BOX?

The main issue with confining your marketing strategy to a box is that it can make your brand seem one-dimensional. If you're only focused on what everyone else is doing, you're not giving yourself the opportunity to stand out and be unique. Not to mention, you might be alienating potential customers who don't connect with your content.

It's also important to remember that what works for one brand might not work for yours. Just because a particular marketing tactic was successful for another company doesn't mean it will have the same effect on your business. You need to take the time to understand your target audience and what type of content they're looking for before you start churning out content that's not relevant to them.

It can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind of marketing and lose sight of the bigger picture. But if you want your brand to succeed, it's important to step back and reassess your goals every once in a while. If you keep operating in a small, confined space, you're going to get tired, frustrated, and probably bored. You might even start to feel like you're missing out on some creative ideas that could help your brand stand out from the crowd. To truly break free from your routine and truly stand out, you need to push the envelope even further and embrace the weirdness. You need to be willing to take some risks and try some things that were only once considered weird. You also need to step outside of your own comfort zone.

WHAT'S CAUSING YOUR BRAND TO BE BOXED IN?

There are a few different things that can cause your brand to become too comfortable and start following the crowd instead of breaking away from it.

The first is a lack of creativity. If you're not giving yourself time to be creative, you're not going to come up with new ideas that will help your brand stand out. Make sure you're taking the time to brainstorm and come up with fresh concepts that will grab attention.

The second is a fear of change. If you're afraid to try new things, you're not going to be able to break away from the norm. It's important to remember that change can be good for your business. Embracing new ideas will help you stay relevant and keep your customers engaged.

The third is a lack of resources. If you don't have the time or money to invest in new marketing initiatives, you might not be able to break away from the pack as much as you'd like. But there are plenty of creative ways to market your business on a tight budget. You just need to get a little resourceful.

The fourth is a lack of confidence. If you don't believe in your ability to be different, you're not going to be able to make a lasting impact with your marketing. It's important to have faith in your team and your ability to execute new ideas successfully.

WHAT ARE SOME BENEFITS OF BREAKING AWAY FROM THE NORM?

There are a few key benefits of breaking away from the pack and embracing your inner creativity.

The first is that you'll be able to connect with a wider range of customers. If you're only catering to a small group of people, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to connect with new customers. But if you're willing to try something different, you might be surprised by how many people you end up connecting with.

The second is that you'll be able to stand out from the competition. If you're doing the same things as everyone else, you're not going to be able to differentiate yourself from the pack. But if you're willing to take some risks and try something new, you'll be able to set yourself apart from the competition.

The third is that you'll be able to build a more memorable brand. If you're always playing it safe, your brand is going to blend in with the rest. But if you're willing to be different, you can create a brand that people will remember.

The fourth is that you'll be able to show your customers that you're constantly innovating. If you're always trying new things, your customers will see that you're committed to innovation and they'll be more likely to stick around.

The fifth is that you'll be able to stay ahead of the curve. If you're constantly changing and evolving, you'll be able to stay ahead of the competition. And if you're always ahead of the curve, you'll be able to better serve your customers.

THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BREAK FREE FROM YOUR ROUTINE

If you're feeling stuck in a rut, there are a few different things you can do to break free from your routine.

DON'T MICROMANAGE YOUR BRAND

In the past, many marketers were schooled into the idea that every brand must be micromanaged on a day-to-day basis. You had to know exactly what your social media content would look like at all times, you had to have a plan for every online ad, and your entire marketing mix, from strategy to tactics, was to be aligned under one name — your brand — so your company never got lost in the shuffle. But as we've learned, this practice is only going to lead to dull, predictable marketing that isn't likely to get you the results you want. If you're doing everything by the book, you might be missing out on some creative ideas and unique perspectives that could help your brand stand out from the crowd.

DITCH THE DATA-DRIVEN MARKETING

One of the worst things you can do as a marketer is to start to view your marketing as a numbers game. When you DM every social media post, when you're constantly monitoring everything you do online, and when you're constantly checking how many clicks you get, you're taking away the fun out of being a marketer. It's easy to get caught up in the numbers game while trying to figure out how to reach more people online.

But marketing isn't just about how many people you reach — it's also about how many people you move. In a world where consumers are bombarded with marketing messages from all sides, they're no longer responding to marketing that's driven by data. Instead, they're looking for something that's more personal and authentic. So if you want to break away from the norm, ditch the data-driven marketing in favor of something that's more personal and authentic. Try telling a story, connecting with your customers on an emotional level, or creating content that's designed to start a conversation.

Stop Chasing Trends

One of the biggest mistakes marketers make is chasing trends. They see something working for another brand and they want to jump on the bandwagon, without stopping to think about whether or not it's a good fit for their own brand. But just because something is working for someone else doesn't mean it's going to work for you. You need to think about what's going to work best for your brand, not what's popular at the moment.

So if you want to break away from the norm, stop chasing trends and start thinking about what's going to work best for your brand. Instead of following the crowd, be a leader and create your own trend.

DITCH THE FORMALITY AND PLAY ALONG WITH CREATIVITY

If you want your brand to be different, you need to ditch the formality and start playing along with weirdness. In a world where everyone is trying to be serious and professional, there's something to be said for a brand that's willing to let loose and have some fun.
So if you want to break away from the norm, ditch the formality and start playing along with your creative side. Be different, be unique, and be yourself.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. But if you really want to break away from the norm, you need to think outside the box. And if you need some help getting started, that's what we're here for.

HOW CAN YOU GET OUT OF THE BOX AND STAND OUT?

The PKA Agency does "Out of the Box" marketing, meaning we are always looking for different and effective ways to market and reach target audiences for our clients. If you're looking for something different in your marketing mix, contact us today, and let's start brainstorming some out-of-the-box ideas for your brand.