...For example, a selfie of a young twenty-something with a snowboard at a ski resort represents both the endorsement of a product, an endorsement of an activity, as well as an identifier of someone saying “I am a snowboarder”.
While its easy to dismiss that this is just a photo, the movement signals a future that we here at Curatti dub The Content of People, or the Internet of People. Note that this sounds a little bit like something similar, The Internet of Things, better known as IoT. That’s because in some sense, people and things are converging as we head towards an even more digital society — as consumers associate themselves with things and items, they become that item, as opposed to that item molding who they are. What you’re now seeing is a world where products no longer define people, but a world where the end user defines the product. Identity ultimately will (and has begun to) shift.
How to Execute in the Content of People (CoP)
Executing in the Content of People is a challenge, but not entirely impossible. As I look to the future of marketing and storytelling, here’s how I see the CoP impacting how marketing is done....
When it comes to new media, Consumers have an unwieldy ability to choose the content they view, and have the option to avoid interruptions from their content. In the relationship between the marketer and the consumer the one way communications used in the past have been replaced with a conversation over social media. Consumers can give feedback and opinion to the service and the internet acts as a central hub to collect this information to be a powerful driver of business.
The way to be heard in business today is through the art of storytelling. Effective storytelling surrounded around the consumer acts as a powerful tool to connect them to the brand. The potential lies in giving the consumer the power to define the brand rather than trying to achieve this brands must be ready to be flexible and follow these tips; Emphasize Customer Service, be ready for products to transform radically, and share or encourage the stories of customers.
What this speaks to me is that you cannot think of marketing anymore as a certain formula. The most resonate communications I can think of are the businesses that take a risk and let a little more personality sneak out then their competitors. Sure, the product or service has to be connected back in some way, but it has to be in a unique way. Look to your core competencies and see what really makes you different than the rest. Let your consumers define who you are and just try to influence the conversation to boost the pros and resolve the conflicts. Just like any other relationship!