The Only Marketing Rule
Well, here it is, the only marketing rule you'll ever need.
Rule #1: Make things that people love.
That's it. Look at your product. Does someone love it? Does anyone care about it?
Look at your communications. Does someone love them? Does anyone actually look forward to seeing or hearing from you?
Now, ask that question about everything you do. Every interaction, conversation, and experience. Are you making things that people love? If you're not, it's time to hang up your boots.
It sounds so simple and obvious, it's just a shame not enough of us simply ask.
photo from bratan.
Yup.
Posted by: Noah Brier | October 01, 2006 at 09:41 PM
You better slap a trademark on that concept right now!
Posted by: Moda di Magno | October 02, 2006 at 03:52 PM
I love you for this rule/post! I've been screaming at my clients the last week about this. They told me "usability" isn't in the marketing domain. Huh? Customer service is not part of marketing. Wtf?
Absolutely we need to generate awareness but lets focus on the product/service. If it's good...it will sell itself (I promise).
Our job is to delight. And all the above is our job because that's part of delighting. I'm going to use your rule as the new golden rule.
Posted by: CK | October 02, 2006 at 09:39 PM
Perfect. It's the golden rule of marketing and life. And, not a bad rule to live by.
Usability not part of the marketing domain? That just makes my head spin.
Posted by: Paul McEnany | October 03, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Oh the battles I've been fighting. Yep, I've been told all sorts of smack lately. Oy.
Posted by: CK | October 03, 2006 at 11:40 AM
Here's a variation: "We make what we want for ourselves." I first heard this from Steve Jobs in 1981 when I asked him why he started Apple. And he said something along the lines of, "Back in the mid-70s I wanted a personal computer but I couldn't find one, and so I had to put myself in the position of (co-) creating one."
In the products I've created, I've found that I've had the most success when it was a product I truly wanted; and I've been less successful when I've made products where I felt that I was responding to the market. Of course, there is always the danger of falling in love with our own ideas, but that's another post.
www.creativethink.com
Posted by: Roger von Oech | October 05, 2006 at 11:25 AM
Roger-
That actually does make a ton of sense. With the great products, you can feel the passion of the owner in it.
If a product is made for no other reason than someone thinks it might make money, then the devil will certainly be in the details.
P
Posted by: Paul McEnany | October 05, 2006 at 12:19 PM