Do you inspire your customers?

Think about inspirational leaders and brands.  Do you know why they inspire you?

Think about you and your business.  Are you inspirational?  Does your product, brand or service inspire your customers or clients?

Simon Sinek, anthropologist turned marketing professional, argues that inspiring others is all about why you do what you do - your purpose or your cause. It is not what you make or what you say that delivers the inspiration.

Find 20 minutes today to watch this video of Simon Sinek talking about his simple, but enlightening principle for inspirational leadership. He stresses the idea that people choose to do business with you because of the "why", not the "what"  - and his examples using Martin Luther King and Apple really help bring it home.

What Are You Talking About?

What are you really talking about on your blog or web site?  Want to see a beautiful visual of your words?  Check out Wordle.  It will take you 10 seconds to create it - you just enter the URL of your web page or blog that has a feed.

You may be surprised at the words you use often and what those words are saying to your customers, friends or community.  What words do you want to see on your Wordle?

Here is what the Spark & Hatch blog is talking about:

Lovemarks

Several years ago, Kevin Roberts, CEO Worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi, introduced the world to the idea of a  "lovemark" - when a product or brand evolves from being simply respected or simply loved to being both, in the eyes of the consumer.  He emphasizes that by building respect and inspiring love, business can move the world. 

I created this Love/Respect axis, adapted from the original.

So, how do you know if your brand or product is a Lovemark or has the potential to become one?  And, how do you evolve your brand to become a Lovemark? 

First, assess.  You need to ask yourself a few critical questions and be ruthlessly honest when answering them. The areas that need attention will become clear.  Find the complete set of questions at the Lovemarks web site here. 

Second, get your team together and start brainstorming how to address the areas that are lacking.

Remember, this takes time, commitment and ultimately it is the consumer that determines your Lovemark status, so get focused on creating value for them in richer and more meaningful ways.