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By PASCAL FINETTE

The Heretic is a free dispatch delivering insights into what it takes to lead into & in the unknown. For entrepreneurs, corporate irritants and change makers. Raw, unfiltered and opinionated.

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Feb 28th, 2013 Share: Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

From the Marketing Dissenter — Want to be a Marketing Ace? Practice Empathy

Empathetic Marketing — those are two words you don’t usually see expressed together.

But that’s exactly what you are practicing when you put your customer front and centre of your marketing strategy. Something I have to say is a rare beast. Many try — few succeed.

Companies who do this well:

  • Communicate authentically
  • Express and live by deep brand values
  • Know their customers and listen to them
  • Aim to delight
  • Are in it for the long haul

So, empathetic? Sound too sissy for you? It shouldn’t. Companies who deeply engage their customers have higher financial results than those who don’t. They build strong customer relationships, and inspire passionate advocates. You don’t get that from only buying keywords on Google.

Just consider, when was the last time you thought about how your next marketing campaign will make the lives of your customers (or potential customers) better? Does your website design communicate who you are and what you stand for authentically? What’s the time horizon for your customers? Have you thought that you might know them for the next 10 years? How would that change how you engage them?

I’d encourage you to think this through. Apply the ‘empathetic’ lens to your strategy, creative ideas and communication. Let me assure you, when you do this — you will reach out to a human being. A click, is just that. If you want more, you have to be prepared to give more.


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