The problem with brand planning consultants is that we are not very good at talking about ourselves. And, unless you have a full-time job in planning, you need to be selling to be making. It’s a conundrum.
Some consultants are egocentric. Others wall flower-ish. And, of course, there are scads of variations in between. But one thing we share in common is the enjoyment resulting from digging in on other people’s brands. We love exploring.
I am most comfortable talking to people about what I do when sharing observations and insights about brand good-ats and customer care-abouts. (At its most basic level, distilling care-abouts and good-ats is what brand strategists do.) Though, put us in a room with marketers and ask us to talk about ourselves and it gets ugly.
Brand planning hither rather than thither is a problem. Especially for consultants. Don’t get me wrong, over time I’ve figured out a few sweet selling points. And I crafted a solid framework to deliver strategy. One that’s easy to understand. But that sausage-making is relatively boring. My cross to bear.
So repeat after me, thither rather than hither.
Peace.
