Defining Your Marketing Style

There are two types of marketers in this world: bees and bulldogs.

In this field, you get to meet all kinds of personality types. Creatives ranging from writers and designers to producers and photographers. Business-savvy folks who excel in project management, data analysis, and crisis communications. Talented people with drive and ambition. Hard workers and slackers. Team players and solo artists.

I never particularly thrived in the more aggressive, competitive environments, though I worked endlessly to change attitudes and negative environments. As you can imagine, I’ve experienced a share of successes and failures by having this disposition. Someone once mentioned that they didn’t think I was cut out for the marketing world. I wasn’t hard enough, they said. If you haven’t yet guessed, I fall into that bee category.

That feedback has stuck with me. Not because I believe it to be true, but because I disagree with its premise entirely. To make it in marketing, in my experience, you don’t have to be a tough, unapproachable bulldog. If you’re busy pollinating your work environment with genuine, helpful knowledge and communication, the business comes naturally, at least in terms of referrals.

For more than 15 years I’ve remained steadfast in that marketing and PR is simply connecting and sharing stories. And through those stories, you form bonds with your sources and team members. This work doesn’t have to be a competition. A success for one or a few people on a marketing team is a success for the entire department. It’s a hive mentality, opposed to a leader of the pack philosophy.

The past few months, particularly during the onset of Covid-19 and the empowered Black Lives Matter movement, have largely confirmed my point-of-view. In a time when many businesses have had to lay off or furlough employees, SBC has onboarded 18 additional freelancers. During an economic catastrophe where people are hesitant to spend money on anything, clients were eager to work with our team on creative initiatives that could help them navigate these uncertain times.

I wholeheartedly believe that has a lot to do with the people connected through this network and the positive, collaborative, nurturing environment we foster. These qualities truly shine in times of strife. The folks I am honored to work with every day are beacons of hope, who have quickly turned SBC into an alternative marketing initiative that sets itself apart by being authentic and compassionate in every interaction.

It’s a positive trend I hope will progress across marketing departments everywhere. At SBC, we look forward to being busy bees for years and decades to come.