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Seth Godin's cows, cows, cows...

Read (0) / Post Comments | Posted: Friday, April 24, 2009
I was chatting with a group last night about PlagiarizedMarketing.com and how when we launch the site we’ll expose and explore the junk marketing out there – you know, the recycled stuff that comes from way too much time reading and way too little time understanding.  And the way I kind of explained it was that there is a lot of marketing advice out there.  Enough to keep several thousands of marketers in business.  But how does someone decipher whether it’s the Ronald Reagan kind of marketing (trust but verify) or the Jimmy Carter kind (just trust)?

Well, the long and the short of it is you can’t…or it is very challenging...unless it’s obvious.  For example, if you hear someone reciting Seth Godin’s* Purple Cow analogy ad infinitum: “cows, cows, cows, cows…”, or something to that effect…that’s probably someone who hasn’t fully crafted their own marketing position.  We appreciate purple cows and all…but the cows simply don't matter if you’re not close enough to see them!

At any rate, the concept is that there is a lot to choose from - and a lot of “imposter-ish” kind of material out there.  The caution is, make sure you get the goods when you talk marketing; that the person has the insight, knowledge and experience to talk about it.  Think about it this way: If you go to the doctor’s office say, twenty times, does that make you a doctor?  If you recite Seth Godin twenty times, does that make you Seth?

As you think about your marketing and work your chosen path, use discernment, think critically and, most of all, make sure you're not simply getting another copy…but someone who understands and can apply the right material and concepts to the right situation.  Otherwise, you might end up getting surgery from someone who watches a lot of Grey’s Anatomy.

*Note: I fully appreciate Seth Godin’s thoughts.  Smart man.  I simply appreciate less the hundreds of folks who pretend to be him without citing his efforts as the source.  You know who you are…




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