You're Not the Hero

Alyssa Stadtlander • May 22, 2023

We are always telling a story.

Whether you're talking to your mom on the phone, or going for a run, or planning a business proposal, you're in the middle of the story of your life. We all know this–we imagine ourselves as the hero of our own story, because, of course, we are. It's our story, after all; we only see things from our perspective, permanently stuck in our own first person narrative with the people around us as side characters, which is why we as humans struggle with practices like empathy, listening, and noticing other people. We are naturally the hero of our own story.

Well that is, of course, except for when we aren't.

It can be tempting, as you market your new business, organization, church, or nonprofit out into the world to position yourself as the hero in a world of other heroes. It can be tempting to step into the limelight and say,

"Look at me! Look at what I've accomplished! Let me convince you why you need what I'm selling (and the answer is: because I'm the best)."

Maybe the thing you're trying to sell is the best, whether that be a new product, real estate services, flooring installation, or even church community. But if you come out positioning yourself as the hero in the story, as a character or entity who everyone else ought to worship, that strategy of self-promotion isn't going to work.

Why?

Because everyone else is the hero of their story. They don't want you to be the hero–that's competition. They want to be the hero, and you, necessarily, must pivot. But pivot to what?

To answer this question, we're going to look at The Hero's Journey. This is the story structure of every good book, play, or movie you've ever seen, because we don't get bored of it, because we see ourselves all over it. And it's true of your customers' as well.

The hero's journey starts with the said hero being called to some type of challenge, something better than the life they're living, whether it's to change their lifestyle, or begin a new relationship, or slay a dragon. They embark on the challenge and are met with external and internal resistance, faced with all the voices and worries telling them what a terrible mistake they've made trying to move towards a new path, with terrible dangers such as storms or monsters or mother-in-laws.

But there is good news. At the hero's lowest moment, they are met by a guide (think Dumbledore, Gandalf, the Fairy Godmother) who picks them up from their dismay, gives them the tools and skills they need to accomplish their destiny, and walks alongside them to the finish line.

That's you.

When you are interacting with your clients, congregation, or community, you must position yourself as the guide, not the hero. Your people need help. And, because you are good at paying attention, you've noticed. You have looked into the world and said:

"There is a problem here in the lives of the people in my community. And I know how to fix it."

The key is to focus on the heroes around you, and on their felt needs.

So rather than saying:

"We're the best option for real estate investing because of our massive portfolio and beautiful agents. Work with us and get rich quick!"

or, "We believe XYZ about God, and we meet in this brand new facility. We hope you choose to come worship with us,"

say,

"You're looking for someone to guide you through the real estate process from start to finish. That's why we started our company. Let's see what we can do for you."

Or, "It can feel so lonely in our city, but at our church, doing life together is a priority. Come check it out, and find a community that feels like home."

Which option makes you feel more welcome? Which option cultivates trust? As you take your skills into your world, don't center the story on you and what you can offer, but think about the everyday heroes in your community.

You are not begging them to enter into your story. You are getting on their level and entering into their story. It is imperative you do it with respect, dignity, empathy, and heart, asking about what they need rather than proclaiming what you offer.

This isn't an easy task, especially if these ideas are new to you! It can feel overwhelming to re-think through your strategies and language. But there's good news: you're not alone! At SolidCreative, our heart is to help you tell your story as you seek to change your world.

If you need a listening ear to talk through your current marketing strategy, are in need of new language to use in your marketing, or want a completely new brand refresh, we are ready to help in any capacity that you need.

Schedule a FREE 15 minute fit call today to see how we can join you in the good work you're already doing.

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5 Resons Why You Should Probably Just Hire That Marketing Agency

By Alyssa Stadtlander • 03 May, 2023

Are you a small business owner or nonprofit founder who is trying to get your new endeavor off the ground? Or are you an established business who feels like your sales have plateaued? Are you discouraged that you're just not getting the leads like you used to? Or maybe you're trying to move to the next level of business, but are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of tasks that are starting to pile up as you progress. It's hard to know when (or if!) you should even hire a marketing agency. Wouldn't it just be easier to do it all yourself? And doesn't it cost so much money? Maybe. And listen, we get it. Starting a business is hard, and maintaining a business is even harder. But maybe you need a break from this endless slough of emails and social media and promotion and website maintenance, so you can get back to the work you actually love doing. We'd even venture to say you probably don't have those niche marketing skills and technical know-how you need to make your business or organization as successful as you hope, and why should you? That's not your job–that's ours. And in the long run, maybe your business would thrive by spending just a little extra money up front. Let us show you what we mean. Here are the 5 top reasons we think hiring a marketing company is a solution to the problems you might be facing in your own business. 1. You can get back to focusing on doing your job, not ours. If you're a small business owner, real estate professional, non-profit manager, or even a church pastor, there are a lot of internal pressures demanding your time. You have a ton of responsibilities on your plate–responsibilities that you are designed and cut out for. You have a team of people around you who you hired to do those special skills you hired them for. You're not a marketing specialist, and neither are they. Instead of asking your team to help out in ways they weren't hired for, or burning yourself out because you're overworked and overloaded, hiring a marketing company will free up valuable margin in your life. Not only will it improve the mental health and energy of your team, you'll have access to people with a variety of skills, who are experts in their fields and approach marketing with a strategic confidence rather than frantic, sporadic instagram posts and an outdated website. 2. You s tay Up-to-Date. (speaking of outdated websites...) Did you know that your website needs to be updated at least every 3-5 years? In this culture of technology, the landscape is constantly changing. To maintain an effective digital presence (absolutely vital in this day and age), you need a website that changes with the innovations, is mobile-friendly, and is aesthetically pleasing. Hiring a marketing agency will ensure that your content and website is both beautiful and cutting edge, as they are experts and artists with their fingers on the pulse of the latest trends. Take that off your plate, while entering the economy with the freshest content and form! 3. You actually save money. It might feel like doling out money for marketing is something you can't afford at this juncture. But we'd argue you can't afford to not hire a marketing agency. The reason for this is two-fold. First, if you decide to hire an in-house marketing person, you'll quickly find out: you need more than one person. It's a huge responsibility, and requires a variety of skill sets, so much so that you'd need to hire an entire marketing team (2-3 people at least). This would result in added internal costs, such as salaries, incentives, marketing campaigns, onboarding, training, recruiting costs, sick days, payroll taxes, health insurance… you catch our drift. Second, bluntly-speaking, you can't make it in the market if you don't, well, market. You won't make money or, in the case of non-profits, make the difference you're hoping to make in your city. However, when you outsource to a marketing agency, you don't have to worry about any of that. You pay one price and receive everything you need. You'll have access to reliable and result-driven agencies and experts who know what they're doing, and instead of using the money for internal costs, agencies will put any returns back into your business or organization, resulting in a sky-high ROI. So… 4. You get access to resources and tools. Instead of making do with cheap CRM software, terrible SEO, and putting up with (or losing your temper at) Meta Business Suite, hiring an agency gives you access to top-notch software, resources, website hosting, design, SMS and email marketing, social media marketing and scheduling, and tools that you wouldn't be able to access otherwise. Plus, you'll say goodbye to those frustrated nights yelling at that expensive software you can't figure out how to use. You'll have a team of people who actually know how to utilize the resources as they're designed to function, so you don't need to worry about it! 5. You get an unbiased perspective and consulting. Working on a business, nonprofit, church, or other organization can feel like working in a vacuum. There's a few things you know how to do, and you do them over and over, hoping they remain effective. Chances are, though, that they won't. When you hire an agency, the team can give you honest feedback that isn't influenced by your personal experience or emotion, and help you to get you back on track. They can offer new ideas and perspectives, and also make recommendations based on their observations. The Moral of the Story Quit doing our job. Do your job. You can't do the work you care about doing in the world the best way you want to do it if you're spending all your time doing things you're not cut out for. But we have some good news: we happen to know a few people who are cut out for it. At SCDM, we're prepared to help you through your marketing journey, no matter the stage of business or hesitations about marketing or branding. We're a full service creative agency built to systematically help you name your mission, clarify your brand, and change your world with your own authentic message. Don't know where to start? Have qualms about what hiring us could look like? We'd love to chat. Schedule a 15 minute fit call today, and see how we can guide you through this next phase of your entrepreneurial journey!