BrightBlue Marketing Recommends

BrightBlue Marketing Recommends Thinking about Your Company’s “Meta Message”

David Perry of Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters writes

The term “meta message” is a marketing concept referring to the overall impression you give when communicating with others. It’s the “vibe” that extends beyond (meta) what you say (your message).

Here’s an example.

You’re sitting across from a prospective employer during a job interview. You say: “I’m really eager to be a part of your company, Mr. Jones. My five years of experience and training give me the tools to succeed as a Sales Rep for you.”

On the face of it, that sounds like a convincing message.

But if you’re saying this with spinach in your teeth, a razor cut on your chin and wearing socks that don’t match, here’s your meta message: “I’m not really that eager to join your company because I couldn’t find time to groom myself properly. If you let me anywhere near your clients, you’ll be making a big mistake.”

A recent blog entry at Mind4Marketing discussed Tiger Woods, deeply into damage control, forgoing his usual red and black attire for all white. He writes

The old saying was…don’t judge a book by its cover. In our visually saturated world, image experts now believe that is no longer the case. In fact, it’s the opposite. To simplify what we observe in our desensitized state, we look at clues: color, shape, texture, type, emotion, etc.

When a disgraced pitch man goes for an all-white ensemble, he’s seeking association with all that is good and pure.

Think about your company’s name, tagline, message, pitch and “feel.” What does YOUR meta message convey?