Comments on: Marketers Can’t Speak Human

By: Catherine

Catherine — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:57:27 +0000

This is so true, and I was just thinking this the other day. Marketers need to communicate genuinely. Building a bridge of trust with your audience is crucial to your message going through. People don't commit to anything they don't trust, or can't relate to. We can't automate the message, or we won't get any response. Just a few of my thoughts…

Good post, it really got me thinking!

By: Julia Kinslow

Julia Kinslow — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:13:45 +0000

Sometimes I think we are taking old approaches and trying to make it look like something new. Agencies are trying hard to to embrace social media to help their clients and ensure their own survival. But to me, the agency approach (someone "tweeting" for you or your company) undermines social media's basic premise of transparency. Check out my blog to read more about my approach: "Using social media: how will you be human?"

All the best to you, Julia

By: Eric Karjaluoto

Eric Karjaluoto — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:41:24 +0000

Hi Kyle,

You've presented an interesting question. In fact, it's one I spent most of last year exploring in my book: Speak Human.

If you're curious, you (and your readers) are welcome to read the first chapter here (for free): http://www.speakhuman.com/look-inside

Cheers!

Eric

By: robbyslaughter

robbyslaughter — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:46:52 +0000

Wait, I thought we we all people at heart? You know, "people first, customers/salesman/business owners second?"

By: kylelacy

kylelacy — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:42:58 +0000

As small business owners we are all marketers at heart. We all hope that people *buy* something. Now… you can either be good at speaking/selling from the heart or not…

By: robbyslaughter

robbyslaughter — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:39:48 +0000

But virtually every project needs strategy, planning and implementation. Now you are strategizing about how to speak plainly, planning to speak plainly, and then actually going out and speaking plainly!

I actually think it's helpful that marketers don't speak plainly. I *like* knowing when I'm receiving a commercial message versus one that doesn't hope that I buy anything.

By: kylelacy

kylelacy — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:26:20 +0000

I don't know if plain language discounts the needs for marketing professionals. You still need strategy, planning, and implementation.

By: robbyslaughter

robbyslaughter — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:23:07 +0000

The reason that marketers can't speak human is that using plain language automatically discounts the needs for marketing professionals. Why hire someone to write your marketing copy if they are just going to tell it straight?

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:10:48 +0000

I posted an answer over here: http://www.lohad.com/?p=4834

By: flash speicher

flash speicher — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:31:33 +0000

The question is simple but yet very effective to answer.I support your given description about the root of the problem.It's true that our book-ridden mind is not so practical during work to behave as human.