Why the marketing world is one big selfie

By Mark Schaefer

I had lunch with a friend the other day and we were observing a bunch of young people taking selfies. “You know,” he said, “the marketing world is just one big selfie.”

So this became a discussion topic and perhaps it’s true. Here is what we would learn if we looked at the current marketing culture through the psychology of a selfie:

• It’s all about me.
• I want to be cool. I want to be relevant. I want to be accepted.
• If you’re going to be included in my selfie, you also need to be cool, relevant, and help me be accepted in my world.
• If you like my selfie, I’m more likely to like yours.
• At some level, I am competing my way through life with these selfies. How will you help me win?

Yes, marketing today truly is like participating in one big selfie.

What would a marketing strategy look like if it reflected these conditions? Wouldn’t that be a good starting point? Discuss among yourselves.

Mark Schaefer is the chief blogger for this site, executive director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions, and the author of several best-selling digital marketing books. He is an acclaimed keynote speaker, college educator, and business consultant.  The Marketing Companion podcast is among the top business podcasts in the world.  Contact Mark to have him speak to your company event or conference soon.

Illustration courtesy Flickr CC and Reyes Blanch

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