The First Deadly Sin of Marketing: Invisibility

The Seven Deadly Sins of Marketing #1 “Invisibility”

No, you’re not a vampire. But if your organization looks in a mirror and sees nothing, you may be invisible.

And not just to yourself.

The marketing sin of invisibility means that others can’t see what you’re doing. Which is bad if you’re doing important work. Nonprofits and government agencies are in the business of social benefit — of making things better, of taking responsibility for the commonweal. It’s better if people can see what you’re doing and support it.

How to correct invisibility?

The first step lies in defining who you are — so people can recognize you when they see you. Certainly your work matters; otherwise you wouldn’t do it. (Public servants are crusaders.) Identify what makes you special: the characteristics of how you act, what you do, and what separates you out. Trust us, even if there are eleventy billion municipal departments on the planet, and twice as many people engaged in the “same” work as you (areas of the arts, the environment, housing, etc.), there is a unique spin to who you are and what you do.

When you know you’ve identified the one true thing about you, take that and run with it.

  • Paint it in big garish colors
  • Describe it in bold words with flaming curlicues
  • Turn its amp up to eleven

So that everyone can see you and hear you.

Because, remember, the Invisible Man is a very lonely soul. There’s no glory in invisibility.Ready to get seen? Let us know how we can help.

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