Marketing to Women Online

Women in the Workforce who Overcompensate

I was giving myself a pep talk this morning.  (do you ever do that?)  I had a really interesting conversation with Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg at Future Now last week.  I've been with them for almost four years now.  These are two smart dudes who are really good at getting my brain juices flowing.  It's really interesting to look at myself through their eyes.

I am so far from the person I was four years ago it is amazing.  And yet, in some very basic ways, I have not changed at all.  (that may sound strange to you, but it makes perfect sense to me)

We were discussing confidence.  I have a huge amount of confidence - in myself and in what I do.  I've been very successful.  I am really good with clients.  I can get up and speak to a room of hundreds without getting nervous.   I will put my brain up against just about anyone's.

So why am I always overcompensating?   

You've heard me speak about my 3:07 AM "aha moments".    Well, it hit me again last night.   I overcompensate.   I've done it forever.   

My reports have to be more thorough.  My presentations have to have more slides.   My strategy has to have more reasoning.   My insights have to have more research to back them up.   

The only thing that makes me feel better is - I'm not alone.  I see women everywhere doing the same thing.   

Do you work in a male dominated industry?   Do you feel the need to do everything better just to be accepted, to be acknowledged?

Dove's Pro-Age Campaign

Here's something to get you thinking...

Nearly 60% of women globally believe that if magazines were reflective of a population, a person would likely believe women over 50 do not exist.

It's tough to respond to ads when you never see yourself in those ads.  When you do see women over 50, it's almost always a stereotype in an ad for Medicare, or a financial planning service, or someone's grandmother.    Break away from those stereotypes and she will notice you and your ads. 

Dove is doing just that....again.   They are generating a lot of interest.  Check out Michele Miller's blog for some insight into how women feel about the campaign.

As usual, I was interested in how well the website was integrated into their marketing strategy.  I think they did a pretty good job this time.  But I do have one suggestion (Come on Dove, you didn't think you were going to get away that easy :)....

There is some awesome information, but it is completely buried in the FAQ section.   Some of this should really be front and center in their campaign. 

I was curious about the products - if they aren't supposed to stop aging, what are they supposed to do? 

 

Male vs. Female Communication Style and Project Management

The following is a true story...

A very successful marketing guru was on a plane to London to meet with his newest client.  He had worked with another client in the same industry and done an extremely brilliant and successful ad campaign that was the envy of the industry.

His plane was late getting in, and when he got to the company's boardroom, the meeting was already in progress.

A big bear of a guy, he flung open the doors, marched in and announced, "Whatever you're working on, whatever ideas you're discussing - they suck.  Your ideas suck.   You don't have an F-ing clue what you're doing.  I'm here to save you."

He turned to a woman who had been talking when he walked in.  He asked her what she was talking about.  She presented her idea.  He told her it sucked and boomed, "You're fired."   She dissolved into tears.

True story.   Sound a little far fetched?  I've seen lesser versions of this happen more often than I care to remember. 

I'll never forget when I was working freelance with an advertising agency - a one man shop.  Our client had hired his agency to work with them.  They had previously done all their advertising in-house.  He was taking over the advertising efforts.  I was going to project manage the creative, working with some of their in house team.   

Same thing - he marched into the meeting room - announced that their previous advertising efforts sucked, that they obvious didn't know what the hell they were doing, and that he was going to come in and single-handedly save the company.

Now - from a male communication style - if you are dealing with a senior executive or a company owner, it is good to convey confidence.  I can see senior executives and managers hearing "you suck" and thinking -

"well, if we're that bad, then there must be huge potential to the upside.  We can make all sorts of money if our previous efforts were that bad and did OK."

There is this whole male hierarchical thing.  I see guys posturing for dominance.   It's interesting to watch.   And, in many cases, it seems to be effective.

But here's where the problem comes in.   Project management and teamwork often requires more of a female communication style.  A "let's work together, support each other, all pitch in to be successful" line of reasoning.

So, imagine me- sitting there after Mr. Ad Guy has just come in and cut the balls off of everyone in the room -male and female.  He walks out of the room with the company head to go somewhere and talk numbers or drink martinis.

I'm left alone with the team.  They hate me.  I am the enemy.   They want me dead.

Is It Good or Bad To Be a Princess?

When you hear the word "princess", what comes to mind?  Do you have positive thoughts of a pretty girl/woman who lives a fairy tale life where all her dreams come true?  Do you have a negative picture of a demanding young woman who always wants her way?   Do you think of a powerless female who has no choice but to sit around and wait for prince charming?  or are you envious, wishing your prince charming would come riding in on his white steed?

Do you think of Zena Warrior Princess, Princess Diana, or Cinderella? Does the word "princess" make you smile or cringe? 

Words are loaded - absolutely loaded.   I have heard so many differing opinions on "princess" I can't get any reading.  Some women love it, some don't really care, and some hate it.   

There seems to be a big resurgence of princess merchandise for little girls.   I wonder if it is because

A - little girls naturally gravitate to pretty pink princess icons

B - merchandisers think that's what girls want and bombard stores with princess merchandise so little girls really don't have a choice

I don't have the answers, but this article from a mother who doesn't know what to do certainly got my brain whirring.   Check out What's Wrong with Cinderella.

What do you other mothers out there think?