Welcome to a lively discussion featuring our very own VP of Brand Experience, Kitty Hart, who recently appeared on MVP Business with Steph Silver. Their conversation revolved around the captivating world of creating a brand experience that truly resonates with your audience.
Selling Brand Experience
Steph shares a powerful insight right off the bat: “Sales is marketing and marketing is sales; it’s just a different way of communicating.” Kitty wholeheartedly agrees, stressing that the synergy between these two facets is crucial in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Historically, the age-old rivalry between sales and marketing has been a challenge.
The landscape of consumer behavior has undergone seismic shifts. Kitty asserts that this transformation isn’t solely driven by technology but is deeply intertwined with it. “When sales and marketing work together” Kitty affirms, “there is a more seamless buying experience.” It’s essential to craft a journey that customers want to embark on before making a purchase. Informed customers now rule the roost, turning cold calls into relics of the past. This is where marketing steps up, evolving drastically to cater to this shift. Sales teams must relay customer queries to marketing, fostering the creation of relevant and indispensable content.
The concept of selling to humans, not just consumers, is pivotal. Experiential marketing hinges on a blend of science and experience. Kitty describes the captivating scent of movie theater popcorn that greets you as you enter a theater. These memorable experiences evoke emotions that spur us to share with others. It’s all about cultivating feelings.
Kitty shares a personal revelation about her relationship with selling: “I realized I wasn’t selling. I was simply finding people who had a need for what we did, really well.” This encapsulates the art of genuine salesmanship.
History of Experiential Brand Experiences
The ascent of experiential marketing has been a thrilling spectacle, with brands embracing and unleashing its potential. Interestingly, experiential marketing traces back to the 1800s, proving it’s not a new concept. Kitty delves into history, citing the iconic World’s Fair and how Wrigley’s chewing gum distribution was a prime example of a brand incorporating taste into their experience.
Redefining Corporate Events
Reimagining “corporate events” is next on the agenda. Just because “corporate event” has the word “corporate” in front of it, doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Rather, they should rejuvenate employees’ love for their company and leave them feeling valued and inspired. This encapsulates the essence of creating a brand experience for corporate events.
As the world reopened post-pandemic, the allure of in-person events resurfaced, though virtual alternatives remain popular. Virtual components offer cost-saving advantages, widening the event’s reach. Yet, crafting distinct experiences for in-person and virtual attendees is paramount.
Innovation should take center stage. Kitty emphasizes the importance of having team members receptive to groundbreaking ideas. Ideas on paper are mere potential until brought to life. Steph chimes in, stressing the value of diverse perspectives in brainstorming sessions.
Steph provocatively prompts: “What’s your brand experience map?” This pertains to every facet of your brand, be it events, physical stores, or shipping processes. Feedback gleaned from social media holds the key to refining your brand experience. Kitty admits, “Surprising and delighting people is increasingly challenging.” Ultimately, it’s about the emotions you evoke.
Kitty Hart’s insights on creating brand experiences are invaluable, and her chat with Steph Silver brings a refreshing perspective to the forefront. In today’s corporate landscape, the marriage of sales and marketing, the allure of experiential marketing, and the meticulous crafting of brand experiences emerge as pivotal themes. The journey continues, shaped by a world hungry for authentic connections.
Creating a Meaningful Brand Experience With Heroic
Heroic Productions takes event management seriously. Our approach ensures the event’s message is not only seen and heard but deeply felt, all while aligning seamlessly with the company’s strategy.
To learn more about brand experiences and chat with Kitty Hart, visit her page and listen to more of her podcast episodes here.
To find out more about event strategy, download our Event Strategies Guide here.
Emotion is all about the senses.
Storytelling. It’s not just for bedtime anymore. Now it’s all grown up and ready to wow guests at your next event. Telling stories can be a compelling way to massively boost your event’s impact and make it more memorable because it has multi-sensory appeal. Storytelling is the all-inclusive technique to deliver that extra wow factor! 
Every event planner’s goal is to wow their audience. While you can always do more to impress them, you can also do less. Nothing, to be exact!
Staying top-of-mind after an event is important for businesses. And what’s the best way to do that? Provide free swag to event attendees. After all, who doesn’t love free stuff? But beware, there’s stuff, and then there are really great swag ideas. A bag full of “who cares?” won’t do anything to identify your business as innovative or memorialize your brand.
It’s every event planners goal to make things go as smoothly as possible at your event. So it’s easy to follow a tried-and-true formula of branded colors, logos, and speeches from the CEO — no surprises there! But, think about it from your audience’s point of view. No one wants to attend the same event over and over again. So, if you’re focusing on efficiency instead of your attendees, it’s time for a change!
Sustainable living keeps getting more and more popular with many people, whether that’s opting for reusable shopping bags, organic cotton clothes, LED light bulbs, or composting food scraps. So, it’s no surprise that making events eco-friendly is becoming more and more popular, too. Doing your part to conserve our natural resources can boost your event’s appeal and give attendees more ways to engage while they’re there.
Today, you can live stream just about anything — from a fundraiser, birthday party, or vacation to a cooking lesson, wedding proposal, or corporate event. It’s an excellent way for those who cannot attend in person to enjoy the experience in real-time. For companies hosting corporate events and concerts, it’s a great marketing tool, as well. That is if you do it right. And do it well.
If you’re putting on a significant event such as a national or international conference or a multi-day festival, it’s your outstanding array of “content” that will attract attendees. But, let’s face it. Today’s attendees expect a comprehensively exceptional experience — one personalized for them. And the hottest event trends reflect that.