Why We Shouldn’t Be Like The Old Spice Guy

I’m seeing a lot of posts about how we should be doing social media marketing like the Old Spice Guy, and granted, Old Spice has made a fantastic attempt at reinventing their product, but all I hear is the old meme “Be like Mike”. I never wanted to be like Mike, or anyone else for that matter. I always wanted to be like me. So should you. Old Spice Guy works because it is original. It works because no one has ever done it this way before. Now it’s been done, and you won’t profit from imitation. I’m not saying there aren’t things to be learned from their success, but social media works because of individual personality, your personality.

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
‘Cause there’s a million things to be
You know that there are

Cat Stevens

I truly believe that the secret to a successful social media marketing campaign is individuality. You be you, I’ll be me, and we will find our common ground. The reason I am in social media is contact, it is that intrinsic spark that makes each of us who we are, and I think that more than a few of us are here for that, as well.

So let’s stop chanting the immortal word of King Louie; ”

Oh, oobee doo
I wanna be like you
I wanna walk like you
Talk like you, too

and be exactly who we are. Ultimately, you’ll get more followers, more fans, and more clients, not by imitating someone else, but by being just who you are.