Snark in and of itself doesn’t have magical properties – it’s a shorthand way to grab onto a bunch of things that authenticity brings. Here’s a look at some of them, and how you can access them, no matter what your voice.
Welcome to Bliss for Business! If you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or career-driven individual, tune in on Wednesdays to join Dani on an adventure to learn how to bring your work life in harmony with the thirteen Bliss Habits.
We’ve talked before about how snark can help market your business – that being unapologetically, authentically your outspoken, freak-flag-flying self can help you connect with your customers and be more comfortable and confident in your business.
After all, there are dozens (if not hundreds) of businesspeople and bloggers out there with distinctive voices that take their snark and fierceness and run with it. (Ashley Ambirge is one of my faves, but the tried-and-true example is Danielle LaPorte.) They’ve made a success of talking, writing, and doing business the way they are, so why not copy that? Why not do what they did? It worked, right?
Well…because they’re not you. And you are not them.
Especially if (and this is important) that style of talking, walking, being, thinking… just isn’t your thing. (Because let’s face it – you don’t talk like Danielle LaPorte talks. No one does that except her. You don’t write like Ashley Ambirge writes. No one does that except her. Are you sensing a trend here?)
So what do you do? If you’re not, in your day-to-day, filled with the passionate exuberance that snark embodies? How can you bring in the benefits without changing who you are?
Well, snark in and of itself doesn’t have magical properties – it’s a shorthand way to grab onto a bunch of things that authenticity brings. Here’s a look at some of them, and how you can access them, no matter what your voice.
- Authenticity. Ah, the buzzword that won’t die. 🙂 The easy way to access it? Be yourself. In everything you do, every step you take. Don’t emulate others, don’t use tactics that don’t feel right for you, don’t try to be something you’re not. No matter who you are, let it shine through. You don’t have to be bold to be honest.
- Confidence. When we read the words of someone who is passionate and authentic, or hear them speak, there’s something in our lizard brains that thinks “oh, wow. That person must know what they’re talking about if they’re talking about it so boldly.” Nope! We’ve all got nerves, and everyone goes through periods of uncertainty. The difference is in how you present yourself. Skip the qualifiers (maybe, possible, sometimes) and ramp yourself up to believing – if only for the time it takes to write that article or give that presentation – that you really do know what you’re talking about. It’ll show.
- Cohesion. One of the things that’s so admired about the folks who have taken their snark and run with it is their brand cohesion – everything they do/say/offer has a solid feel running through it. They’re pulled together and solid, from copy to logo to website to social media. That’s not the mark of snark – it’s the mark of brand design. You can get it the same way the pros do – work with a designer or brand consultant (or take classes to learn how to DIY!)
Look at what you’re doing in your business’ presence, on and offline – what are you doing that isn’t true to you? How can you change things up to be true to who you are?
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Dani Nelson is a geek and a hippie with a passion for helping smart, creative entrepreneurs make their businesses better. Her secret ingredients? Strategy, tenacity, tasty beverages, and two unshakable beliefs: that you (yes, you) have awesome things to share with the world, and that marketing doesn’t have to be awful.