Fascinating Marketing Lessons From Next Food Network Star and Tactics That Can Help Your Business Grow

Okay so I have to admit my guilty pleasure is watching Food Network TV and I love the competition series because I always look at it from a marketing perspective because after all competitors are not only selling their skill but their personality and brand at the same time.

What I learned about marketing this week from Next Food Network Star

1. What is your core marketing message? (or as they call it on this show is your point of view)
Your core marketing message should define who your most ideal client would be, then you need to discover what you do that differentiates yourself from the rest of your competitors and then create a strategy around it.  Often times the judges on the show would provide feedback to the contestants sharing that they didn’t deliver their message. Lesson “Get clear on your core messaging add in why you are different and be able to communicate that consistently?

2. Communicate your story
We all have a story to share – that is our “Why” and our brand.  But often contestants just like business people are not sharing their authenticity and being real about who they are and it comes off as insincere or contrived. That was obvious in the most recent episode where the contestants received feedback from a target audience.  Lesson was “Be true to yourself and give people the real you, remember people do business with people first.”

3. Listen to your customers
Ask your customers for feedback, this will keep you on track with attracting more customers!  Makes sense right?  Well, the downfall of many of the contestants in this past weeks show was that they did not listen to the feedback from the judges or target audience when they had the opportunity.  Lesson was “Ask your customers what they like about you, why they do business with you and how you can be better and then act upon that.”

4. Do your market research
Before you jump into a market you need to learn as much as you can about the market and ask yourself some important questions such as;

 – Does the market want what I have?
 – Do they find value in what I do or offer?
– Are they willing to pay for what I am offering?

A great example of this was from last nights episode where the contestant named Andres was trying to create a brand around teaching young men to cook, but what he learned and was eliminated for was that young men didn’t care, they simply didn’t want what he was selling.  He actually had been given some great advice on creating a different point of view for the weight loss market because he had such a great back story but he ignored that advice and lost.  Lesson was “Pay attention to the market research!”

5. Learn to communicate your core message
You may know in your head what your core message or point of view is, but if you can’t communicate that to your audience you will lose.  I see the contestants each week on Next Food Network Star struggle with verbal communication. Now I understand that there is added pressure to be put on the spot while appearing on a TV show, but with that said I am certain all the contestants knew before they applied to be on the show that they would have to demonstrate a point of view and be consistent with that messaging through out the season.

In marketing a business I teach clients to practice a brief statement that they can use every time someone asks “What do you do?”   So while keeping in mind what you want to be known for.  Here’s a great tip I learned from marketing expert John Jantsch, start with an action verb + next add your target audience + finish which how you will solve their problem. {Click To Tweet this tip}

Example: “I help small business owners gain more exposure both offline and online through creative marketing solutions.”

Lesson was to learn your marketing message and be able to communicate it consistently to your audience.

So what do you think?  Do you know your core marketing message?  I’d love to hear your comments & feedback below! – JoAnne