My clients all have incredible gifts, that’s why their businesses are successful and that’s why they’re successful in person.
Business owners and entrepeneurs possess an excitedness and brilliance about their products and their services and I love watching them come alive when they talk about them – it’s TRUE PASSION – and I love helping their products and services come alive through stories on social media.
One of my favorite stories was this past holiday season, in a time when people really needed something to smile about.
One of my clients had an idea – he had a Grinch costume and he wasn’t sure how to incorporate it so he figured, let’s just walk around town.
I, who likes to have a plan, came over to shoot it and decided, “OK then, let’s just scrap the plan,” and I went along with it. He, in his Grinch costume, did just that: walked around and interacted with people as I followed behind and took video.
What I saw was incredible. He BECAME THE GRINCH.
His personality while inside the costume completely changed and he became the Grinch personified.
It was magical. Voice and everything.
As I got video, I took note of all the little moments.
I watched as he skipped his feet up and down the sidewalk. I got video of his feet.
I took video of people’s expressions. Their comments.
He tried to get a haircut. (He wanted to be handsome).
He obstructed traffic (playfully.)
He tried (unsuccessfully and quietly) to disrupt a yoga class.
He tried to order rotton onions at a nearby restaurant.
He thought about getting his green, hairy nails done.
He tried to make lattes. He made an onion latte.
Ideas came up on the fly, and from that moment forward, the Grinch was born.
What I love about working with clients is giving them the space and the support to come alive in their own way. I produced these videos, which, by the way, HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS BUSINESS, and they got thousands of views and caught the attention of all the local media, who then did stories on The Grinch.
At his business.
The Grinch was invited to weddings. The Grinch was invited to holiday parties. People called the shop and messaged the page about The Grinch.
We had to come up with a Grinch schedule so people could come by at certain times to see him.
Grinch food.
Grinch presents (onions and toilet paper.)
We took photos, created videos for Facebook and Instagram and more importantly, Instagram Reels, which has skyrocketed in popularity as it competes with TikTok.
As you can see, social isn’t about advertising your business necessarily. It’s about CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE. And at the time the Grinch came along, it was about making people smile when they needed it most.
Yes, their sales went up – both in store and online. That was an added bonus!
THAT’S how organic social media works. It’s about creativity. Storytelling. Connection.
Last year, I had a client who was a candidate for a local office. He wanted to do more on social but didn’t know what. We outlined a strategy and content together but the real magic came when I saw his natural gift for writing and storytelling. Together, we strategized the tone and content of his posts while using his gift for storytelling. Those were ALWAYS the best performing posts.
As with the Grinch, I cannot take credit for that, that was all my client. My clients have talent! I just helped him, and The Grinch, come alive on social media because that’s what I do.
He had the vision. I helped execute it.
I’d love to help your story and your page come alive, too.
Stay updated and subscribed on my blog and message me at christie@christieo.com to see how we can work together.