Are you a trendsetter or a follower? Have you ever done something just because a celebrity or influencer did it first? Do you go viral, or are you the reason someone or something went viral?
When I started my car the other day, one of my favorite oldies songs was playing on the radio. I caught the very last part of the chorus and was sad that I missed the rest of the song. So I pulled it up in a YouTube video to hear it from the beginning. In true YouTube form, I got a ton of oldies recommendations. So, I spent a few wild minutes perusing 60s commercials, TV clips, and music.
During that neat trip down memory lane. I couldn’t help but notice all the iconic ‘60s vogue. There were bold prints, bright colors, and short skirts. One of the things that really caught my eye, though, was the hairstyles, specifically the height of their hair! They called these particular styles beehives. The cone shape of the structure, combined with the way the hair was wrapped in a swirl, really did resemble a beehive, and lots of famous women wore them!
I did a little internet sleuthing and discovered that the beehive (also dubbed the B-52) was created in 1960 by a Chicago hairstylist at the request of a beauty magazine. One person invented the look, and it went viral for a decade.
What strikes me as a marketer isn’t how easily the style became a trend, but that the inventor is still remembered for it. When she passed away, articles about her life highlighted that she had created the iconic look.
Your brand can catch some attention by following a trend. You could even spend hours researching the latest fads to make sure you don’t miss one. But that kind of attention won’t represent the heart and soul–the embodiment––of your business. Just like the thousands of women who copied a hairstyle won’t be remembered for that particular look, your brand needs organic material to stand out over time. Have fun with trends if they truly represent your brand’s personality, but be remembered for the content that captures your originality.
Daisy Do Write LLC 