We can learn invaluable lessons on marketing and messaging from the Little Miss trend.
You’ve probably seen 2,848,799 versions of the “Little Miss” meme over the last week.
Uh, yeah. Same.
If you have no idea what I’m referring to, let me explain. “Little Miss” is a recent super-viral trend where content creators post illustrations of cute characters from an old children’s book series. They re-share the characters with really niche titles… like:
The trend spread at light speed this week, finding extra traction and prevalence in the creative community.
After scrolling past the umpteenth version (most with pretty solid engagement!) I started to wonder… Why in the world is this working?
Here are 3 lessons in my analysis of this trend:
How does this apply to you? Glad you asked. I’ve come up with 8 actionable tips for you.
The most effective “Little Miss” memes are the most niche… The ones that prove that there’s someone else out there like you. As humans and consumers, we crave connection – we want someone else to validate what makes us “weird.”
“Little Miss” memes provide an opportunity for users to select from a list of possible identities. That’s the reason most comments say “OMG, Number #3 is ME.” In the vast cocktail party that is the internet, we’re all just looking for something to help us relate and connect. Most of the Little Miss comments were users tagging their friends, saying “THIS!” or “omg, #4 attacked!”
People love to define who they are and what they are not.
See also the Enneagram and Buzzfeed quizzes.
It’s human nature. We want to feel seen, known, and understood.
How can you connect?
Look for the habits and interests you and your ideal client have in common. Share them.
Add a “Does this sound familiar?” section to your services page, outlining things your client might need, want, feel, or desire.
Example: “You want a gorgeous, aesthetic home. You’ve got great taste, but putting it all together feels like a challenge you can never make time for…”
Enabling your customer to self-identify within the context of your brand is a marketing win.
Don’t be afraid to share the things about you that make you unique in your space….. the things that make you a little weird. Chances are, your customer might be drawn to those exact qualities.
Your differences = your superpower
You’re a human rainbow in a neutral world.
You were an architect, but now do graphic design.
You could care less about wedding photography; you shoot so they never forget what love looks like.
Lean into your difference. The more you tell out your weird, the more you’ll find your power and your people.
Why do you love what you love?
Stop telling people you like coffee. Go deeper with storytelling. Add detail so people can connect with you on a more niche level. You don’t love coffee – you love making coffee every day, then letting it slowly die on your desk while you forget it ever existed. (Me, too!)
Provide specific examples of how your ideal clients might be feeling, in your messaging. Use heart centered branding in your website copy. Share details about the things they struggle with, the questions they have, and their aspirations for the future.
You’ll create an “Omg, that’s ME, how did you KNOW?” response when you use highly targeted examples.
You need to totally get your customer. This takes research!
How can you anticipate your customer’s needs? Give voice to your customer’s thoughts or concerns? Provide a personalized purchase experience that truly caters to your customer’s needs?
How can you surprise and delight in every touchpoint of your customer journey?
Ex: Our “What’s Your Brand Cocktail?” quiz – where you’ll discover whether your brand is more like a Margarita, Gin & Tonic, Manhattan, or French 75 has been taken over 50,000 times, generating over 49k opt-ins to our email list
Don’t be afraid to be authentic. Honesty takes courage. Yet interestingly, some of the most popular Little Miss memes were the “toxic” ones capturing questionable habits and personality traits. Secretly, we LOVE it when others are willing to be honest with us… It builds trust. And trust is a key milestone in your customer journey.
Don’t hide behind your brand. People connect with people. People buy from people most easily. The more professional your surroundings, the more personal you can be. Share a funny story in your newsletter. Send a few clients a quick, encouraging voice message. Show up as yourself. Remember, your clients are looking for a reason to connect with you.
Agree or disagree? Drop me a comment below.
We have a world-class team of content creators, copywriters, creatives, data scientists, and developers at Reactionpower. We are passionate about helping clients get more done. We are many voices, one team. Together we elevate each others’ thinking and talents. We’re fast, smart, and fearlessly human. We bring our passion and partner with you side-by-side. We win with authenticity and love what we do.
If your business is growing fast and you’re looking to maximize the impact of your digital marketing activities by getting the job done right the first time, schedule a free strategy session.
Leave a Reply