Choosing Good Messaging over Safe Messaging for Your Brand

There comes a time in every corporate communicator or brand manager’s life where you have to take a risk, even if the end result is the equivalent of throwing yourself off a plank with a 50-pound anvil strapped to your ankle.

As the voice of a company, there’s a delicate balance of speaking on behalf of a brand and speaking from the heart; speaking on behalf of an executive and speaking from what you know feels right.

Oftentimes in the corporate world, there’s an invisible line drawn around communications, known as “the safety zone.”

If you’ve worked in a marketing team and written for very structured and professional industries, you’ve come accustomed to the secure feeling you get when you create harmless communications.

Most of us writers who have worked in these types of environments have fallen into the trap of regurgitating the same value propositions and ideas in ways that we know will cause the guys (or gals) in charge to give a polite smile and slap on the back for another job well done.

But is it?

This old-pair-of-jeans approach to communications is the exact opposite of the feeling you get when you write something you know is teetering on the edge of danger. Something sparks inside of you – it’s risky, it’s edgy and it just might get you fired, but it’s something that’s forged from a fire within.

In these situations, a quick diagnosis in your head weighs the benefits (“This could really get people’s attention!”) against the disadvantages (“I totally don’t have three months’ living expenses saved up if I get canned!”).

While all this is happening in your head in a matter of seconds, this is the pivotal moment to quiet that voice of reason. Taking a risk in your communications is scary, but it can lead to some of the best ideas you (aka your company) has ever had.

• Learning to take risk in brand messaging and communications
• Not taking “your idea sucks” personally 
• FAQ: How can I embrace brand messaging risk to transform my communication strategy? 

Learning to Take Risk in Brand Messaging and Communications

In your career, everything is trial by error. When you’re starting off, fresh out of college, you want to please your direct reports. You want the satisfaction that comes with knowing you gave them exactly what they wanted.

As you become more experienced, as you gain more knowledge, you start to realize that what they want may not be what’s best for their brand.

But, working within the confines of a brand can be tough. Even when you have a gut feeling that a new voice with a fresh perspective will infuse some life into a stale brand, you talk yourself out of it because it’s too risky.

I can’t tell you how many times that voice of reason has told me that the content I’ve just created will not in a million years make it past the suits.

I could hear the execs’ voices in my head as they explained why that wasn’t going to work. But they didn’t have to explain; I knew exactly why it wouldn’t fly even before I handed it over.

But over the course of my career, I took baby steps to be brave in what I thought was good for the brand. I would start off subtle – slip in a little something here and a little something there. Break ‘em into the idea, you know?

When I became more comfortable with my level of expertise, I would begin to defend my choices and explain to them why I think it would be a positive move for their brand.

And you know what? It worked – not always, but most of the time. In fact, some of my best pieces of work and most valuable pieces of advice have come out of taking risks.

Sure, there were many times my ideas were vetoed – but it wasn’t because they weren’t good (well, I suppose that’s subjective, ha); most of the time, it was because they weren’t comfortable stepping outside the safety zone.

Not Taking “Your Idea Sucks” Personally

As writers, communicators, creatives, brand managers, we pour a little bit of our soul into what we create and the company we work for. Newbies almost always feel emotionally attached to their work. But, over the course of our professional careers, we learn not to take things personally — it’s strictly business.

As writers, when people rip our writing to shreds or praise it with joy, we learn to accept the highs and lows professionally, with little emotion. I think this is a prevailing theme in the corporate world. Ha.

As a corporate communicator or branding officer (I’m using these positions interchangeably because communications is all about branding), you know the brand. You know the brand just as well as the execs know the business.

It’s your job to translate the company’s vision into words and concepts on a daily basis. And guaranteed you know how to frame up the message better than any other employee there.

But what you’re afraid of is taking a risk and having them tell you your idea sucks. The idea that you know feels right. The one that will give a fresh image and new voice to an old brand. The one that will make the people will perk up and pay attention. That will stand out amongst all the “synergistic, world-class leading service providers” out there.

If it’s strictly business, and you know what you’re doing, why not take the risk?

If you have a gut feeling about the new tagline you’re creating for your company – go for it. If you have a hunch that writing that blog post for the CEO in a fresh voice will better capture your audience, draft a copy, and see what happens.

The very worst thing that can happen is that they hate it and tell you your idea sucks. You go back to the drawing board, and life goes on.

The best thing that can happen is that you spark that creative fire from within. You’re not just going through the motions, you’re creating something based on your expertise and skills – something you (and potentially the company if they like it) can be proud of.

When we stop taking risks, when we become comfortable in the safe zone, we blend in. Aversion to risk leaves our communications – and our brand — stale.

A thousand businesses can be spouting the same thing in the same monotone voice, but the one quirky, interesting message will overpower that crowd and get through to your audience. This may just be what your brand needs.

Have you ever taken a risk that turned out great or horribly wrong? Tell us about it!

Transform your brand’s narrative from safe to standout—embrace calculated risks in your messaging strategy today and watch your company’s voice resonate uniquely amidst the corporate noise.

FAQ: How Can I Embrace Brand Messaging Risk to Transform My Communication Strategy?

The role of brand messaging has never been more critical. To navigate this ever-changing environment successfully, businesses must be willing to take calculated risks and transform their communication strategies. This whitepaper will provide expert insights on embracing brand messaging risk to drive your communication strategy to new heights.

1. Understanding the Significance of Brand Messaging Risk

Before we delve into the specifics, it’s essential to grasp why embracing brand messaging risk is crucial. In an era where consumers are inundated with information, playing it safe with generic messaging often leads to your brand getting lost in the noise. Risk-taking, when well-informed and strategically executed, can set your brand apart.

2. Leveraging Data-Driven Insights

Effective risk-taking begins with data. Analyze your target audience’s preferences, behaviors, and sentiments. Utilize analytics tools to gather actionable insights. Data-driven decision-making reduces the uncertainty associated with brand messaging risk.

3. Define Your Brand’s Persona

To embrace risk, establish a clear and compelling brand persona. This is the foundation upon which your messaging strategy will be built. Define your brand’s values, mission, and unique selling points. Knowing who you are will guide your risk-taking choices.

4. Crafting Bold and Authentic Messages

The key to successful brand messaging is authenticity. Consumers appreciate brands that speak their language and share their values. Crafting bold, authentic messages that resonate with your audience can be risky, but it’s worth taking.

5. Testing and Adapting

Embracing brand messaging risk doesn’t mean being reckless. Test your messages on smaller, segmented audiences before launching large-scale campaigns. Monitor the response and adapt as necessary. This iterative process allows you to refine your approach based on real-world feedback.

Step-by-Step Guide to Embracing Brand Messaging Risk

Now, let’s break down how you can embrace brand messaging risk to transform your communication strategy:

1. Start by understanding the importance of risk in your brand’s messaging strategy.
2. Utilize data-driven insights to inform your decision-making.
3. Define your brand’s persona, values, and unique selling points.
4. Craft bold and authentic messages that resonate with your target audience.
5. Test your messages on smaller audiences and adapt based on feedback.
6. Continuously monitor and refine your messaging strategy.
7. Stay updated on industry trends and adapt to changes in consumer behavior.
8. Create a crisis communication plan to mitigate potential risks.
9. Cultivate a culture of risk-awareness within your organization.
10. Collaborate with experts in branding and communication for guidance.
11. Take inspiration from successful case studies of brands that have embraced risk.
12. Stay consistent with your brand messaging across all channels.
13. Keep an eye on your competitors and be ready to pivot when necessary.
14. Measure the impact of your risk-taking through key performance indicators.
15. Be prepared to learn from failures and adjust your strategy accordingly.
16. Seek feedback from your audience to ensure your messages are resonating.
17. Evolve and adapt your brand messaging strategy as your business grows.
18. Educate your team about the importance of brand messaging risk.
19. Regularly review and update your brand persona and messaging guidelines.
20. Celebrate your successes and be proud of your bold and authentic brand messaging.

Embracing brand messaging risk is a strategic imperative in today’s competitive landscape. This blog will assist in the transformation of your communication strategy, deepen your relationships with audiences and drive brand success. Take calculated risks; they could unlock the true potential of your brand.

This article was updated on November 20, 2023.

Jessica Lee is the founder and chief creative for bizbuzzcontent Inc., a marketing boutique that focuses on digital content strategy and professional writing services for businesses.

See Jessica's author page for links to connect on social media.