Crank up the custom!

Like a DJ amps up the bass in his dance mix, you - as the facilitator - can control how much "custom" is injected into the ideas that your resource group generates by bringing the client's brand into your session.

When you consider that the members of your resource group are bombarded every day with marketing messages from thousands of products and services, it's not surprising that, from time to time, they'll spontaneously confabulate and start putting up ideas that might be in direct conflict with your client's brand messages.

Amp up the level of custom that comes out of your session by being prepared with marketing facts about the client's brand.

Give this a try:

  1. Bring samples of your client's product to the session. Ask the resource group members to touch, feel, and smell the product and let the sensory experience inspire ideas they can add to your list.

  2. Play the client's current television or radio commercials in the session. Ask participants to offer ideas based on what they see and hear.

  3. Get on the client's website during the session or ask the members of the resource group to get on the client's site on their phones and offer new ideas inspired by what they find.

  4. Take a detour by deconstructing the client's logo and brand images.

    • Ask the resource group to help you make a side list containing the colors, words, images, mascots, slogans, and other elements included in the client's brand.

    • Now, choosing one item at a time, "force" the resource group to make new connections and add ideas to your list that reflect the client's brand.

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