“3 Mistakes Most Businesses Make With Their Brand” with Marc Gutman

Brand, Branding, Brand Strategy…

No matter the business, these are the hot words of the day. And from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed, just about every decision we make is influenced by branding.

But what really is a brand?
Why does it matter?
What does it mean?

While most businesses can’t answer these questions, they experience branding challenges every day. Many of the challenges facing leaders and their teams are brand problems disguised as something else.

In this 45-minute presentation, Branding expert, Marc Gutman, will share what a brand is and why it matters. Why brand strategy is one of the most critical areas to focus on for your business and that the ability to differentiate is the only thing you can “own.”

We’ll look at typical areas in the business that are diagnosed as marketing problems but are brand problems.

You’ll leave this talk with a greater understanding of brand and branding, how it impacts you and your business, i.e., how it affects your bottom line, and receive actionable takeaways you can apply to your brand immediately.

Attendees Will Learn:

• What a brand is and isn’t.
• Why meaning is today’s marketing.
• Branding = Sales.
• A quick framework on how to differentiate from your competitors.
• How to get clarity on your brand and communicate that with your team.
• Tools and strategies on how to communicate with your creative team.
• How to engage customers emotionally and resonate with them on a deep, meaningful level.

Watch Marc highlight what he’ll be talking about at the event!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Marc Gutman is a storyteller, entrepreneur, adventurer, and idealist. But most importantly, Marc loves brands and their stories. Marc has held several positions in the story business. He’s served as Story Editor for Oliver Stone’s Illusion Entertainment, and written stories and screenplays for Oliver Stone, Warner Bros., and 20th Century Fox. In addition to his time in Hollywood, Marc itched the entrepreneurial scratch by founding a multimillion-dollar tech company in Boulder, Colorado. Today, Marc focuses his energy on Wildstory, the brand strategy studio for brands that want to outmaneuver their competition.

Wildstory has worked with brands like Thor Industries, Airstream, El Cap, Planet Granite, Earth Treks, Movement, Inboard, Outward Bound School, and First Descents. Marc is on a mission to help the world après… one brand at a time. Marc is also the host of the Baby Got Backstory podcast delving into the story behind great brands such as Priceline.com, Patagonia, Ugg, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Kswiss, and the State of Colorado Outdoor Recreation Office. In addition, even though he is terrified of being on the mic, Marc recently performed his own, original stand-up comedy set at Caroline’s on Broadway in NYC. Marc lives outside of Boulder, CO with his saintly wife and three dirty kids. He is an active global committee member of the Entrepreneur’s Organization.

Marc graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan and has held just about every job imaginable from TCBY to working with an Academy Award-winning director. When not obsessing about the story, you can find Marc on a bike, snowboard, sailboat, airplane, beach, summit, kiteboard, mountain, chairlift, or brewery.

Additional “brags: Level C certified brand strategist Entrepreneur’s Organization Certified Speaker (top three in class) Global Committee Member Entrepreneur’s Organization English Literature and Film at the University of Michigan Worked at Disney, Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox. Directly for Oliver Stone. Worked on movies with Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, the Farrelly Bros, Bill Murray, Chris Rock, Mark Whalberg, and Jennifer Aniston. I’ve studied story directly with the world-famous Robert McKee (script and story guru) and generally like to nerd out on story form and lore. Board Member EO, Colorado (former) Regular contributor to Colorado University (CU) communications curriculum (topic: narrative in business).

This event is open to EO Members, Accelerators, Key Staff and SAPs.