Marketers are trained to think about the next step.
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Calls to action are important. Marketing should ultimately help move people toward action.
But does every interaction need to ask for something?
That’s one of the questions Kirby Hasseman and Jade Crider tackle in the Season 2 finale of Better Merch… Better Marketing.
Are We Asking Too Much?
There is a time to ask customers to take action. But there’s also tremendous value in simply giving.
Give someone useful information.
Make them laugh.
Send them something thoughtful.
Celebrate an accomplishment.
Help them solve a problem without immediately asking for something in return.
It’s the classic jab, jab, jab, right hook philosophy: consistently provide value before making the ask.
When every interaction becomes transactional, customers begin to feel it. Sometimes the smartest marketing decision is to remove the call to action entirely and focus on creating a positive experience.
Appreciation Marketing in Action
Kirby and Jade experienced a great example of this firsthand when their partner commonsku sent Jade a congratulations gift for her new baby.
There wasn’t a sales pitch attached.
There wasn’t an offer.
There wasn’t a button asking her to schedule a demo.
It was simply a thoughtful gesture celebrating an important moment in her life.
That’s appreciation marketing.
Great appreciation marketing isn’t about putting your logo on something and hoping the recipient remembers you. It’s about demonstrating that you remember them.
Those experiences create positive memories—and positive memories build stronger relationships.
Finding the Balance Between Giving and Asking
This doesn’t mean businesses should stop using calls to action.
Far from it.
The challenge is finding the right balance.
If every interaction asks the customer to do something for your business, eventually the relationship becomes one-sided. Strong brands intentionally create moments where they provide value without expecting an immediate return.
Give. Give. Give.
Then, when the time comes to ask, you’ve earned the opportunity.
What’s Coming With HYBRID Marketing?
Kirby also shares an update on his upcoming book, HYBRID Marketing, which explores how businesses can intentionally combine digital and physical marketing to create a stronger, more complete strategy.
More details about the launch are coming soon.
Product of the Week: BruMate MUV
This week’s Product of the Week is the BruMate MUV, premium drinkware designed for everyday use and a great example of branded merchandise people will actually want to keep.
Grab a Free Copy of Hit the TARGET
This week’s giveaway is a FREE digital copy of Kirby’s book Hit the TARGET.
Get your copy at:
That’s a Wrap on Season 2
This episode also marks the end of Season 2 of Better Merch… Better Marketing.
With Jade preparing for a new baby and both hosts having some travel ahead, Kirby and Jade are taking a well-earned break before returning for Season 3.
Until then, there’s one marketing question worth considering:
Are you giving your audience enough reasons to appreciate your brand—or are you always asking them for something?
