Own It: The Power of Cross Culture Marketing
Welcome to the fourth edition of “Own It,” where key leaders at ON Advertising share their thoughts on important topics. Today, we’ll discuss ON Advertising’s President & General Manager, Darren Higgs’ trip to the 2024 Agency Leadership Summit in Boca Raton, Florida, and how he learned about cross culture marketing.
Summit Inspiration
At the 2024 Agency Leadership Summit in Boca Raton, there were many impressive keynote speakers, but Dr. Marcus Collins really stood out to Darren. In Collins’ book For the Culture, he explores the idea of tribes—how people are drawn to groups they feel a connection to, but still want to maintain their individuality. This concept is highly relevant in today’s marketing, where brands don’t just sell products but also promote ideologies, aiming to connect with consumers on a deeper cultural level. Let’s dive into that.
Dr. Collins’ For the Culture
In his book For the Culture, Collins explores how brands connect with consumers on a deeper level, rather than simply selling products. Drawing from behavioral science, sociology and cultural anthropology, Collins reveals how modern advertising taps into our deep desire for belonging. At the heart of his insights is the concept of tribes—groups of people united by shared beliefs, interests, and behaviors. These tribes aren’t defined by products; they represent the identities and communities we create.
Collins argues that today’s brands don’t just sell products—they sell identities. The products we buy and the brands we support reflect our values and help us express who we are and where we belong. In today’s advertising, the line between consumer and community member is often blurred.
The Need for Belonging: Tribes and Individuality in Cross Culture
Humans are wired for connection and community, yet we also crave individuality. This tension creates a fascinating dynamic in modern advertising: we want to belong, but we also want to stand out. The idea of cross culture—the blending of different cultural elements—helps modern brands navigate this need. By tapping into cultural movements, societal shifts, and shared experiences, brands craft messages that resonate with diverse audiences while reinforcing unity within each tribe.
The Advantage of Cross Culture in Advertising
Today’s advertising is about why the product matters and why consumers should care. It’s not just about functionality; it’s about tapping into cultural touchpoints. Liquid Death, for instance, engages with the broader cultural conversation about sustainability and environmentalism, forging a connection with consumers who are passionate about these causes. Their message isn’t just about selling water; it’s about selling a belief system that speaks to the collective.
Leveraging a cross culture approach enables brands to speak to multiple tribes at once. By weaving together different cultural elements, they build identities and shared beliefs that transcend the transactional nature of traditional advertising.
Connecting on a Personal Level Through Cross Culture
Effective advertising today is about building relationships, not just transactions. Successful brands connect with consumers by aligning their messages with cultural touchpoints, values, and beliefs. The cross culture approach allows brands to resonate with their audiences on a deeply personal level. By understanding the role of cross culture, brands create meaningful connections that go beyond just selling a product—they help consumers express their identity and beliefs.
As Marcus Collins highlights in For the Culture that the true power of advertising lies in the tribes we create and the identities we help shape. By understanding and leveraging cross culture in today’s advertising landscape, brands can foster lasting connections and drive growth that goes beyond the transactional.
Darren’s Final Takeaways
As previously mentioned, a crucial takeaway from Dr. Marcus Collins’ speech was the concept of tribes—how people seek a sense of belonging while striving to maintain their individuality. This idea is highly relevant in modern advertising, where companies no longer simply sell products, but create identities and forge cultural connections with their audiences.
Cross cultural marketing is all about uncovering a brand’s core beliefs and aligning them with the values of specific subcultures—or “tribes.” Rather than employing a one-size-fits-all approach, it focuses on tailoring messages to distinct audiences with shared values. That’s why ON Advertising is thrilled to announce that we are integrating key principles of cross-cultural marketing into every aspect of our business, including social media. This approach is not only highly effective, but it is also a forward-thinking strategy that will shape the future of our company and the advertising industry.
ON Advertising is the Largest Minority-Owned, Full-Service Advertising Agency in the Southwest
We are the largest minority-owned full-service agency in the Southwest and we did not get there by accident. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow to the next level.
Our brand strategists work synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs.
Our team of thinkers, creatives, and researchers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional advertising advice for your Gen Z audience or any other marketing project, we can make it happen!
