Stand Out When Building Your Brand: Be Bold, Be Quirky

When it comes to digital marketing and building a solid brand, standing out is absolutely key. And you know what? That means taking risks. As Bryan Eisenberg put it so perfectly in one of his comments on my Tiktok: “Be bold!”

And I couldn’t agree more – embrace what makes you different. 

Let’s dive into why being “the quirky one” might just be your best move yet.

In the crowded world of brands, blending in is the fastest way to be forgotten. If you sound and look like everyone else, why should your target audience really choose you? What is their incentive?

And just to be clear, quirky doesn’t mean confusing or random – it means authentic, bold and unapologetically you.

People remember those who dare to be different.

This makes me think of a post I read on Linkedin from Bryan Eisenberg (yes, I really like him, he gets 100 plants easily from me!). 

It was about Derek Sivers who rewrote a confirmation email.

Instead of the:

“Your order has shipped today. Please let us know if it doesn’t arrive. Thank you for your business.”

He wrote:

“Your CD has been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with sterilized gloves and placed onto a satin pillow…”

It went viral and people remembered the CD Baby.

In Bryan’s post he makes such an important point:

“Most companies sound like a legal team wrote their marketing. Their emails, texts and autoresponders are safe. Polished. Boring. No edge. No humor. No heartbeat.”

Another 100 plants to that sentence.

I get it, it’s not an easy thing to take risks (and I am from Sweden and here we even have an expression that is called “lagom” which loosely translates to “not too much, not too little”). 

But it’s impossible to build real connections being “lagom”. 

Taking risks doesn’t mean being reckless; it means stepping outside your comfort zone.

Take a chance on those ideas that might initially seem too out there, too weird or makes you think “Can I really do this” – those ideas can be the real game-changers.

People connect with people and not faceless logos! Showing your personality means the possibility of creating an impact. It is possible to connect with your target audience, in a genuine way. 

Personal anecdotes are a great way to start with showing your personality, that means lowering your guard a bit but again – people do business with whom they like, who they can relate to. And not only that, it’s also a great way to connect with other industry professionals and broaden your network. 

Another way to stand out while building your brand is to show behind-the-scenes content, include humour or even show when something didn’t go the way it was supposed to.

And quirky doesn’t have to be loud – it can be subtle yet unforgettable 🙂

Being quirky isn’t just about standing out – it’s about being authentic. And this means also really having a good  understanding of your audiences’ needs, desires and pain points and addressing them in a way that feels genuine and relatable. 

When you have a customer-centric perspective instead of saying “our products are amazing” you share a story that highlights how your product helps the customer overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.

This will lead to a narrative that resonates emotionally and builds a stronger connection.

And if you can combine this with transparency and honesty what your brand’s strengths and weaknesses are – that is how you build both authenticity and credibility (which in turn will lead to long-term relationships with your customers).

One key thing to point out here is the importance of being consistent on all access. How strange wouldn’t it be if I on my LinkedIn and website had a tone that was very plant-oriented and quirky and then on my TikTok channel had a more hard tone that differed a lot from other platforms?

People would quickly detect those inconsistencies, and that would erode trust.

So you may be thinking “Okay, Linksandmaria, sounds good and all, but where should I start?”. 

One starting point is to partner with unconventional influencers or voices in your industry. If you’re running a business you probably have a good idea what your competitors are doing, who they are collaborating with and what their marketing efforts look like.

Can you detect patterns? And how could you tweak this so it’s still relevant for your target audience, their problems and still be true to your own tone of voice?

Another idea is to host a virtual event or campaign that showcases your personality. Here, the idea is not to sell products or services, but to really show the human side of your business.

Think of it sort of like a “vlog format”. Influencers are so good at this, and you can take inspiration from them. But again, it has to feel relevant and true to both yourself and your audience.

And last but not least – use humor or offbeat storytelling in your content – it’s both memorable and refreshing.

In a previous section I talked about taking risks, what are some bold risks you can take to stand out while building a brand?

• Experiment with content ideas like memes, challenges or even lighthearted videos (yes, TikTok counts)
• Don’t be afraid to tackle a tough topic or voice a strong opinion – it shows confidence and conviction
• Be the first in your niche to try something unexpected, whether it’s an interactive website feature, a creative partnership, or a bold design.

In the world of digital marketing and brand-building, playing it safe means blending into the background, being in the world of “lagom”. 

By embracing quirks, showing personality, and taking risks, you create a brand that not only stands out but also resonates authentically with your audience.

Authenticity, consistency, and a little boldness go a long way in making lasting connections. So, be unapologetically you.

And you will get more than 100 plants 🙂