Over the weekend, my husband and I went out for Mexican food. I couldn’t help but laugh that the restaurant claimed to be serving authentic Mexican food. Being a frequent traveler to Mexico, this food was anything but authentic. This got me thinking about marketing, of course, and the importance of keeping it real.

Be authentic. B-E Authentic. (I dare ya to shake that little tune out of your head. #SorryNotSorry)

According to statistics highlighted at Vision Critical, authenticity is absolutely crucial if you want to see continued success. Of course, authenticity means different things to different people. However, a pretty solid relationship amongst all consumers is that they want to trust you and your brand. They will most definitely choose you over another company based on how you have presented yourself and how authentic you are. 

FUN FACT! Millennials officially make up the majority of the voting age population and the workforce and they’re close to making up the majority of entrepreneurs. (Pew Research Center)

Research has identified that Millennials (who will rule the world before you know it) simply don’t trust advertisements. By nature, they’re skeptical. (HuffPost Blog) They gravitate toward a company that offers a likable, relatable, and real presence over a company with an abrasive or sketchy approach. 

So what does that mean? It means you need to be real and offer a relatable product or service. You need to be active on social networks and build a relationship with your audience. Then you shall see that they’ll come to you, just like that. (I’m picturing the scene from Ace Ventura, “Come to me jungle friends!”)

I’m not a Millennial (or am I?) and I find myself shying away from companies that I find to be disingenuous. I prefer to support a local, small business with personality and flavor over a larger operation that has lost touch with its mission or morals. 

Going back to my Mexican restaurant experience over the weekend … Was it tasty? Yes. Authentic? No. (BTW ... Click here for a fun read if you're a foodie.) In this case, no harm was done as I am an eater of all tacos but I think you catch my drift. Don’t try to be something you’re not.

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