What does it really mean to connect with the people you’re trying to reach?
That was one of the questions Jordan McCreery from Ingrained Media brought to our Silver Creek Area CEO class yesterday when he joined us for a presentation called Marketing Is Connection.
Jordan didn’t come in with a generic marketing presentation. He took the time to learn what our students are working on and built his presentation around their class business, Christmas Clash. He wanted them to be able to take what they were learning and put it to use right away.
He challenged them to think about who they are trying to reach, why that audience should care, and what they want that person to do next. And he helped them see that even when you’re promoting the same event, you may need to tell a very different story depending on who you’re talking to.
Someone thinking about attending Christmas Clash wants to know what kind of night they’ll have. What games will they play? Will it be fun? What’s in it for them? A business considering becoming a sponsor is looking at something different. They want to know who will be there, what kind of exposure they’ll receive, and how their support will make a difference.
Same event. Different audience. Different message.
Jordan also reminded them that marketing is about so much more than putting a post on Instagram or getting likes and views. It’s about making a real connection, offering something that matters to the person you’re trying to reach, and giving them a reason to take action. It’s not just about posting. It’s about being intentional with what you’re saying and who you’re saying it to.
I loved that he made the lesson so relevant to what our students are doing right now. They’re learning by actually building a business, making decisions, trying things, and figuring out what works. Jordan met them right where they are and gave them questions they can continue to come back to as they promote Christmas Clash and their individual businesses.
And there’s something else I want to share about Jordan. He believes in CEO. He believes in what these programs are doing for students, and that belief is genuine. It shows in the time he takes to prepare, in the way he shares his knowledge, and in the encouragement he gives our students to step outside their comfort zones and put their ideas into action. That kind of support means so much to me, and it means so much to our program.
Jordan, thank you for being so thoughtful in preparing for our 22 students, for sharing your experience, and for believing in what we’re doing at Silver Creek Area CEO. We’re grateful to have people like you in our corner.
