Marketing

What If You’re Wrong?

Totally unreated. (Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash)

It’s Not What You Think

It’s a common subtitle. It’s common in thumbnails. I’m not saying it’s poop, but I can tell you it stinks.

It’s the phrase: “It’s Not What You Think.”

What if you’re wrong? What if it’s exactly what I think? What then?

The Truth

The truth is I have power over what I consume, I have power over what I engage with, and I have power over what I focus on. And I’m getting to the point now where I *may* reinstitute a self-standard I had years back.

What’s that standard?

That standard is refusing to consume any content that uses “It’s Not What You Think” as the hook.

Suspended

I suspended that standard a couple years ago because I wanted to see what’s so damn interesting in the content that uses this hook.

And, admittedly, there’s helpful, useful, practical, and insightful content that does use this hook.

Which is unfortunate.

I Haven’t Done It Yet

I haven’t decided to reinstitute this standard for myself yet. But I think it’s coming.

Personally, standards are vital to consumption. That applies to food, that applies to drink, that applies to media, that applies to ideas.

Will It Spark FOMO?

Will refusing to consume any content that uses “It’s Not What You Think” as the hook spark FOMO, a Fear of Missing Out?

Maybe.

But so what?

Fear won’t win — not with me.

I’m Not Telling You To Do This

I’m telling you what I’m doing. Or, at least, what I’m *thinking* about doing.

We Vote

We vote with ballots. We vote with money. We vote with eyeballs. And I’m close to casting my vote against content using the “It’s Not What You Think” hook.

Parody that uses it? Sure. Gimme that parody! Gimme that satire! But serious pieces? Ads? News? Marketing pieces? Podcasts? Posts?

You can miss me with that.

Swivels in, Swivels out.