Challenger Personalities
The most legendary challenger was a little guy named David. He picked up five stones to battle Goliath. Here are five stones to battle your giant. Empowered challengers have multiple personalities. They need them. They fight on multiple fronts. Which of the five apply to you?
Brand Positioning
Becoming an empowered challenger brand requires...a brand. Yeah, sounds obvious. But you’d be shocked how many people come to us for marketing thinking they already have a brand. Learn more about how Brand Positioning can help you find your north star…
What’s Your Shhh?
My Executive Creative Director, Noah, is a walking Yelp app. He knows every eatery in Austin and can recite the ingredients of any small bite or mocktail within the urban core. He recently recommended I try…
The Empowered Challenger Podcast
NEW RELEASES! From 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to artist Ashley Longshore, dive into the playbooks of challenger brands who are disrupting industries…
4 Keys to Building Challenger Brand Advocacy
The fastest growing brands are the ones migrating culture, changing the vernacular and turning predictability inside out. They’re not leading their respective category in the revenue column (yet) but they are, hands down, the ones…
Your Brand Could Use Fewer Friends
We all have friends that aren’t a good fit in our lives. Maybe we have nothing in common with them. Perhaps they’re emotionally draining. Or flaky…
Understanding Statistical Significance
People love data. It’s true. Even if their career has nothing to do with advertising or marketing, they still love the idea of using data to inform decisions. It makes sense, right?
Fighting Words: Writing Like a Challenger
At Door No. 3 we talk a lot about challenger brands and how we can help them compete. Truth is, “challenger” is as much a state of mind as it is a state of being…
The Empowered Challenger Podcast
Unless you’re a category leader, your brand is likely in a struggle for attention in a crowded consumer marketplace. Fortunately, your business’s challenger nature may be the very thing that sets it apart from the pack…
Challenger Lessons From a Real Ace
Is Ace Hotel the cheapest chain in the market? No. Do they have a lucrative loyalty program? Nope. Are their amenities second to none? Nuh-uh. Then why in the world do some people love them so much? …
Stop Pretending You're Well Positioned
Quick, tell me your company’s brand positioning statement in 12 words or less. If you recited it clearly and without hesitation, stop reading this article and go pour yourself a drink. The rest of you…
Making Sense of Attribution
When you’re a challenger brand being outspent by a category leader, every marketing dollar must be invested wisely. You have to resist the myriad of paid media channels and commit to tactics that will drive the biggest ROI…
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Brett McDowell of Centennial BANK
Brett McDowell of Centennial BANK on how going through a rebrand can change internal culture.
Make Touchpoints Count
Like a weighted elbow to a stubborn muscle knot, Challengers know where to focus their energy to achieve maximum results. Whether it’s a before-purchase social post, a point-of-sale poster or a memorable thank you email, knowing how to get (and stay) in touch with your customers is the key to building brand loyalty that lasts.
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Daniel Barnes of Mighty Swell Cocktails
We sat down with Daniel Barnes, co-founder of Mighty Swell Cocktails to talk about doing something different in a crowded industry.
Challengers on the Rise: Bird
There! On the sidewalk! It’s a scooter… it’s a nuisance… it’s a Bird, and it’s the hottest transportation solution since Uber. Bird is a Santa Monica transportation startup that’s currently flying high with a $400 million valuation and thousands of users from California to DC.
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Michael Portman of Birds Barbershop
We sat down with Michael Portman of Birds Barbershop to talk about how the experience of a haircut could transform his business model and disrupt the industry.
Want Profit? Start with Purpose.
What does your company exist to do? No, not the product you sell. What does your company stand for? If you can’t answer that question definitively, it’s time to think about your purpose.
Tell Me Your Story in 6 Seconds or Less.
This is the age of programmatic banner ads and pre-roll video that split the attention of the viewer between the content they came to consume and the brand advertising they didn’t. So how do you win when you can’t guarantee the average adult’s attention for more than 8 seconds? You go short. Really short. 6 seconds, short.
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Cary Prewitt of Guns & Oil Beer
When Cary Prewitt set out to create the first "poundable" craft lager, he knew he'd be disrupting an industry. Find out what he's learned along the way.