Does Weird Work?

Does Weird Work? When Branding With Personality Is Done Different!

While weirdness might not be at the top of your list of “most important brand identity traits,” recent discussions may convince you otherwise.

If you can play your cards right, introducing a bit of oddity into your brand’s personality can help it stand out from the crowd. There are thousands of other screenwriters promoting themselves, so it’s essential that you make a more memorable impact.

Since the beginning of 2020, internet usage has increased by 70%, and online consumers have seen just about every brand personality there is to see. So why not challenge the norm? People are hungry for original, fresh—and yes, weird content—and your brand should capitalize on this while it still can.

As more and more writers adjust and tweak their brand personalities to deliver a greater impact, the window for originality is only going to get smaller. And originality is what the film and TV industry is always on the lookout for.

In this article, we’ll look at the concept of using calculated creativity and weirdness to reel new clients in and keep them engaged every step of the way.

Being Weird Can Be Good For Your Brand

Socially, we have developed a natural aversion to getting called or perceived as weird. Throughout our lives, the aim to blend in and join the crowd gets ingrained in our brains, preventing us from fully expressing our true thoughts and ideas.

Ironically enough, all of those strange and unique parts of ourselves that we hide are often the ones that people might even like us more for if they ever got a chance to see them.

Developing a strong brand identity often deals with a similar predicament. A brand that is overly bold or bizarre can also experience social rejection, which is why so many creators stick to what’s normal, appropriate, and acceptable.

Of course, this makes sense because the risk of rejection is lower. But the risk of blending into the background with masses of other equally average brands becomes dangerously high.

If you have big dreams for your brand, you need to make big moves. Just look how it’s paid off for Adam Mallinger, the writer behind Bitter Script Reader on Twitter. His tongue-in-cheek look at the industry and quirky advice may be offbeat, but it’s got him noticed and has cemented him as a brand.

It’s clear. Being weird in the right ways and at the right times can make your brand exciting, distinctive, and memorable. Let’s dig into that.

1.       It Makes Your Brand Memorable

Within the cacophonous echo chamber of the internet, memorability is one of the best things a writer can have. People remember the things that stand out in life, not the things that are common.

If you want your brand to stick out, being weird can give you the edge you need to better insert yourself into their memory. If you think about films, some of the most memorable are those that are a little offbeat or unusual. You can aim for the same and really highlight your creativity in the way you market yourself.

2.       Harder To Imitate

Imitation may be the highest form of flattery, but it’s the last thing a writer wants for their brand. There’s only one Edgar Wright and anyone who tries to imitate his brand of wit will come off second best. When you make bold moves and embrace originality, it becomes a lot harder for competitors to copy you or plagiarize your identity.

3.       Gives People Something To Talk About

The most popular person at a party is often the one with an interesting story to tell. If your brand adopts a dash of weirdness into its personality, it can provide clients (and just general online passers-by) with a thought-provoking topic of conversation to share with others. Don’t forget the power of word-of-mouth.

4.       Creates A Novel Experience

When it comes down to it, introducing a bit of weirdness into your brand personality simply gives people a more unique experience. If they’re well fused with satisfaction and overall quality, novel experiences make a much bigger impact on clients.

Creative Ideas To Make Your Brand’s Personality Stand Out

It’s one thing to decide that your brand needs a bit of oomph in the originality department, but executing a strategy that works is another.

As with any branding strategy, there are risks and rewards at stake, and one wrong move can be devastating to your brand reputation. If you push the weird factor too far, you could end up getting perceived as incomprehensive or untrustworthy.

If you don’t push the factor enough, you risk getting overlooked by clients for bolder, more exciting alternatives. Finding the balance between these two extremes is key. Here’s how you can do that:

1.       Invest In An Original Logo

As a writer, you’re still a business and every business needs a logo to build a brand around. 78% of consumers remember colors more than they remember names. Before even reading your brand name, your logo automatically communicates a style, mission, and identity. Just look at the screenwriting resource BlueCat’s distinctive logo. It utilizes its name and incorporates a typewriter into a unique logo that’s instantly recognizable and very memorable.

Investing in a design that really sets you apart from the crowd is a gentle yet effective way to establish memorability.

2.       Use Influencers On A Similar Wavelength

The influencer marketing industry is on the rise and writers like Jason Reynolds, Jenny Han, Mary H.K. Choi and Tim Federle have all used social media to successfully grow their reach. Using powerful figures on social media to represent and sell yourself as a brand is a great way to broaden your reach and utilize the personas they have to add weight to your identity.

Influencers are already well-practiced in the art of brand identity. If you can find some that operate on a similar wavelength to yours, you can further enhance the unique angles and personality of your brand.

3.       Create A Seamless Content Strategy

If you’re going to get weird, stability and predictability are your new best friend. To counter any potential perceptions of volatility, you need to be extremely careful about the timing and execution of your content strategy. If your content strategy is well planned, your brand voice will remain the same and your unique tone won’t seem out of place. Simon Pegg nails this and regularly posts on Facebook and Instagram. He combines commenting about the current events with updates about projects he’s working on, and other film, TV and media news.

4.       Be Consistent In Your Weirdness

There’s not much point in making just one bold move. You need to create a marketing plan that ensures you remain consistent in your pursuit of freshness, originality, and zeal. We already know that people love consistency, and bringing that element of predictability into the mix will make your identity more attractive. Camilla Blackett does this well by combining her passion for screenwriting with her interest in beauty and wellness. Her Instagram account is a mix of both and is peppered with (largely unfiltered) content from her daily life too. She’s fun to follow and stands out for her realness.  

Make Weird Work For You

The golden trifecta of brand personality is originality, memorability, and quality. Throwing a bit of weirdness into the mix will not only promote a deeper impact, but it will also keep things interesting and allow you to flex your creative writing muscles.

Being afraid of backlash and social rejection is a natural human perspective, but it often prevents us from reaching our full potential—so get out there and start breaking the mold.