Seth Godin - London Tribes

Seth Godin is an inspring thinker who practices what he preaches. Today's London talk was a sell-out. It was also entertaining, inspiring and (dare I say it) extremely re-assuring too.

Around a number of central premises (covered off in Tribes and elsewhere):

• Ideas that spread, win.
• Marketers should live a bit more dangerously - it's at the edges that marketers win
• We should be in the business of helping people spread stories about their brands

He offered a series of entertaining examples of brands which get it - illustrated by images that don't.

I know I come from a PR background, but a lot of it was music to my ears. He said that Method's soap is the same as others. It's THE STORY that people pay for. (very reminiscent of working with clients to get their narrative down on paper before any major launch)

He also said, "People like people who like what they like". Obvious but true - and one of the most succinct arguments I've heard for making more content (online and off) social.

One big soundbite which is still resonating:

TV/Radio/Magazines depend on advertising
The internet doesn't

All totally laudable. And extremely noddable-alongable-to. I left the talk enthused. Particularly about the way that the boundaries between "traditional" marketing services industries are disappearing.

It's now all about the story you tell, and the story that your audiences can pass on. One which people like me, with a PR background should hopefully be well placed to deliver...

I'm sure I'm not alone.