10 June

by The Creative Punk with 17 comments

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Leading Like Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga

Courtesy of LadyGaga.com

Lady Gaga is a pop culture icon whose bizarre looks serve to exaggerate the edge of her music.

I am not a fan personally, however, I think she can teach us a thing or two about branding.

Branding use to be all about the same color, the same logo, the same tag line over and over again. While these are certainly staples of advertisement, Lady Gaga sells a brand of bizarre by consistent change, not consistent repetitive representation.

I think she shows us how to understand branding in a mosaic world.

If you know about her, you may not know how she is going to be dressed the next time you see her, but you do know it will make you go, “You have got to be kidding me”

She understands that she is not selling music, but she is selling bizarre.

How can that translate in your business, in your church?

Think of Starbucks.  They are not just selling coffee, they are selling a feeling.

Your favorite restaurant is not just selling food, they are also selling you a feeling.

What feeling is your business selling? Do you, like Lady Gaga, reflect that everywhere you go in everything you do?

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17 Comments

  • Vana W.
    June 10, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    I like writing stories. The feelings that they portray are love, fear, kindness, just things that describe the main character in the story at the time. They’re dark or light or medium. Just different feelings I’d like to show in my stories.

    • Vendetta Louise (KAT)
      June 10, 2010 at 2:58 pm

      Not just that, like being constantly inconstant. Doing things differently, while still keeping the same thought, or main idea in mind. Keeping to yourself while still keeping things interesting.

      • chris
        June 10, 2010 at 6:09 pm

        Great stuff Vendetta (KAT)
        When it comes to branding, it is all about not deviating from the core message, but the methods of the message much shift with our ever changing culture.

    • chris
      June 10, 2010 at 6:04 pm

      keep Writing Vana!

  • nick elkins
    June 10, 2010 at 2:58 pm

    Lady Gaga is indeed bizarre. She’s known for the way she dresses and acts. It’s odd to say the least. I don’t think personally that she sells her music through the way she acts or how she dresses. In my opinion that has nothing to do with her selling her music. Although it is trademark of her to do these things when she performs. Good point. Slightly confusing but yea.

    • chris
      June 10, 2010 at 6:17 pm

      Let me help to clarify Nick,
      Anytime she is seen in public, she is dressed wildly, and outfit made of coke cans, ect. That look that she portrays all the time sells the fact that not only is her music bazar, she is.
      We as a church and for others a as a business, must be that committed to what we sell.
      Hey if Jesus is truly the only way truth and life, then we should live our lives 24/7 reflecting that life changing truth.
      In other words I think when it come to branding, that too many people think it stops with a flyer or a t-shirt.
      The attention getting caption, “Leading like LAdy GAGA”
      should remind the church or people who are passionate about their business, that we are not “selling” church services, or a religious system that you can lay down when it is not convenient we have to commit to the undeniable truth that we are in this because we truly have a life changing message and “sell” that 24/7 with every ounce of energy you have.
      If you are convince about your business, what is your commitment level, are you “selling” that core message 24/7?

  • Praygirl
    June 10, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    Lady Gaga does indeed capture her audience with the feeling of bizarre. She is unique and her fans like it. Every person has a uniqueness about them. I think as a christian it is good to be unique. Where ever one goes, someone else should be saying, ” that person is not like the rest, there is something unique about him or her.”

  • Michelle
    June 10, 2010 at 4:38 pm

    Lady GaGa does what we as individuals should be doing. She acts and dresses in a bizarre fashion to stand out from the crowd. Isn’t that what Christians are called to do? Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. We are not supposed to mold ourselves to what the world wants us to be but know the will of God for our lives – what is good, acceptable and perfect. Lady GaGa is selling Lady GaGa….and if you buy her music then you support what she is selling. (Disclaimer: I do not condone or condemn what she does) Our church sells it’s own brand of “bizarre” (for churches – that is)….there are not many churches whose kidz ministry has a food fight, that goes to the people (outreach ministry, VBS on location, Africa churches, etc), has a zoo walk through the sanctuary – among other things I forgot to mention…. Our pastors sell the feeling that “you belong here – regardless of what you look like now – God has a plan and we want to be part of the plan God has for you.

  • Mack
    June 10, 2010 at 6:14 pm

    I agree that lady GaGa is out there. She keeps people talking by being different. I have never listened to her songs or seen her perform but I have seen her in articles. I think we all stand out in some way and that is good. We all have something unique to offer the world. I think Lady GaGa does too. We should not judge people by the way they look or act either because that is wrong and we are not here to judge. I think our church looks beyond each individual to our hearts but we as a church are branded by what we do and how we present the church to the community. We are accepting of all types of people no matter your race, financial status, religous preferance, educational backround or how much you know about God and His word. That is what makes our church different and that is what a lot of our church people like about the church.

  • chris
    June 10, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    Great points!
    The fact that so many people are talking about her through face book, and this blog right now says that she has done a great job at selling bazar.

    People who would never talk about her are right now, my main point is If we lived our lives so passionately for Jesus, 24/7 and truly believed that He is the only “Brand” worth dyeing for, then people who would not normally talk about Jesus, would talk about him.
    BTW, you are right unfortunately Lady GaGa would not be welcome in most churches in America.
    I want to say, Lady GaGa Jesus loves you more than your fans, His peace is more extravagant than any of your outfits, and if you ever want to be in a place where you will experience the true love of God, and hear a dangerous message, our campuses will always be open to you!

  • CKAV
    June 10, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    Lady GaGa has hit the top records this year in many ways. i think that what she does is not all ways right but how she is confident and knows what she wants and were she is going is a great thing to have. She will stand up and say what she belives and does not back down. She is true to her self and does not change for people. How many time in school or work are we not true to our self and we might change a little from friend to friend or not stand up God because you know some one else does not belive. Lady GaGa may teach us some bad things but i think how she is true to her self and how she stands up for what she belives in is amazing. (even if its disturbing and wrong). We as Christians need to relize that every one might not agree with what we think or what we do but its not about making our friends happy it about making our #1 Fan and friend, God happy.

    • chris
      June 12, 2010 at 3:38 pm

      Well Said Ckav,
      This article was about branding, a business concept that allows people to recognize your business by association to logo, color, style, ect.
      I feel that GaGa has taken branding to an entire different level and I do feel there is much other businesses and certainly the church can learn from that.
      I feel unfortunately the brand of the church as a whole is broken or at least it is far from it’s core message.
      Some of the FB hate in reference to this article illustrate that.
      The church is know, infinitely more for what it is against, than what it is for.
      Jesus said by this they will know that you are my disciples If you have love one for one another.
      I don’t think we are known for love, and forgiveness I think the church in america is known more for being hatful and judgmental.
      So the church in
      America has some series re-branding to do, it has to start with each and every one of us, carrying that message in our lives 24/7, our love and true message of forgiveness has to be just as unforgettable as a gaga outfit, lol.

  • Jason Proctor
    October 16, 2010 at 9:34 pm

    So true. She is working hard and passionately at selling herself and constantly repositioning herself with our culture. We, as Christians, could do better at targeting our audience – since our message is the most important message in the world: There is a God, He loves You, He has a new life for you!