The Like-Life Business Strategy

Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. And when you’re building a service or product, it’s important to lean into what I call a “Like Life” mindset to achieve long-term success.?

Let’s take a closer look at this business strategy so that you can create an offering people love!?

What Is “Like Life” In Business?

Like Life is a term I made up to describe organizations, products, and services that avoid jargon, are easy to access, and synchronize well with the things that already exist in our lives.

That means you’re leaning into an innovation that is simple - from its instructions to its execution. It’s easy to grab ahold of and easy to integrate into your daily life.?

You’ll see product offerings from companies like Apple, Amazon, Trader Joe’s, and Fandango that did this quite well. You open the box or book a service and know exactly what you’re getting and how to use it.

While it’s seemingly simple, there’s a lot of creativity that goes into making these types of Like Life offerings.?

With these sorts of businesses and our basic definition in mind, let’s look at the four characteristics of what makes a product, service or experience offering? “Like Life”.

The 4 “Like Life” Characteristics

1) Avoids Jargon

When you use extensive jargon, it signals a lack of transparency to both outsiders and employees. This includes things like acronyms or lofty words that do nothing to promote what you’re offering and just confuse those who are looking to buy from you.?

As a rule of thumb: If you can’t explain it to a 5-year-old or your grandma, it needs to be revised.?

If you’re looking for more information on the perils of jargon, the book Sticky Wisdom by the consultancy WhatIf?! is a great place to start.?

2) Spontaneous

Leaving room for spontaneity and creativity in the moment is one of the best ways to spark innovation within your organization and create offerings that are irresistible.?

When you handcuff employees and don’t let them explore better — or necessary — ways of doing things in the moment, employees are inhibited from fully contributing or feeling completely trusted and valued.?

This type of “permission slip,” micro-managed environment slows down the wheels of production and makes your marketing efforts even harder. (See my Fast Company article How to be a macromanager (& why you need to) .)

If you’re looking for an example of a company that does spontaneity well, study the Ritz Carlton . They entrust their employees with up to $2,000 to do whatever it takes to surprise and delight guests. And that level of trust really works!?

3) Networked And Interconnected

The more open we are to being accessed in multiple ways (e.g., smart home devices, smart watches, etc.), the more we will see Like Life products created.?

The IOT (the internet of things) is showing us that anything with an on/off switch can be connected to the internet and can connect all parts of our lives.

4) Jerry Rig It

I’m sure we’ve all heard this term before, but jerry-rigging is figuring out new ways to solve problems or get something done.?

When you lead with creativity, you may find that what you come up with is an even better way of doing things by quickly prototyping it.?

Adding Creativity Into Your Marketing And Innovation

As you’re building your business and marketing strategy, don’t forget to include Like Life offerings. Your employees and your customers will thank you — and love you.

And if you’re looking for more ways to introduce creativity into your workflow, head over to my website to learn more about my WonderRigor? courses .?