How would you define Guideposts?
Today I met with our digital team and a consultant about a strategy to bring more internet users to our Guideposts websites. The internet, as most of you know, is a vast marketplace of ideas and content. Getting noticed in this digital carnival is not easy, however, and most first-time visitors to your site get there through keyword search (that’s how some of you discovered us, no doubt, through a search engine like Google). “So,” said the consultant, “let’s throw out some words that describe the brand.”
The term brand put me off a little. I hate to think of Guideposts like a brand. Dishing washing detergent is a brand. And to reduce us to a bunch of words didn’t sit well either. Nevertheless, we want to bring in new customers so I went along.
“Hope,” I said.
Good but not very specific.
“God’s love,” someone else said.
Better.
Inspiring stories was another term, along with inspiration and inspirational and inspiring and positive people. We all agreed on prayer and the power of prayer, as well as healing, spiritual healing and healing prayers. Spiritual growth was another popular search term. Personal change was too.
What about angels?
Angels was a great search term for us—heavenly angels, earth angels, animal angels. Angels of mercy. Angels of love. Angels of comfort. Angels on earth.
Devotionals was another strong term.
Positive thinking came up big as did a positive mental attitude. And I wasn’t surprised to see that Norman Vincent Peale, the godfather of positive thinking and the founder of this company, still has drawing power.
We grew silent, seeming to run out of ideas. Then someone said one word: Happiness.
Perfect.
I went away from the meeting feeling unexpectedly uplifted. Later, driving up to the hills with Millie for a glorious fall weekend on some favorite hiking trails, I reflected on the exercise. It made me feel pretty good, surprisingly enough. Hope. God’s love. Prayer. Positive thinking. Uplifting stories and spiritual growth. Happiness. I suddenly but certainly not for the first time was incredibly grateful to be working in an organization whose attributes are quite extraordinary and meaningful. How many people can say the company they work for can be boiled down to these types of ideas?
So I’m curious, my friends. What sort of words would you use to describe Guideposts? Post below please. Maybe we missed a couple. Thanks.
