Hipsters are a pretty “hip” contingent these days. This elite group of taste makers are on the leading edge of what’s cool – RIGHT NOW!
And while, conceptually speaking, they may be an annoying bunch at times, that doesn’t mean that these arbiters of the NOW can’t offer up some valuable small business marketing lessons.
 
So how, you may ask, can the Hipsters’ mentality help you hone your small business marketing moves? Oh let us count the ways…

Leveraging the NOW

Hipsters have a knack for seizing upon and diving headfirst into the hottest emerging trends (the key being “emerging,” as they seem to know what’s “hot” before in breaks big time), and leveraging those trends to the hilt as means of purveying their most valued commodity: Hipness. For example, Hipsters on the digital front were all over StumbleUpon, Reddit and Tumblr before they were a “thing” in the mainstream.
Small Biz Marketing Takeaway: When you sniff a new marketing trend in the wind, get in on it ASAP! That doesn’t mean you have to adopt something just for the sake of adopting it, but if it works for your business, even for the short term, give it shot. A short term boost is better than no boost at all.

Hit it and Quit it

As the aforementioned Leveraging point illustrates, Hipsters know what’s hot even before it’s hot. And when it’s not hot…they’re on to the next emerging trend. A la StumbleUpon, Reddit and Tumblr have all fallen off…but now Vines is BLOWING UP!
Small Biz Marketing Takeaway: Jumping on the latest trend and leveraging it to promote your business can work to your advantage, as long as that trend remains hot…and when it cools off, it’s time to drop it like it’s (not) hot. Otherwise, you’re wasting your time, energy and effort on a dead platform.

Being “in the Know”

Hipsters pride themselves on being highly informed on whatever’s hippest at the moment. This is certainly part of what makes them so irritating, but you have to admit they know their stuff and: information is power.
Small Biz Marketing Takeaway: There is definitely value in having an ear to the ground and keeping ahead of the latest trends in both your industry and marketing in general. Change is inevitable and in many cases early adopters are not only ahead of the game, they’re the businesses more likely to survive.

Don’t be too Precious

While Hipsters may hold certain things dear (Bob Dylan is forever “hip” as the ultimate hipster himself), they don’t hold on to them just as a matter of course (Rihanna is hip today, but in the cannon of hipness, she’s no Bob Dylan).
Small Biz Marketing Takeaway: Employing certain tactics (direct mail, cold calling, etc…) just because that what you’ve always done doesn’t make sense (unless they legitimately work). Nostalgia for a once glorious, but now ineffective past does not serve your business’s best interest.

Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk

Hipsters make no apology for who they are. Love them or hate them, they revel in their in their unique character.
Small Biz Marketing Takeaway: You can’t please all of the people all of the time (and you shouldn’t try). If you try to position your biz to appeal to everyone, odds are you’ll end up appealing to no one. Find your niche and rejoice in it!

What About You?

How “hip” are you and your business? How much would your biz benefit if you were a little bit “hipper?”
Talkback: Tell us what’s “hip” about your business’s marketing measures – we’re dying to find out more!