We always like to have fun on April Fool's Day, and yesterday was no different. We had a blast filming for our "reality show" teaser!
It got us thinking about why reality TV is so addictive. It’s the power of showing up 'real.'
With AI- generated content and images flooding the social media and content space, it's more important than ever to make sure you are leaving your humanity in the mix.
If you look at a lot of marketing right now, it all starts to feel the same.
Stock photos. AI-generated graphics. Clean, polished… and safe.
There’s nothing technically wrong with it necessarily, but there’s also nothing that makes you feel anything or remember who it came from.
You may think that because you're representing your business, that everything has to be corporate, sterile, and palatable to every single person.
It's like a bowl of plain oatmeal or plain rice. Sure, it has nutrition and can get the job done. But is it something anyone is truly excited to eat?
It makes us wonder, why are so many afraid to be authentic and themselves and show their personality in their content?
Most businesses don’t grow because they had perfect messaging or perfectly designed graphics. They grow because people like them, trust them, and feel like they know who they’re working with.
If you look at the kind of content people actually engage with, it’s rarely the most polished thing on their feed.
It’s usually something that feels a little more immediate. Someone talking directly to camera without overthinking it. A behind-the-scenes moment. A business owner saying something honest instead of perfectly scripted.
A lot of this comes from the assumption that in order to compete, you have to look like a bigger brand.
So the content gets cleaner, more curated, more aligned with what people think marketing is supposed to look like. But in trying to match that standard, a lot of businesses end up blending in with it.
What actually makes someone stand out isn’t how polished they look. It’s whether they’re recognizable. It’s whether someone can come across your content and immediately feel like they know who it’s coming from and they can connect with it.
That only happens when there’s a clear voice, a clear point of view, and a willingness to show a little more of the real side of the business.
Take a look at the Ben and Jerry's instagram account- they are focused on "real" content, and are very active politically, even. Sure- this may turn off some people to the brand.
But it makes the people that do align with them even bigger, loyal fans. And people appreciate that authenticity.
In practice, it’s usually a lot simpler than people expect.
It can look like posting something even if the lighting isn’t perfect because the moment matters more.
It can be getting vulnerable and sharing a mistake you made, and what you learned from it.
It can look like letting someone on your team speak naturally instead of scripting every line.
It can be sharing something that didn’t go as planned, or writing a caption the way you would actually say it out loud.
It can look like making fun of something in your industry that everyone can relate to.
It can be the company owner getting on camera and speaking freely, inviting people to your event instead of posting a generic infographic.
It also means having a point of view. Saying things your competitors might avoid and not trying to appeal to everyone.
Here's a big thing though, you can't just "play the part" of being "real."
Remember the McDonald's CEO fiasco? That was a moment that was supposed to be a candid video of their CEO taste testing their newest burger, but it backfired because it came off so stiff, awkward, and inauthentic. Calling the burger a "product," taking a tiny bite, and acting just overall very off-putting turned people off. People just didn't believe he would be eating a burger like that!
There’s a concern that if something isn’t perfectly polished, it will come across as unprofessional.
That it might hurt credibility or reflect poorly on the brand.
But what we see in reality is the opposite. The more something feels overly refined, the easier it is to scroll past. People are used to seeing that kind of content, and they’ve gotten very good at ignoring it.
In fact, when we create ads for people, we often prefer to use iPhone video over professionally produced versions, as they tend to perform far better!
That's not to say there isn't a use for professional video- we highly recommend it for different use cases like on your website, but sometimes for social media and ads- a little more "roughness" connects better with people.
This doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Most of the time, it’s a matter of loosening the grip a little.
Show more of what’s happening behind the scenes. Let someone speak on camera without over-preparing them. Share something that feels slightly less polished than you’re used to. Say what you actually think instead of what sounds the most correct. Create some discussions!
None of that means being sloppy or unintentional. It just means leaving enough room for people to see the human side of what you do.
And please, be mindful with your AI usage.
Posting solely AI generated images on your social media and ads just comes across very uninspired and detached. At Country Fried Creative, we love to use AI in different ways but one thing we feel very strongly about is the power of "real people" in your content.
Using AI to help craft scroll-stopping hooks or content ideas? Great!
Using it to generate an image of a "client" in an office and pairing it with generic corporate-speak that speaks to no one in particular? Not so much.
The businesses that are standing out right now aren’t the ones with the most perfect marketing. They’re the ones that feel the most familiar and real.
When people feel like they understand you, they’re more likely to trust you. And when they trust you, they’re far more likely to choose you.
That doesn’t come from looking flawless. It comes from being recognizable, consistent, engaging, and real enough that people actually remember you.
Below we're going to share a couple of examples of businesses being "real" with their social/ads:
Take the brand Zillow- they're not just showcasing polished listings and stock photos of agents. They're leaning into trends and using low-effort, relatable content that is meant to be shared.
This ad is a selfie style video from the founder, sharing his story of why he created Fulton Insoles. This helps develop trust.
Ready to "get real" in your marketing but not sure how?
We'd love to help you! Save the drama for the reality shows and let Country Fried Creative create your perfect social media strategy, ad campaign, or new website that truly shows who you really are.
We can't wait to get to know the real you.
