Unique: Telling Your Story in the Age of Brands and Social Media

by Phil Cooke

Today's culture is more connected than any time in history, but all of this connectivity comes with a price. We live in a world that's become cluttered, distracted, and disrupted by social media, with the average person receiving as many as 5,000 messages a day in one form or another. If you're a pastor, nonprofit leader, artist, filmmaker, entrepreneur, or creative professional in this hyper-connected, highly distracted world, how do you get your unique idea, project, or vision on the radar of the people who need to respond?

In Unique , Phil Cooke, a highly respected media producer and consultant, addresses both the challenges and the opportunities of branding and social media in the 21st century. If you have a vision or message to share with the world, Unique provides a blueprint to cut through the clutter, communicate your story, and impact your audience.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

254 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2012

Reviews

[shanghao · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I'm in chapter 5 of the audio book and it had all been filler. Maybe there's something of value down the following chapters and if this was a physical book I'd flip the pages to check the other sections.

The idea that a religion (with an omnipotent Being at the helm) needing overt strategising by humans to become engaging or relevant sounds oxymoronic to me, but maybe the same techniques would apply to non-profit organisations looking to expand their reach and sustainability. Pity I'm not sufficiently enticed to continue listening, even if such practical advice might be present further down.

[Ilona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings:

On one hand, I am upset that I've started reading this book not realizing that its about brand management for churches. About *helping* churches get more visitors because nobody goes there anymore. I mean, there should be a disclaimer somewhere in the title or something?

On the other hand, I am pleased to hear about universal lack of faith these days and people that do not know who that guy on the cross is.

But actually, it's quite a good intro into marketing if you exchange the word "church" to literally anything else.

[W. Whalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly it is a challenge to get your story through the noise of the media and be UNIQUE (http://amzn.to/10QkGbq). Media Consultant Phil Cooke knows about how to use the power of storytelling. In 2008, he published BRANDING FAITH yet the world of branding is an ever-changing target. In this book, he completely updates and reworks his former book with a new title and new information.

I never read the previous book but I loved the information in UNQIUE. It is easy to digest and each chapter ends with a thoughtful “Take Your Thinking Deeper” where the reader can apply the information and insight to their own brand development.

In the chapter, “The Power of Perception,” Cooke writes, “As a producer, director and media consultant in Hollywood, perception is my business. I deal in the visual world of products and people and how they are perceived by the viewing audience. Today, in a media-saturated culture, perception is the currency of commerce.” (Page 57)

UNIQUE will give you some action steps to strengthen your brand and be able to tell your story to others and gain a hearing. I recommend it.

[Mark Youngkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great overview of branding strategies for Christian ministries from one of the leading voices in that discipline. I am looking forward to using it in a Visual Communications class for upper-level undergraduates I will be teaching this fall. Highly recommended.

Note: if you are considering reading Cooke's Branding Faith, you will want to read this instead because it's an updated version of Branding Faith.

[Annette Ridenour · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good overview of branding and marketing in ministry and nonprofits. I really appreciated his breakdown of how it can cause issues in ministries and nonprofits at the end of the book. I felt like I wanted more of that or like the information was a little out of date.

[Ben]

Well, here it is. The cognitive dissonance between Christ and capitalism.

[Arjen Admirant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, very good insights in what brand is and what it's use is.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid introduction to marketing for churches and Christian organizations. It is important for Christians to ground business and marketing principles in the truth of the gospel, but also not to ignore best practices or what we can learn from people outside of a ministry context. I think this book would be particularly helpful as a jumping off point to someone new to marketing or doing marketing in a Christian context.

[Kim Van vlear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thorough book about marketing in the Christian world of ministries, churches and even individuals. His concise summaries of other books that tackle this subject gave me a great overview of the world of Christian branding.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reference information

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes a lot of good points, but is operating in an evangelical world that necessitates a lot of the errors he is cautioning against.

[Alaa A · Rating 3 out of 5]

insight full, he is connecting the marketing and branding with religion
but most of it was telling his story and the work he did and reflecting his ideas and believes .