The Psychology of Marketing and Implicit Bias - are you repelling the wrong people?

Have you ever read someone's marketing and thought, I have no idea what they’re actually trying to sell? You’re not alone. Sometimes, we’re so deep in our own knowledge and industry language that we forget our audience doesn’t speak the same way we do. That’s where implicit bias sneaks in, shaping how we communicate—and sometimes making our marketing completely miss the mark.
In this episode of MAP IT Marketing, I dive into how unconscious biases influence the way we market our businesses. Implicit bias isn’t just about race or gender—it’s about the assumptions we make about who can afford our services, who will resonate with our message, and even the words we use to describe what we do. And yep, I’ve fallen into this trap too (more times than I’d like to admit).
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How implicit bias affects your marketing without you even realizing it.
- The common ways we accidentally exclude potential clients.
- Why our own mindset about pricing, worth, and audience size holds us back.
- A simple way to audit your content to spot where bias might be creeping in.
- How to create messaging that’s clear, inclusive, and actually connects with your ideal clients.
Plus, I get into a bit of a rant (surprise, surprise) about using esoteric industry jargon and why it’s a major marketing fail. And yes, there may be some background dog noises and a howling wind adding a little extra magic to this episode.
I'm wondering...
Did this episode hit home for you? Have you ever caught yourself making assumptions about your audience that weren’t actually true? Send me a message or comment where you listened—I’d love to hear your thoughts (and please, not just in my DMs… reviews help others find the podcast too!).
Enjoy the episode, and remember - sometimes the best marketing move you can make is just saying things in plain English.
Links & Resources:
- Subscribe to the podcast for more episodes on marketing psychology and strategy.
- Want to work on your messaging? Let’s talk—head to Identify Marketing to see how I can help.
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