The Power of Personality
I have to admit something – I’m in love with a stick figure. Yep, you read that right. It all started when we began molding and shaping the brand identity for our IT support company, ITFix. We realized our website was missing something – not just images, but the embodiment of our company’s personality. That’s when I decided to introduce Dude, our lovable little stick figure mascot.
You see, my understanding and appreciation for brand mascots came from my best friend, Lindsey. Back in high school, she was the mascot for our rival team, and I got to dress up as the opposing team’s mascot so we could have epic mascot battles during pep rallies. Talk about fun! From dressing up as a dopey falcon to getting “put into the Birdie Boiler,” those were some of the most memorable moments of my teenage years.
Even without that firsthand experience, I’ve always had a soft spot for certain brand mascots, like Flo from Progressive, the Aflac Duck, and Allstate’s Mayhem dude. There’s just something about these charismatic characters that instantly endears them to consumers and generates more buzz than even celebrity endorsements. As Carol Philips of Brand Amplitude told AdAge, “Mascots are the gift that keeps on giving. They never get in trouble with the law, they don’t up their fees, and you can use them for a long, long time.”
So, when it came time to define our own brand identity at ITFix, I knew we needed a mascot – someone (or something) that could embody our company’s personality and help us connect with our audience in a more authentic, relatable way. And that’s how Dude was born.
Bringing Dude to Life
Now, I have to admit, Dude wasn’t entirely of our own creation. In a rookie move, we actually bought the stick figure artwork from a stock image site. I remember emailing our web designer with the subject line “Dude” and attaching a link to the image I had in mind. I asked, “What do you think about this little dude?”
Compared to the more characteristically boring green-shaped people options, Dude just had that certain je ne sais quoi – a swag that spoke to me. And thankfully, our web guy felt the same way. From that point on, the name Dude stuck, and we began incorporating him into our brand across our website, social media, and beyond.
As we started to weave Dude into the fabric of our company, something amazing happened – other people started to fall in love with him too. In fact, we’ve even had people frantically email us, saying, “This page stole Dude!” Of course, those pages had simply purchased the same stock image, but it just goes to show how much of an impact our little stick figure had made.
We’ve worked hard to ensure Dude is more than just a random mascot – he’s an integral part of our brand story and messaging. And it’s really paid off in helping us humanize our IT support company and tell our story from a personal, relatable perspective, rather than just a faceless logo.
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
I know a lot of companies these days are going through major marketing overhauls, website redesigns, and other branding initiatives. And that’s great – it’s important to keep evolving and staying fresh. But my question to you is, “Who’s your Dude?”
What I mean is, how are you going to make your IT support company stand out from the crowd? Sure, a sleek new website or a fancy logo might catch people’s attention, but what’s going to make them truly connect with your brand on a deeper level?
In a world where online clutter and noise are more prevalent than ever, it’s crucial to find ways to differentiate yourself. And that’s where a lovable mascot like Dude can really work wonders. He’s not just a cute little stick figure – he’s a living, breathing embodiment of our company’s personality, and our audience has embraced him wholeheartedly.
We’ve had people ask if Dude would be their Valentine (of course, he said yes!), and we’ve even had to fend off “Dude impersonators” who have tried to use our mascot on their own pages. But you know what they say – imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And for us, it’s a testament to how much Dude has resonated with our community.
Dude, Where’s My Mascot?
Finding the perfect mascot for your IT support company isn’t always an easy task. Many companies opt to use their own employees or real people as the face of their brand, which can work well. But for us, we wanted something that was truly unique and would help people connect with ITFix as a whole, rather than just one individual.
That’s why we decided to go with Dude. He’s not just a random stick figure – he’s a charismatic character who has become an integral part of our brand identity. And the best part is, he’s always there, ready to engage with our audience, without worrying about scheduling conflicts or diva antics.
Of course, not every mascot is going to be as successful as Dude. Just ask my friend Lindsey about her failed attempt at creating a mascot for her business, Sociable Yiannis. It just didn’t stick, and she ended up removing him from everywhere and still changing blog graphics to get rid of him.
But for us, Dude has been a game-changer. He’s helped us humanize our IT support company and tell our story in a way that resonates with our audience. And who knows – maybe one day, Dude will even become as iconic as Flo or the Aflac Duck. After all, he’s the gift that keeps on giving, and we’re not planning on letting him go anytime soon.
So, if you’re looking to make your IT support company stand out on social media, I’d highly recommend considering a mascot like Dude. It might take some trial and error to find the right character, but trust me, the payoff is worth it. Your audience will love having a friendly face to connect with, and you’ll get to have a little fun in the process.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go see what Dude is up to. I hear he’s planning a dance-off with the Aflac Duck, and I wouldn’t want to miss that for the world!
