Something Businessy
Something Businessy
Copycats Part 2- How to be Original
Last week, Frannie and Nichole had a candid chat about what to do when you think you're being copied and how to handle it gracefully and professionally.
In this episode, they continue that conversation but give tips on what to do if YOU'RE the copycat!
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maybe as soon as you get the idea and you notice that you're being influenced or inspired by someone in your industry, stop consuming their stuff right there,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:be like,
F+N Shure MV7s:Like be like, okay, I love this idea. Let me riff on it. Let me like put that on a whiteboard and see where it goes. Uhhuh, because it will go somewhere really cool. Yes. If you do that, yes, it will go somewhere different than what they did. Welcome back to the Something Businessy podcast. This is
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Frannie. This is Nicole.
F+N Shure MV7s:And we are coming at you with part two of a little series that we kind of went on a rant about. And it's on the topic of copying. So today we want to talk to you a little bit about how to make sure that you're not being said copier. Last week we talked about
F+N Shure MV7s-1:what
F+N Shure MV7s:to do when you feel like you're being copied by someone.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah, but what if you are the culprits?
F+N Shure MV7s:What if it's you?
F+N Shure MV7s-1:What if the call
F+N Shure MV7s:I'm the problem. It's me.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Oh, yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:There's so many songs about this. So we're not gonna sing for you today. You're very lucky that we're not
F+N Shure MV7s-1:we're not singing We already did sing.
F+N Shure MV7s:We're not gonna continue
F+N Shure MV7s-1:taste.
F+N Shure MV7s:But let's talk about how to make sure that you're not infringing on the copyright
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah. of someone else. Yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:And and what are the boundaries when it comes to copying and like what's the difference between being inspired by slash You know, copying in a healthy way or in an acceptable way
F+N Shure MV7s-1:versus Yes. There
F+N Shure MV7s:Not being like being that guy and like when it's not cool. When is it not cool?
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah. There is a healthy amount, there's a healthy amount of inspiration that is allowed.
F+N Shure MV7s:Yes, and there are some scenarios when copying is actually the name of the game
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Mm hmm.
F+N Shure MV7s:cool, let's dive in
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:I'm imagining like some cool sound effects of like a splashing into a pool
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Courtney, add that in.
F+N Shure MV7s:So Alright, where do we want to start this conversation?
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Um, well... I don't know, Franny. Where do we want to
F+N Shure MV7s:okay. Uh,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:I didn't know
F+N Shure MV7s:You like how I tried to ping that to you and you just pinged it right back to me?
F+N Shure MV7s-1:I'm like, I am not accepting this.
F+N Shure MV7s:Send back to sender. So, we recently had a little viral moment on the internet. If you didn't see our Suburban Mom Starter Kit Reel, you didn't know I was going to go there, did you? Um, so we did this reel. There is a sound where it's the Holderness family and the, the husband does all these, like, he does a lot of stuff like this. And so, first, I have like a couple things on this. About this reel that relate to this topic. So the reel is a sound where he makes a song that's like suburban mom starter kit and it lists off all these things.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:And They're like basic mom Outfit when
F+N Shure MV7s:you're so basic that we all look the same. Yeah. And it's like a Stanley water bottle and like your Lululemon, your Lululemon crossbody. I think we might have single handedly made them discontinue those.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Hopefully.
F+N Shure MV7s:kidding, they still have them. They have really cute new like, uh, boucle ones now, so I kind of want one. But anyway, so, like, the reel is funny because, it's funny and relatable. And the reason why it went viral is because it's so relatable, because so many women
F+N Shure MV7s-1:do it.
F+N Shure MV7s:Or look like that, like dress like the, in the outfits that we were wearing. They're wearing the, the athletic, the athleisure, and then the,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:The dad hat.
F+N Shure MV7s:the hat and the, the sneakers that you don't even run in, or you have the Amazon dupe leggings. And like, everybody has like the same. Outfit. We're all
F+N Shure MV7s-1:you realize you realize that you're one of them. or you see them everywhere. And so it's basically relatable for everyone because it's like, you're like, either you're like, hell yeah, I own it. I'm that, I'm just a Ruby mom, or you're like, oh shit, that's me. Or you're like, I hate that.
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah. And do you know how many people every day still, I'm still getting notifications that people are sharing that reel and the, and the text always says, I feel attacked. That's what they're saying about it because they're feeling called out. Like they're one of us and they're, but they don't want to be, they're like, Oh, this is really, am I really that basic? And they're feeling called out that they're like being attacked and it's making people see it. And then they're like, Oh, and the funniest part is in the caption I wrote, uh, white SUV, not
F+N Shure MV7s-1:white ss u v
F+N Shure MV7s:And the amount of comments are like, Oh man. Even the white SUV. There's two
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Frannie has two white SUVs. That's how basic she is. Okay.
F+N Shure MV7s:one of them is a, one of them is a crossover.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:A u v
F+N Shure MV7s:It's a, it's a small SUV car.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:I mean, we have white car, two white
F+N Shure MV7s:really wanted the sage green, but they didn't have it. Okay, anyway, yeah. White cars are the best, okay, whatever. So, so anyway, we are all part of this like, funny joke that We're like, okay, we know we're basic, whatever. And then, do you know how many comments we got from angry trolls that are like, and that's exactly why I don't have a Stanley water bottle.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Do you want, Okay, sorry, really? quick. Still. Okay, so we're so, we're so freaking, basic that we just, Okay, so we are a studio of all women. And we just hired our first boy. Like, our first, like, full time boy.
F+N Shure MV7s:man. It's He's
F+N Shure MV7s-1:he's literally like almost 40 and we're like, he's a boy. And it's funny because we went to college with him, so he's a good friend. Um, perfect, perfect first male addition to the team. And, um,
F+N Shure MV7s:so excited about it. His girlfriend, we needed some male energy in the room.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:His girlfriend bought him a Stanley water bottle
F+N Shure MV7s:so that he could fit
F+N Shure MV7s-1:so we can fit in with us That's, that's how, that's what an inside joke. It is. Like, she did it as a joke. Like it's,
F+N Shure MV7s:I don't know if she did. I think she was like, you need one of these.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:it's, but it's like, it's funny.
F+N Shure MV7s:your first day of school.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:You need one of these so you fit in with the other girls. Yeah. So, so, so many people were like, and
F+N Shure MV7s:Even one of these didn't fit in with the people were like, and that's why I'll never, or, or my favorite thing too is like, okay, there are legit thousands of comments on this reel and half of them are people going, Oh, tagging their friends, like, they're having fun with it. They're like, oh, I'm not even in suburbia and I look like that too. Or like, we're all, you know, it's like fun and they're like, they're cool. And then the other half of people are like really triggered by it and they're really angry at us. And they're like, did you know that Lululemon pants have mercury in them? you're putting it in your crotch. You're
F+N Shure MV7s-1:well, don't worry about it because I am wearing a crossbody. And my leggings are dupes. So they are actually worse.
F+N Shure MV7s:are somehow, or like, all these like, guys that are like, and, and. You're all medicated and have all these kids you don't even want and you're, like, seriously, people Yeah,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:up, I only have two kids that I don't want. I'm just kidding. I love both of my kids, It's just
F+N Shure MV7s:people project all of their weird crap on you. Anyway, okay, the point of this is two things. First of all, we completely copied, verbatim, copied a reel from the Holderness family. It was like a viral, like a, uh, influencer. Family. Yeah. They made that sound knowing people were going to copy it. Yes. Knowing people were going to jump on that and use the sound for their own content, which helps spread their content and circles back to them. Mm-hmm. they did that on purpose. They were inviting people to copy them. Right. So I, that's why I also think it's really funny when people comment, give credit where credit is due. This is the wilderness. Family's real.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:like, yeah, oh, cool. Yes. Thank you, Holderness family. Like, they understand. They're not telling me that. They're not, like, reaching out and being like, you copied me. Right. Right, you're like, that's the point of a viral reel, is that the sound, you'll see that,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:copied me. Yeah, we're, if you click on the sound you'll see that like,
F+N Shure MV7s:Thousands of people have copied that reel. Yes. There's a million of us all doing exactly the same thing with the stupid water bottle and the crossbody thing and the Lululemons.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:blue
F+N Shure MV7s:Yes. So like, this is an example of like, copying is actually the etiquette. Copying is the game and that is what you are supposed to do. You are supposed to and TikToks and sounds and that's how trends become trends.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Right. And do you know what I love about this? this is an example of a real trend. and like real, R E E L, reals, trend, And then it's also a, an example of how we all are dressing the same because we're all influenced by the same world. Right. So no one's original.
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah. And then even the people who are like, Oh my gosh, like be original. Find your own style. Basic people are just basic because they can't come up with their own style. Do you know how many people said that they are all not all original either, because they're all saying the same thing.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:You're like, well, you're the 20th person who said that. Yeah,
F+N Shure MV7s:I actually responded to one of them and I was like, wow, that's so funny because everybody who's saying that also has a private account with a cat as their profile picture.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Oh! Ooh, burn. Like,
F+N Shure MV7s:but you can't, you can't argue with trolls. Like they will just never stop. Like I've got, I got in a couple of like fights with the trolls like, this is fun. And then I was like, I don't have time for this. Like just
F+N Shure MV7s-1:let her go. Yeah,
F+N Shure MV7s:go away. So, anyway, copying in some cases is. It's okay, not only okay, but it is expected and it is part of the fun. Yeah. And, and yeah. Um, on that note too, we were talking about how some creators literally like, it's like, Hey, copy my method, copy my outfits, copy my recipes. Like
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Swipe my email, my email
F+N Shure MV7s:Specifically creating content for people to copy so they get the shortcuts so they don't have to go through all the time to do stuff because, Hey, I'm the expert on XYZ. You don't have to go through all this heartache of trying to figure things out yourself. Just copy me. It's fine. Here you go. I'm giving it to you. Totally cool. That's awesome. Copy away. Um, I mean, there's also all these things too that are like, hey, I'll find all the real trends. You can just follow me and I'll, I'll share them with you and you can just copy them. And
F+N Shure MV7s-1:I'll show you the step by step on how to do
F+N Shure MV7s:you the template, whatever. So, all of that, super healthy, expected, awesome, gold star.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yes. We love it.
F+N Shure MV7s:When is it becoming, um, a little awkward and not cool, Nicole?
F+N Shure MV7s-1:If you are following, um, accounts that are exactly, especially in the same market, same industry, you're selling, literally selling to the same, you know, net, of network of people, Are you making that Why are you making that face?
F+N Shure MV7s:Because I don't know if this is recording anymore. Uh
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Uh oh.
F+N Shure MV7s:Oh yes it is, we're good.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Okay. She made a face that looked like a, like a sad jack o lantern, and I was like, why? It's
F+N Shure MV7s:face look like a, like is just like not showing in my doc. Oh. Like, it looks like it's not open. Okay. But it is. Excuse me, I'm sorry.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:It's okay. if
F+N Shure MV7s:Start over on that thought and we'll cut that out.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:we leave it.
F+N Shure MV7s:Or we leave it.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Okay. So, if you are, if you're following your actual competition. So, if we're calling them competition, meaning same industry. Same people that you're selling to same location And you're like literally doing the same things that they're doing You might be a copier
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:um, you know if if you haven't listened to our previous episode go back and listen to it because we have a lot of really specific uh, instances of this but you, If you, are actually, like, watching people and doing the same things that they're doing, beyond just like, what is an expected service for your industry, um, you, you might be a little too influenced by the people that are around you. Um, you, what you definitely don't want to be doing is making, even using, like, the same real sounds that direct, you know, like, your direct neighbor of, Your business are doing, using Maybe just like steer away. Like there's like, there's so much good stuff out there on the internet that you just I wouldn't even want to be like
F+N Shure MV7s:ex
F+N Shure MV7s-1:like suspected. of, of recreating something that's
F+N Shure MV7s:like, okay, if there's like a viral sound and everybody's using it. Right. That's one thing. And I think if you, if you see. Um, somebody in your industry and in your niche using a sound and you're like, Oh, that's perfect. Like right now there's some specific ones about photographers, right? That would be totally normal for me to jump on and use. What I see people doing sometimes when it starts to get like become like an ick is when you notice that they're copying like everything from the same creator. Like all of the same sounds from the same creator and the same like style of reels or the same. Um, copy in their captions
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Mm hmm. or like,
F+N Shure MV7s:whatever, it's one thing here and there is fine. But if it starts to become like you're taking all of your inspiration from the same source, that's when you're probably doing something that's like,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:eh. yeah, not cool. Yeah. And I mean, in that example, even people who are outside of your industry. So if you are doing the same thing, if you're a real estate agent and you're following a real estate agent, that's like. totally crushing it in San Francisco, and they're like killing it, and making content, and then all of a sudden you start making all the same content as them. Even though you're not selling the same houses, it is gonna feel yucky.
F+N Shure MV7s:And one of these days somebody's going to catch on and find you. You're going to get outed.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah, yeah. So, uh, what are some good ways to maybe, uh, identify that? you are doing that? And, um, make a different choice.
F+N Shure MV7s:Okay. So, here's what I, here's my thing. Sometimes I will be, you know, like listening to a podcast, like, let's say I'm listening to a podcast from another brand strategist or somebody like in our industry, and I want to like learn more about, I just want to, want to immerse myself in it and listening to their podcast. And of course, a little part of our brains is like.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Ooh,
F+N Shure MV7s:I love their business model. I love what they're doing. I want to be like them. And you're inspired to be like them. And that's awesome. They're inspiring you. We have photographers tell us all the time like, I would love to have a studio like yours someday in my, in my area or whatever. And it's like, First of all, I love that. Just come out and tell the person that you are inspired by them and that you would love to do something like what they're doing someday.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Mm hmm.
F+N Shure MV7s:Like, that's actually an invitation to say like, hey, if you ever see me like doing what you're doing, it's because I'm super inspired by you.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Mm hmm.
F+N Shure MV7s:And I'm not just going to rip off everything, but I am inspired by something you're doing. And so I think like, that's first of all, just like owning up to it is really cool. But, when I see myself feeling like I, somebody else is further along in the game than I am, and I want to get there and I want to be where they are, your first urge is to go, okay, let me just reverse engineer what they're doing and copy it.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Mm hmm.
F+N Shure MV7s:And you're like, I could do that. I see what they're doing. I'm going to like funnel hack this or whatever and just like reverse it and try to hack exactly their same process. And a lot of people do that and they find success in totally hacking somebody's business. And it's weird when other people start noticing it though. And it always has this like weird energy behind it and it kind of feels gross. And you're like, just. Always a step behind the other person, though.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Mm hmm.
F+N Shure MV7s:So, what I like to do is, is be like, Okay, I really want to be where they are. I like what they're doing. I'm inspired by them. Let me take this idea that they're doing, Like, maybe they're doing a specific offer, Or a specific, certain funnel, Or like a course, Or a, a 30 Days Reels Challenge. Like, how many people have 30 Day Reels Challenges? Lots of people have those. So, let me just take the, the big umbrella idea, Like, what is it? Okay, let's say it's a 30 Days Reels Challenge. I want to do something like that. I'm not going to just go to their sales page, copy it word for word or like section by section and change a few things and like do the same exact format. We're going to have calls every week on this day and we're going to send out these things in these emails and like make it exactly like their program. That's copying. That's not cool. That's like, kind of like
F+N Shure MV7s-1:like,
F+N Shure MV7s:You're gonna get noticed and probably, like, it's just weird. So instead, take the biggest, like, overall overarching idea, like, 30 Days Reel Challenge.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah, sure. Everyone does that. You
F+N Shure MV7s:I'm gonna write that on the top of a whiteboard,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Mm hmm.
F+N Shure MV7s:and then I'm gonna call you, or our team, or somebody else to, like, be another brain
F+N Shure MV7s-1:We should totally do that, Franny.
F+N Shure MV7s:And, oh, I have a million ideas about doing a Reels Challenge. I want to do a Reels challenge, but it wouldn't be, it would, I would start with that as the idea, and then I'd start going, Okay, how would we make this, like this is what we did for our Reels court, workshop. Yeah, we just did a Reels workshop.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:We're not the first person to do a Reels
F+N Shure MV7s:No, and tons of people are way better at Reels than us. But we know enough to help our clients in a big way, and we are Familiar enough with the app, with all of the things, we get the trends, we get the, we get it enough to teach our clients how to use it for their businesses. And people were having like mind blowing moments the whole time. Right. And I've seen other Reels workshops. I know how other people are doing them. And, I didn't, we didn't copy anybody's like framework or, or like modules or anything like that. Because we started with, okay. What do we want to talk about? How, what do we need to teach? And we just started throwing things on a whiteboard and it turned into this huge mess that then we had to like categorize things and chunk them into buckets and move them here. Like, what makes sense? Should we teach this first or that first? So if I was going to do a real challenge, I would do the same thing and be like.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Okay,
F+N Shure MV7s:What would be the most fun way for us to execute on this? Like, do we want a Facebook group? Do we want a Slack channel? Do we want a Instagram DM group? Like, how are we going to make this our own thing that fits into our workflows with our team members and how are we going to teach it? Like, take the big idea and break it down into like, how are you going to deliver it?
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Take the big idea And and on our strengths and our voice and the thing about us teaching it, we taught ours in person. And I feel like that is also a big difference with us too, is because We are actually speaking to our audience that follows us for a reason. There are a lot of clients that we've worked with one on one, and so we know how to speak to that specifically, that specific audience. And our content is going to resonate best with them, because they've already decided that they like learning from us. Right.
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah. And so, we're not threatened by other people doing Reels courses. Right. Or anything like that. In fact, lots of our friends do them. Yeah. It's like, and our, like, local friends. Uh huh. We're not like, oh my gosh.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Did you hear?
F+N Shure MV7s:They are doing a Reels course.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:What I invented Reels.
F+N Shure MV7s:So anyway, I just think that really taking, like maybe as soon as you get the idea and you notice that you're being influenced or inspired by someone in your industry, stop consuming their stuff right there,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:be like,
F+N Shure MV7s:Like be like, okay, I love this idea. Let me riff on it. Let me like put that on a whiteboard and see where it goes. Uhhuh, because it will go somewhere really cool. Yes. If you do that, yes, it will go somewhere different than what they did. Mm-hmm. Unless you go down the rabbit hole of trying to hack their thing.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Right.
F+N Shure MV7s:And, and then you're going to just, you're just going to end up being a carbon copy. It's going to be a little bit fainter, you know, carbon paper, carbon copy paper, where there's like the, the white sheet and then the pink sheet and then the yellow sheet or whatever order it
F+N Shure MV7s-1:goes Do I ever, Franny?
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:We used to own a paper store.
F+N Shure MV7s:You know that there's canary yellow. And then what was the pink called?
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Um, shoot. I don't remember.
F+N Shure MV7s:yellow and I can't remember either, but it's like, she's going to look it up. Anyway, when you write on that top sheet, the ink is really clear. It's very legible. It's the original piece of paper that the ink pigment is laying on. The person who originally came up with the idea is that top sheet white paper. The next layer below the impression goes through and you can still read it and it's, but it's still like a little bit more faint and not, not quite as crisp and not quite as bright and not as, as legible as the first one. And that bottom sheet, like why is it even there?
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah, it's like the faintest Crappiest. Yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:Like, don't give me that crap. I like, I, I, that's something I'm going to buy that and I'm going to ask for a refund
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah, no
F+N Shure MV7s:because it's not what I expected. It's not what was sold to me and it's not coming from the right place. So just be top sheet, white paper,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yes.
F+N Shure MV7s:take the inspiration, riff on it, go another direction, follow the rabbit hole, like follow the rabbit down the hole in your own, like from your own brain.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:You have
F+N Shure MV7s:You have the answers. I
F+N Shure MV7s-1:You can read it.
F+N Shure MV7s:can't find it. No. Canary yellow. I know. I don't know. I'm waiting for it to just come to me. I don't know. It's not, no. It's just this light pink. I'm searching for in my head. It's just this pink. Oh, maybe it's just pink.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:Okay.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Um, yeah,
F+N Shure MV7s:life coming through.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:I know, seriously.
F+N Shure MV7s:used to have all the Astrobrites memorized.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah, we had, uh, in a past life, we had a paper store that was like, legit, like, Dunder Mifflin, like, reams of paper on shelves. And, yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:sold it by the pound.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:And we sold carbon paper.
F+N Shure MV7s:We did sell carbon paper. Yeah. Yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Um, so, yeah, definitely. And, also, if you need ideas, and you're just like, Okay, I have an idea for a Reels course. And you're just like, okay, I know the way that I like to consume reels, I know the way that I learned reels, And maybe sometimes you do need to do a little research of like how other people like to learn. Go see what other people are doing. If you're really inspired by maybe one creator, then go see what like five other creators are doing. And just kind of like, you know, like, okay, I'll, I'll take a little sample of this, and a little sample of this, and a little sample of that, and then how do I make it for my people in my voice with my brand?
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah, it's okay to have like, kind of a jumping off point, um, too. It's just not, we just don't want to like, I just, I hate the, the reverse hacking thing.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:to like, I mean there's a difference between research and like, literally. Funnel hacking. right. Yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:Um, okay, I, we're gonna, I mean this is definitely like, you can have your own opinion on this of course, and like, there's a lot of people who really, You know, that's their tried and true way of doing things, and that's just not, that's just for us if it doesn't, like, feel good, and if it doesn't feel aligned, like, we're not gonna go down that route.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:I think that there's just, there's a difference between re, like, reverse engineering a function versus reverse engineering, like, a proprietary idea brand. Like, like a brand, like something specifically from someone else's voice. You know?
F+N Shure MV7s:Right.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:And so there there is a way of getting ideas and then changing them a little bit. Freddie and I were trying to, we're trying to think of the, where we got this. So we both went to art school and there was, there is, oh you ended up looking it up. There is like a certain amount of
F+N Shure MV7s:legal appropriation, legal appropriation
F+N Shure MV7s-1:appropriation of changing art. To basically reappropriate it for your own. art. And then I Googled it, and then it's like, the first thing that pops up is from a lawyer There's like, There is no 30 percent
F+N Shure MV7s:Right, because the rule was like, if you change something 30 percent or more, that now it's your own new artwork. Right. And so, like, the example that the Googs, you know, gave back to us was, like, Andy Warhol. He used, like, the Campbell Soup labels. In his art. And Campbell's Soup owns a copyright to that design, but he changed it enough and changed the colors and changed the da da da to be able to use it in his own art. And we see that around all over the place. But like, when you're doing it for commercial purposes and for a way that you're going to actually be making money for your business, you're putting yourself at the risk of actually being, having legal action taken against you.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Mm hmm.
F+N Shure MV7s:So, let's not do that.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah. Like,
F+N Shure MV7s:Let's not end up in court. Or having any kind of like public slandering happening. Or people noticing it and calling us out publicly and all that stuff. Like, ew. It's just heavy and gross and like not fun.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Ew, lawsuits? Ew. No. So if you realize that you're copying somebody, because so much of this can be subconscious, If you're consciously copying someone, just stop. Stop doing it. Like it's, it's yucky. It's, good. someone's going to notice. It, it will not work out for you. Try to get your own ideas. Um, try to find a healthy amount of inspiration and just, honestly, just stop and try to figure out what your why is.
F+N Shure MV7s:drop, and
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Stop, drop, and roll.
F+N Shure MV7s:Stop it, drop it, and then roll on.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:So most of the time, what Franny and I figured out when we were having a conversation about this is most of the time this is a brand issue. This is, you are unsure of where you stand as a brand, as a business, and who you're serving. And so when you're, you're kind of up in the air, and you're not really sure what the answers to those questions are, it's gonna be a lot easier to adopt different personas.
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah, you're just, you're, you don't know who you are as a brand, or where you stand, or like what,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:The reason you exist. And so, Um, So if you're really in that, in that kind of like, oh crap, I like, keep, I don't have any original ideas, I mean it's honestly this like, almost like an imposter syndrome. And at that point you kind of are being an imposter. like, You know, if you really feel like you have no original ideas and you just have to leech on to other people's ideas to even... create content at all or to do anything at all, then this is a deeper issue. This is a branding issue. And we really recommend doing that deep brand work, figure out, first of all, the reason that you exist in the first place. Why do you want to do what you do? Why do you do it better than anyone else? why
F+N Shure MV7s:you the go to? Why are you the brony for everybody? For the, for the specific people that you serve. And I think, um, well, I just keep like starting thoughts and then they just disappear. They just like leap out of the brain.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:They just appear. They just appear.
F+N Shure MV7s:They just disappear. I'm just getting too excited and heated on this topic. Um, before you went on on that, I just wanted to throw in like, what I think you're talking about now is when we're like, grasping on to a lot of different... People's things and we're not, maybe not necessarily like finding one person and copying their whole business. Mm-hmm. we're not like being like the copier mm-hmm. but we're just being so unoriginal and grasping onto like trending things or like cool templates or mm-hmm. some Canva template thing or a creative market brand. Mm-hmm. Or going on Pinterest and finding like a new brand colors thing or a new logo and like our brand just starts to look like a hot mess of a whole bunch of things that are cool and trendy. Mm-hmm.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:and
F+N Shure MV7s:And nobody's going to ever recognize it, it's not going to be memorable, it's not going to build trust with people because it's just this, like, discombobulation of trends and copying. But, not necessarily copying, like, one specific brand. Yeah. Or it could be. I mean, it's just, it's really, it's the void of original ideas. When you're in that void of original ideas, and
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Trends, and copying like one specific brand. Which is easy to do, because you like
F+N Shure MV7s:Which is easy to
F+N Shure MV7s-1:of
F+N Shure MV7s:Because you like a lot of
F+N Shure MV7s-1:an entrepreneur, you're
F+N Shure MV7s:if you're an entrepreneur. You're probably a little ADHD. You probably like a lot of stuff.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:You like a lot of stuff, and honestly, when you're just trying to find the easy button of what works. And you're just, you know, like, I'm just like imagining these, we work with a lot of small businesses, and a lot of the times when you're getting started, and you're just kind of floundering, and you're just like trying to, fit like, stick stick it to the wall? We need to Stick the baloney to the wall?
F+N Shure MV7s:I've never heard the bologna though. Okay, I like
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Is it. a noodle? Stick a noodle to the wall?
F+N Shure MV7s:Stick the wall and see
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Spaghetti in the wall or baloney, whatever. Don't copy that. I'll know.
F+N Shure MV7s:sayings. It's the
F+N Shure MV7s-1:will know. We are the best at that. Don't steal baloney at the wall or I'm gonna know.
F+N Shure MV7s:steal bologna at the wall?
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah, don't steal my, my... That is my original thoughts.
F+N Shure MV7s:Trademarked, copyrighted, stamp on.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Trademarked, copyrighted...
F+N Shure MV7s:it in the baloney.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Signed, sealed, delivered.
F+N Shure MV7s:So, yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah. so
F+N Shure MV7s:Sorry.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:So if you have no original, I mean you, it's not that you don't even have original ideas, it's just you're trying to figure out what works. Because you're like, you're trying out business.
F+N Shure MV7s:Well, it's like what we were saying at the beginning of this, everybody's selling the template or the swipe file or the thing that they're allowing you to copy. And if you're just grasping onto a bunch of those things, it's watering down your brand and you don't have a true like brand voice and visual aesthetic to stand on, which is where a handy dandy brand guide might come in and come into play.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah,
F+N Shure MV7s:It really is such a lifesaver. It's such a game changer.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:a brand guide. So this, this is something you can go back and listen to our episode about. about what you need in your brand guide. And, um, we give a lot of helpful hips, helpful hips?
F+N Shure MV7s:we need to stop.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:crap. What is wrong with us? Um, so I give a lot
F+N Shure MV7s:pick a profession that doesn't require,
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Required speaking to people It's got lots of helpful helpful tips of what you need to have in your brand. guide What all of that deep work that you need to figure out So that way you are creating very intentional contents And you're speaking to someone that you can actually make a difference with. Okay, so, in our previous, air previous episode, we talked about what if you are the recipient of the angry email? Ooh! I know, I didn't, we didn't plan that.
F+N Shure MV7s:okay, so I get an email from someone that's like, hey... Snatch You're copying everything like they didn't they didn't give it the 24 hours They just sent
F+N Shure MV7s-1:I know, I'm like yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:they are like mad Raging mad and now they all of their like people are coming after you. They're posting it on their
F+N Shure MV7s-1:story.
F+N Shure MV7s:They're like this person's cop and for Santa's copying everything I'm
F+N Shure MV7s-1:mean, that's
F+N Shure MV7s:I mean, that's what you're risking actually is somebody unhinged being the one that you're copying or who thinks you're copying them.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:you have to hope that they listened to our previous episode and took 24 hours.
F+N Shure MV7s:didn't, but you get this email. Yeah. And you're like, Oh my gosh. I'm found out.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:What do you do?
F+N Shure MV7s:know. That's let's just not be that person.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Okay. Yes. Okay. Don't be that person. But if you are that person, how are we going to help them out, for any, Um, if you literally are, if you're like you're found out, you're like caught red handed. You're like, oh shit, I, this is not subconscious, this is like, I legit have been copying you. Um,
F+N Shure MV7s:for that person, just like, don't be that person.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Okay, don't be that person, but
F+N Shure MV7s:for that person? Yeah. Own up to it? Yes.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Apologize. Literally apologize, own up to it, and just say like, I mean, it's kind of what Frannie was saying before, like, if you are, tell the truth. Are you just like really inspired by that person? Maybe they're quite a few steps ahead of you, and you want to be just like them?
F+N Shure MV7s:Mm hmm.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Just say it. Just say like, you know what? Like, I'm super sorry. I am really sorry. I really look up to you, and I didn't mean to, you know, blatantly rip you off. I just want to be like you. Tell the truth. Come be a person. Show some emotion, and then take down the things that you copied. Like, Just, you know, if it, if you blatantly ripped them off, just take it down and apologize and hopefully, I mean, if they're, if they're, if they are writing you an email, they're giving you a chance to... respond.
F+N Shure MV7s:not posting it all over their Instagram yet, at
F+N Shure MV7s-1:They're And they're, and they're probably not seeking legal action or, more than likely, it's probably like a content thing. And in which case, apologize, take it down, and hopefully make amends. Yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:I don't know. I mean, nobody wants those yucky feelings, so don't be that person, but I don't think any yucky feelings are worth, like, Like feeling that way. So
F+N Shure MV7s:chances are, which we also addressed in the last episode is that maybe you didn't intentionally like completely rip someone off, but you are just being highly influenced by them. And if that's the case, our recommendation for that is to try to look outside your own industry for inspiration, like for ideas, for reels, for ideas, for copy on your website or whatever, whatever thing it is, or even design. Like sometimes when we're doing brand design for people. Of course, we're going to go to Pinterest and look for inspiration and I like, I love to look to like food brands like packaging and like other things or go to, I like to go to Barnes and Noble and just like look through like art books or fashion books or something like that because you can be inspired by something and And take, like, something from that, you don't know what it's going to spark for you and bring it into a completely different industry. And nobody's going to accuse you of ripping someone off if it's a completely different, you know, area that you're being inspired by. Well, I
F+N Shure MV7s-1:The we were doing weddings and it was really tough to pose the bridal party. And we would always, like, look in, like, Vanity Fair and Harper's Harper Bazaar and, like, try to, like, look to, like, more of a high fashion editorial way of arranging bodies. Because you're like, oh my gosh, I'm just, I'm going to be too influenced by everything I'm seeing on Pinterest. And, you know, like, I am tired of the all, all the pretty maids in a row. Like, how do I do it different? You know?
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah, I know. And, and it's like, yeah, you are sort of like, maybe you're copying a Vanity Fair pose, but like, how cool is that? You know, like you're not trying to make a fashion magazine to compete with Vanity Fair. You know, you're like posing at bridal party. Like, I actually remember one time you like, Oh, look at this cool group. Group photo of the Kardashians.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Yeah, totally.
F+N Shure MV7s:so, such a cool way to pose. This photographer did a really cool thing here and like It's not, I'm not setting it up and trying to get the lighting in the background and the outfits and everything exactly the same.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:just the way that bodies move. There's only so many ways bodies can
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah, you're like, oh this is a cool way that they layered this or whatever.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:arranged these bodies. Yeah. I mean, Or, um, with branding, I love to look at home, decor. like, paint colors for colors and, you know, thinking of the way, like, surface patterns and, you know, other ways that maybe people are using textures and patterns that, that could be applied to branding, And so.
F+N Shure MV7s:Yep. So, and listening to music, too, like, different vibes, like, they just get, you know, get with you. And so, just look for inspiration outside of your own. competitors or, you know, your own circles, especially in, your local community.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Okay, and so if you are actually at that like beginning stages of business, or maybe you've reached a point in your business where you just don't really have the inspiration anymore, Randy and I, something that we've learned over the years is that sometimes you need to just find somebody who you'd look up to who's doing that thing better than you. Go to them and ask them what it would cost for them to mentor you. Because because there are so many, I think for so many years we've thought that we're like, we've got to like, originate this. And it's like, sometimes you don't need to. You just need to straight up go ask the person who's really freaking good at something if they're willing to mentor you. And let them teach you everything they know. And with their permission and good wishes. then send you off into the sunset.
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah, we've done that and we've had people approach us about that and it's usually a yes, and it's usually been less expensive than we expected.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:It's so true.
F+N Shure MV7s:Um, like we'll just say, Hey, you've already got this figured out. You've got the workflows. I'm not in your market. We're marketing to different people. Would you be willing to give me like. Access to your workflows and show me how you do things and give me swipe files and all of that and I'll pay you, you know, what would you charge me for that? And yeah, 100%. Find someone who's already done it and you can get the shortcut. And You can put your own spin on it and you're gonna like, you're gonna want to change things in some way. But especially just coming up, being forthcoming and like, Yeah. That's like, the cleanest, easiest way, and you will sleep very well at night.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Totally. totally. I mean, it's Integritas, and you're paying for their knowledge. And, um, so yeah.
F+N Shure MV7s:And then they're actually rooting for you. And they're on your team.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:I mean, there's nothing better than that. Awesome. Well, hopefully we've given you guys all of the answers to your questions. And if you have more questions about this topic, please feel free to find us on Instagram at something businessy and hit me up in the DMs. I am personally the one Nicole that is responding, responding to those. And I'd love to chat this out with you. Maybe we have a followup episode. Um, but we would love to hear maybe.
F+N Shure MV7s:Yeah, this is a hot topic. So, did you agree with us? Or maybe have some different opinions? We would actually really love to know. Alright.
F+N Shure MV7s-1:Alright. well that's all we got! Bye bye.
