What Mom Taught Me About Marketing
If you grew up with a mom, a mother figure, or anyone who took on that role, chances are you heard your fair share of lovingly firm advice. Some of it probably made you roll your eyes at the time, but now, you might just catch yourself quoting it like gospel.
Here’s the thing: moms are some of the best marketers around.
Without ever attending a strategy meeting or cracking open a marketing textbook, moms know how to build trust, shape perception, and deliver a message that sticks.
So, in honour of Mother's Day, we're reflecting on some of the most iconic "mom wisdom" we grew up hearing and the surprisingly spot-on lessons they hold for brand builders, content writers, and marketing pros.
“Always say thank you.”
Marketing lesson: Gratitude keeps customers coming back.
Mom didn’t let you leave the dinner table or a birthday party without saying thank you. Not just because it was polite, but because it mattered.
Gratitude acknowledges effort. It builds connection. It leaves a lasting impression.
In the world of marketing, a genuine thank-you can go a long way. Whether you’re running a business or building a personal brand, showing appreciation isn’t just a feel-good gesture: it’s a customer retention strategy.
Think about it:
A simple thank-you email after purchase can boost open rates and repeat sales.
Personalized thank-you notes create moments worth sharing.
Publicly acknowledging your community (via social or newsletters) strengthens loyalty.
Customers want to feel seen. Heard. Valued.
When your brand says "thank you" and means it, you’re doing exactly what mom taught you to do: treat people well, and they’ll remember you for it.
“Stand up straight.”
Marketing lesson: Brand posture shapes perception.
You could be wearing a $500 outfit and still get the look from Mom if you were slouching.
Why? Because she knew posture wasn’t about how you looked, it was about how you presented yourself.
In branding, posture matters too. A strong brand posture tells the world:
“We’re confident in our value.”
“We know who we serve.”
“We’re ready to lead.”
Whether it’s your website, your blog, or your social presence, every touchpoint should carry the posture of a brand that knows what it’s about. That doesn’t mean shouting. It doesn’t mean showboating. It just means standing tall in your message.
Ask yourself:
Does your copy communicate clarity and purpose?
Do your visuals align with your voice and audience?
Are you leading with confidence or apologizing for your existence?
Mom might not have called it “brand strategy,” but she absolutely knew when something was off. (Fix your collar. Adjust your tone. Try again.)
“Use your words.”
Marketing lesson: Say what you mean. Clearly. Kindly. Confidently.
Remember when you were little and upset, but instead of explaining, you just… wailed? Mom would crouch down to your level and say, “Honey, use your words.”
That gentle directive? It’s a golden rule for content creation.
Your audience isn’t reading your copy for mystery. They want clarity. Ease. Empathy. So much of great marketing comes down to saying the right thing in the right way at the right time.
In practice, that means:
Avoiding jargon unless your audience lives and breathes it
Choosing active voice over passive voice whenever possible
Writing the way real people speak (Mom never needed a thesaurus to get her point across)
Sticking to one idea per message, not six crammed into a single paragraph
Tone matters, too. “Use your words” doesn’t mean just any words. It means considered words. It means thinking about how your message will land on the other side.
Because, like mom always knew, you can say almost anything, as long as you say it kindly.
“Because I said so.”
Marketing lesson: Authority is earned, not assumed.
Okay, maybe this one still makes your inner child roll their eyes, but hear us out.
"Because I said so" works only if the person saying it has established credibility.
That’s true at home. It’s also true in marketing.
Your authority as a brand doesn’t come from shouting louder than your competitors. It comes from:
Showing up consistently
Sharing expertise generously
Backing up your claims with results, testimonials, or data
Knowing when to say less and let your audience fill in the blanks
Confidence can be quiet. Trust is built over time. So don’t just say so—show so.
“Treat others the way you want to be treated.”
Marketing lesson: Empathy is your secret advantage.
Whether you're writing a landing page, launching a product, or replying to a comment on Instagram, empathy is everything.
People are more likely to buy from you, trust you, and share your brand when they feel understood.
That’s why the best marketers start every strategy session with a simple question: “What does my audience need from me right now?”
Just like mom taught you to look out for others, the strongest brands are generous, intuitive, and thoughtful. They don’t just push their agenda. They listen. They care. And, most importantly, they create experiences that feel human.
“You’ll understand when you’re older.”
Marketing lesson: Growth brings clarity and context.
At the time, this phrase felt like a brush-off. An easy way for grown-ups to dodge our endless whys.
But now? Well, now it hits differently.
Because the older we get, the more campaigns we run, brands we build, and clients we serve, the more we realize that clarity doesn’t always come right away.
Some lessons in marketing (and in life) only click with time.
You learn that your audience isn’t “everyone.” That less copy can say more. That voice and values matter as much as visuals and velocity. You start to trust that being honest, human, and thoughtful will always outlast a clickbait trend or a panic-driven pivot.
Because growth isn't just about results. It's about wisdom. Admitting that you don’t know everything, and that you never will, but continuing to grow and learn anyway. And that’s something mom would definitely approve of.
Want Help Finding the Right Words?
This Mother’s Day, we’re reminded that the best messages aren’t loud. They’re the ones that make people feel seen, understood, and appreciated. The kind of messages that linger.
The kind mom would be proud of.
At Descriptive, we help you find those words. The ones that reflect your values. The ones that speak directly to the people who matter most. Whether you’re sharing your story, launching something new, or just trying to sound a little more like you, we’re here to make sure your voice feels just right.