(Image Credit – Pulp Fiction. No Copyright Infringement Intended.)

Every time I watch Pulp Fiction, I am amazed at what John Travolta and Uma Thurman brought to the movie and especially to the dance floor. I can never get over that dance sequence. Brilliant! Even more brilliant is Quentin Tarantino for creating this crazy story and telling it so well. Timeless perfection!

Pulp Fiction was Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece. It did for him what Mona Lisa did for Leonardo Da Vinci, what The Oprah Winfrey Show did for Oprah and what Tesla did for Elon Musk. You can’t talk about these masterpieces without talking about the legends behind them. They played the game at a whole new level and moved the conversation in a completely different direction. What sets them apart?

These legends are great artists who had a brilliant product which was clearly defined, superbly executed, perfectly packaged and intelligently communicated to the right audience. The common thread is superior content and a very well-defined brand strategy. And as a result, they have successfully carved out a niche for themselves by translating the visions in their head to an experience of a lifetime.

Successful brands are born the same way. Wondering how you can make your brand stand out from a crowd? Look no further. Pulp Fiction has all the answers.

A dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way – Jules Winnfield
1. Define your brand personality and be very clear about your idea. Crystallize it and flesh it down to a point where if anyone asks you to explain it, you should have a very clear answer. Make sure your idea is not fluff and has meat, character and content. If your idea was a person or an animal, who would it be. Who are its friends and who would use it? This will help you define and declutter your messaging. So either you are a German shepherd or a pug. Don’t try to be both.

It’s the little differences. I mean they got the same shit over there that they got here, but it’s just — it’s just there it’s a little different – Vincent Vega
2. Figure out what makes you different from the competition, what makes you stand out from the rest and then talk about that. Loud and clear. What are your USPs and what problems are you solving through your product or service? And once you have identified those, stick to your guns. Have a clear picture of exactly what you want to achieve and why. Sometimes, your product or service may not be very different from the other guy. But the key is communication. People respond to clear messaging and simple thinking.

That’s when you know you’ve found somebody special. When you can just shup up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence – Mia Wallace
3. It’s important to find the right content and brand expert to help you define your message and communicate your idea. Someone, who shares your vision and is as passionate about the idea as you are. Someone who cares about your idea and will partner you on this journey. You live and breathe your brand or service 24/7 so it’s easy to get consumed and miss the small things. An expert will help you flesh out your messaging and focus on what’s special about you and your brand.

I do believe Marsellus Wallace, my husband, your boss, told you to take ME out and do WHATEVER I WANTED. Now I wanna dance, I wanna win. I want that trophy, so dance good – Mia Wallace
4. Once you have your content and brand strategy in place make sure you shout it from the rooftops. Say your key offering and your brand values to yourself like a mantra and make sure everyone in your team knows it and can say it in their sleep. Next, say it on your website, your marketing collateral, your videos and all other internal and external communication. Who you are and what’s the story. A great product or service plus a great content and brand strategy is what makes a masterpiece. Go ahead, win that TROPHY!

This article was written by Radhika Sathaye. Radhika is a writer, creator and storyteller. She is a Marketing & Communications professional with over 10 years of experience. Her areas of expertise include strategic marketing, bespoke content production, 360-degree communications and brand building across industries like consulting, education, banking and technology in Singapore and India.