Marketing tips from Honey Boo Boo

By Elise Hacking Carr

Isn’t that the case for all of us—even if it means agreeing with Honey Boo Boo (Real Name: Alana Thompson)?

“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” (HBB) is a reality television program on TLC. To be specific, it’s a spinoff of another TLC show, “Toddlers & Tiaras,” featuring beauty pageant contestant Honey Boo Boo, and her “eccentric” family. I’ve heard a lot of buzz about this show, yet despite my penchant for bad TV, “HBB” remained just that for me—buzz. This was until last week when I accidentally stumbled upon the show while channel surfing (TLC was airing a marathon of HBB … yay for me).

I cannot write a description that sufficiently describes what I saw—but the A.V. Club can, calling the first episode a “horror story posing as a reality television program.” If you're unfamiliar with the show, Google “Honey Boo Boo” and it will all make sense.

In addition to the recipe for “Go Go Juice” (i.e., a concoction of Red Bull and Mountain Dew), HBB offers other gems that might even benefit your business. Just hear me out. Here are three tips to market your company as the next big thing:

1. Be “Sassified”
I don’t know about you, but HBB decoded the secret to success at a much younger age than I did: She has mastered the art of self-confidence. She is “sassified” and proud of it. Critics can continue to cry “exploitation” to TLC and shame this family until the Georgia sun rises, but their efforts will prove futile. If you peel back the layers of HBB, at her core, you will find a happy girl with a bold personality. To be a successful salesperson, it helps to have genuine charisma—that “it” factor for establishing meaningful connections with potential and existing clients. The goal is to use it wisely, perhaps in moderation, to ensure your success lasts more than HBB’s inevitable 15 minutes.