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4 Questions To Ask Before You Post Polarizing Content · Values-First Marketing

• 0:00
  Welcome to the Values First Marketing Podcast. I'm Megan Kachigan, and I help business owners like you stay in your zone of genius without making marketing feel like a full-time job on top of serving your clients. I'm sharing what's working now with simple content systems, copy that elevates your thought leadership, and messaging that makes your audience feel seen, not sold to.
• 0:20
  I'm your trusted expert in turning your voice, values, and vision into a sustainable marketing system that attracts aligned clients and grows your business in a way that's sustainable, unmistakable, and irresistible, all without sacrificing your time, your voice, or your peace. You're in the right place. Let's do this.
• 0:43
  Have you ever done the happy dance in your office as you realized you got that speaking opportunity that you really wanted, and then as you sit down at your computer to start preparing for that opportunity, you start to get a little bit of anxiety around sharing your hot take publicly because you know that some people in your audience are going to disagree.
• 1:09
  Right by definition, if it is a hot take, there is another side that that doesn't agree with you. And so, while yes, you should absolutely feel honored and proud to get the speaking or media opportunity. I don't want you to feel like, oh my gosh, now that I have this, I want to go crawl in a hole and wonder why I even signed up for this in the first place. Right? Is this feeling? I know that this feeling is actually pretty universal for any entrepreneur that utilizes speaking in their business, no matter how far along or established you are, it's like new levels, new devils, right? Like we still get this kind of sinking feeling when we are considering how this might be perceived. So, and this isn't just for speaking opportunities. I think it's even just for those who want to share a controversial take on their online platforms, and not just say it's you know hot take, but like it actually is something that could potentially be controversial. So from a copywriting perspective, polarizing content we know like hot takes and controversial opinions can be so powerful in this line in the sand type of moments that connect you closer to the people who share your same values around this topic, and at the same time they will turn off people who disagree.
• 2:34
  It's both and and that's a good thing, right? If they disagree, they were never going to be buyers anyways, or if they did, it'd probably just be a headache for you. So it's better off for both of you that that doesn't happen. And on the other side of the coin, our biggest raving fans tend to be people who share our same values and pieces of our story. So I know because I've been behind the scenes of different speakers and just you know brands that are very publicly out there, you vacillate between being a confident business owner of yes, this is what I believe, while at the same time your hands are sweating and your heart is pounding when you think about actually pressing publish on this polarizing post. It's both.
• 3:21
  So here are four questions that I ask myself and my clients before sharing any polarizing piece of content publicly. First
• 3:32
  question is: Is this the truest thing I know? Do you feel deep in your body like yes, I stand by this. This is absolutely true. Maybe not just in my experience, but there's probably also some data, research, evidence to back it up. And that's that's question number two. Actually, is there research evidence, anecdotal experience to back this up? So not just this feeling of this is the truest thing I know, it's that, and there's also evidence outside of you, also backing you
• 4:11
  up. And then question three: Are you okay with losing people that disagree? Are you okay with people publicly not agreeing with you, maybe potentially trying to cancel you because that's the culture we live in this day and age. And even if all those things are true, it's the truest thing you know.
• 4:37
  up. And then question three: There's research evidence and experience to back this up.
• 4:40
  up. And then question three: You're okay with losing people that disagree. That's still not enough to post it.
• 4:48
  up. And then question three: I think the fourth question absolutely has to be true too, and no matter how true all of the other things are, this one
• 4:56
  is needed, and that is: Is this take? Respectful and honoring to both sides, even if you disagree. Is this take respectful and honoring to both sides? So, if all four of these questions are not a full body yes, I personally would not post it. If they are, then say it with your full chest. Right?
• 5:21
  is needed, and that is: Polarizing content is powerful, but that can go in both directions. Polarizing content works best when it comes from a grounded, clear place. You are standing in your values, and before you press publish, you use these four questions to decide if that polarizing content fits your values, your evidence, and your audience, because people are looking. I know many of my friends who host conferences and are looking for speakers. They go back through your social media, and if there is, it's okay to have a polarizing piece, but a piece that maybe publicly calls someone else out or isn't also respectful as they do it. It doesn't matter how great of a speaker you are. It doesn't matter how great your speaking experience is. It doesn't matter how otherwise perfect of a fit that you would be. That would disqualify you from their stage.
• 6:20
  is needed, and that is: So making sure it is respectful and honoring to both sides is absolutely important, and I think that it is not considered deeply enough because we think, oh well, at this like we just have to have boundaries, and we don't need to hear from people who disagree, and that's, I think, only partially true. I'm reading currently Priya Parker's*The Art of Fighting*, which is so great. She has studied conflict, and part of it is that like we need to be able to have these conversations. So, when you share a polarizing piece, your take will absolutely draw in the people who share your values and filter out the ones who are never your right fit clients, anyways. So it's a good thing. But if there's any answer to one any of these four questions that feels like a maybe, I would say give that take a little bit more time. Let it simmer. Let your thought leadership really like think through it a little bit more. It doesn't have to be posted today.
• 7:25
  is needed, and that is: It doesn't have to be scheduled for tomorrow. Waiting is a strategic choice, and your idea will still be there when you are ready. Your bold opinions deserve messaging that connects with the right people and turns that connection into clients. So right now, I actually have two spots open for done with a done with you session. If you want to workshop a polarizing take and how to share it with confidence to connect more deeply with your right fit people, I know we see this done wrong all the time on the internet, so how can we be a people who really gets this right? It's so important, I think, to do conflict well, to do polarizing posts well, to use the power of these types of posts in a way again that is both respectful and honoring. Is it the truest thing you know? Is there other research and evidence to back it up, and are we okay that people disagree? Is this really the hill that you want to die on? And if it is, then that's then that's okay, right? So these are all things worth thinking through deeply first, because I know there's a time and a place for posting imperfectly, getting the content out there imperfectly, and just doing the thing. But when it comes to hot takes like this, I believe that they deserve much more intentionality than we have been giving them. So I hope this helps you think through what do you really think on those hot takes? What do you really think about about different trends or things you see going on in the industry? I absolutely want you to have a perspective and a a thought and a take on that. But when you share that take publicly, run it through those four questions first, and I think you will be so much happier with the result that you get when you really take the time to to work through it in this way, because polarizing takes, as you can imagine, they're not neutral.
• 9:41
  is needed, and that is: When you post them, it's either a positive or a negative, and they can go really sharply in one direction or the other. So, if the take is not like something polarizing, you're just sharing educational type of content, an update, a behind the scenes that can be posted imperfectly and just get it out there. Whereas something like this definitely deserves a little bit more time and intentionality to know this is where you stand on the topic, and this is where I want my audience to know that I stand, and I I want to see who's going to stand with me, and who and who isn't right? So, again, your bold opinions very much deserve that messaging, and it is going to connect you with the right people. So, at the very minimum, those four questions are the best place to get started. Is this the truest thing I know? Is there research evidence and anecdotal experience to back this up. Are you okay with losing people that disagree? And four, is this respectful and honoring to both sides? That is the greatest starting point to make sure you have checked those off your list. If you're still not feeling not sure, or you just want to talk it out and workshop it with someone who knows, who has been there and done that for other big brands where you have a lot at stake by sharing this, I would love to do that with you. You can reach out, DM me on LinkedIn, or reach out through my website megancatchigan.com. I've got links in the show notes, and we can workshop it out together through a power hour or a done with you session. Both would be great ways to get started. Thank you for tuning in to the Values First Marketing Podcast. If you've been enjoying these episodes, I'd love it if you left a review on Apple Podcasts.
• 11:27
  is needed, and that is: It helps more purpose driven business owners like you find this show and reminds me that this work is making a difference. And if you're ready to market your business in a way that feels aligned, sustainable, and true to you. Say hello on Instagram at MeganCachegan, then head over to my website megancatchaggan.com for free resources and next steps to simplify your marketing and copywriting without sacrificing your authentic voice or too much of your time. I'll see you in the next episode.