Last week, someone stopped us at a coffee shop.
“You’re the Egmer people, right? The ones with the 4-year-old that couldn’t spell engineer?”
Not “you’re the digital marketing agency.” Not “you do SEO and web design.” They remembered the 4-year-old’s spelling story.
Then, at a networking event: “Oh, you have the cycling dog with goggles!”
Again, not our services. Our story.
And that’s when it hit us — people don’t remember what you do. They remember who you are.
The Problem With Being “Professional”
Browse any industry’s websites. Digital marketing. Law firms. Real estate. Accounting.
They all look the same. Sound the same. Promise the same things.
“We deliver results.” “Your success is our passion.” “Leading provider of innovative solutions.”
Yawn.
It’s not that these businesses are bad. They’re just… forgettable. They’ve stripped away everything human in pursuit of looking “professional.”
But here’s the truth: Professional doesn’t mean personality-free.
Why Our Brains Are Wired for Stories (Not Sales Pitches)
Research shows that our brains are literally hardwired to remember stories. When we hear facts and figures, only two areas of our brain activate. But when we hear a story? Our entire brain lights up like a Christmas tree.
Stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone.
Think about it. You probably can’t remember the features of the last company presentation you sat through. But you can likely retell your favorite movie scene-by-scene.
That’s the power we’re leaving on the table when we hide behind corporate speak.
The Egmer Story (And Why It Changed Everything)
Let us tell you about Egmer.
Our son was four years old, full of entrepreneurial spirit and big dreams. He wanted to name his first business venture after what he wanted to be when he grew up — an engineer.
Except he couldn’t quite spell it yet.
E-G-M-E-R.
That misspelling became the name of his balloon animal business. Then his detective agency (yes, he charged people to solve made up mysteries). His lemonade stand. His 3D printing experiments. Every childhood venture carried the Egmer name.
When we started our marketing agency, we could have chosen something “professional.” Something with “Digital” or “Solutions” or “Strategic” in the name.
But Egmer felt right. It represented creativity born from innocence. Innovation without overthinking. The boldness to try, even if you don’t have everything figured out perfectly.
It was rooted in family, creativity, and the beautiful imperfection of just going for it.
Meet Luna: Our Chief Vibes Officer
Then there’s Luna, our pup who loves riding bikes with us — complete with her goggles and pure joy radiating from every fiber of her being.
Everyone who passes us breaks into a smile. Construction workers stop and wave. Kids squeal with delight. Stressed-out adults suddenly look lighter.
We thought: What if our business could do that? What if just seeing our logo could make someone smile?
So Luna became our logo. Our Chief Vibes Officer. The embodiment of the joy and energy we bring to every project.
Now when people see our brand, they don’t just see another marketing agency. They see the company with the goggled cycling dog. They smile. They remember.
The Magic of Being Remembered
Here’s what happens when you lead with your story:
People approach us with “Your business name is Egmer, right? Your son made that up when he was 4!”
They don’t say “You’re the marketing people.” They remember the story.
Instant connection. Before we’ve even talked business, they feel like they know us. The walls are already down.
Word-of-mouth explodes. People don’t tell their friends “I met a marketing agency.” They say “I met this company named after a 4-year-old’s spelling mistake — wait till you hear this story…”
Trust builds faster. When you’re vulnerable enough to share your real story, people trust you with theirs.
Your Story Is Hiding in Plain Sight
“But we don’t have a cute story like that.”
Yes, you do. You’re just too close to see it.
Every business has a story. It might be:
- The problem that drove you crazy until you had to solve it yourself
- The mistake that changed everything and led to your biggest breakthrough
- The personal passion that somehow became a business
- The unlikely partnership that shouldn’t have worked but did
- The customer interaction that redefined your entire mission
- The family tradition you’re carrying forward (or breaking away from)
- The moment you realized your corporate job was killing your soul
Your story doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just has to be real.
How to Find Your Story (A Simple Framework)
1. Start With Your “Why Moment”
When did you know this was what you had to do? Not the logical decision — the emotional moment. What happened that day?
2. Look for the Unexpected
What about your business would surprise people? What doesn’t fit the typical mold? That’s often where your story lives.
3. Find Your Quirks
What makes you weird? (In the best way.) What do you do that others might find odd but is totally you? Lean into it.
4. Ask Your Best Clients
Why did they really choose you? Often, they’ll point to something you didn’t even realize was special.
5. Check Your Phone Photos
Seriously. Scroll back. What moments did you capture? Often our stories are in the things we naturally document.
How to Tell Your Story (Without Being That Guy)
Nobody wants to hear your life story at a networking event. Here’s how to share your story effectively:
The 30-Second Version
“We’re Egmer Marketing. Named after my 4-year-old’s attempt to spell ‘engineer.’ He was starting businesses before he could spell, and that creative, just-go-for-it spirit is what we bring to every client.”
Short. Memorable. Invites questions.
The Website Version
Don’t bury it in an “About Us” page nobody reads. Weave it throughout:
- Homepage headline that hints at it
- Footer tagline that references it
- Case studies that connect back to your values
- Social media posts that share pieces of it
The Visual Version
Our logo is literally our story — Luna in her goggles. Every business card, email signature, and social post reinforces who we are without saying a word.
The Client Version
Connect your story to their success: “Just like Egmer started with a 4-year-old who couldn’t spell but wouldn’t let that stop him, we help businesses who might not have everything perfect but are ready to go for it anyway.”
What Happens When You Don’t Tell Your Story
You become a commodity. Competing on price. Fighting for attention. Constantly explaining why you’re different.
Your proposals get shopped around. Your prices get questioned. Your value gets minimized.
Because when you look like everyone else, you get treated like everyone else.
The Fear That Holds Us Back
“What if we look unprofessional?” The most professional thing you can do is be memorable for the right reasons.
“What if people judge us?” They’re judging your generic corporate speak right now. At least with your story, they’re judging the real you.
“What if our story isn’t good enough?” It’s not about being good enough. It’s about being true enough.
“What if it limits us?” Your story should open doors, not close them. If it’s authentically you, it attracts the right people and repels the wrong ones. That’s a feature, not a bug.
Your Action Plan: Tell Your Story This Week
Day 1: Write down your origin story. Don’t edit. Just write.
Day 2: Find three photos that capture your business’s personality. What story do they tell?
Day 3: Ask three clients why they really chose you. Listen for the story elements.
Day 4: Craft your 30-second story. Practice it out loud.
Day 5: Add one story element to your website, email signature, or social media.
Day 6: Share your story with one person. Notice their reaction.
Day 7: Document what happened. Did they remember you differently?
The Bottom Line
Every business has a choice:
Try to out-corporate the corporations, out-professional the professionals, and compete in the sea of sameness.
Or…
Be courageously, unapologetically, memorably you.
We chose Egmer. We chose Luna. We chose to let a 4-year-old’s spelling mistake and a goggled dog define our brand.
And you know what? Nobody forgets us.
Your story is your superpower. It’s the one thing your competitors can’t copy. It’s the bridge between being a vendor and being a trusted partner.
So tell it. Own it. Let it be the reason people choose you.
Because in a world of “leading providers of innovative solutions,” the company with the cycling dog wins every time.
Ready to find and tell your story?
We help businesses discover what makes them unforgettable and build marketing that actually sounds like them — not everyone else.
Let’s find your Egmer. Let’s find your Luna.
Book Your Story Session with Egmer Marketing →
Sometimes the best marketing strategy is simply being brave enough to be yourself.
P.S. — Yes, our son (now older) helps with Egmer and provides creative input that reminds us why we started. Yes, he’s still coming up with his own entrepreneurship ideas. And yes, Luna still wears her goggles on every ride. Some stories just keep getting better.
