Humility and Marketing

So here's a thought, a question about marketing. While marketing, we do want to impress upon people that AlMaghrib is the best knowledge seeking program around, but we don't want to either be or appear arrogant about this.

Any thoughts on reconciling the two? Usually, the first thought is, well, just show it in your "actions" (the way seminars, marketing, etc happens), but when talking to others, how do we say we're the best while maintaining respect for other organizations or programs going on in our area when explaining this concept to others.

Siraaj

[Muhammad Alshareef]

how about: testimonials

[Teena]

Assalamu Alaikom, well, I'm assuming when you say that Al-Maghrib is the best you are comparing it to similar "accredited" Muslim schools. (The quotations are not meant to belittle anyone, but we all know that as important as these programs are to us, none of the Muslim schools are accredited by traditional Western schools.) Anyways, as a student who has taken classes with Shariah Academy and my husband took a couple classes with AOU, I will tell you why I prefer Al-Maghrib. I am just not very self-motivated! The online schools (all of them) just send you a book and then you are responsible for reading it, learning the material, and then you go back and take the final exam. To be honest, there's a little more to it than that, but my point is that I need to be taught by an instructor, and that is why I prefer Al Maghrib. So, you could stress that this is the only school of it's kind (at least in Houston). So, rather than saying "We are the best", you can say "We are the only". Just an idea. Teena

[Megan Wyatt]

Yea...no offense...I don't like saying anything is the best...because there are other programs, retreats, trips, etc that are highly beneficial as well.

But, AlMAghrib is different, and I think that is what is key. Because it is an INSTITUTE (something people keep missing) and not just lectures...we highlighted what is unique about ALMaghrib when talking to others..

* Qabeelah
* Exams
* Study Session
* The Notebooks
* Intensive, weekends,
* AlMaghrib is where the students are! ( I love that one!)
* Consistent, year round, every three months..
* Organized

I think by highlighting the aspects that are unique, we are able to remain humble, but also able to point out what we love about AlMaghrib, and why it is an Institute worth checking into. And the grin on my face and the excitement probably says a lot too, right?

Originally Posted by Muhammad Alshareef

how about: testimonials

Testimonials are good. I think to a large degree, when people see testimonials from students, it lends some credence. I think when people see testimonials from reputable names, it adds more legitimacy (like on the back of books, seminar ads, etc).

But I mean, even when we talk differentiation between our daw'ah style and others, I feel like there's a potential to appear condescending. Like, for example, when we say, our teachers are prepared to talk, or this is not your typical masjid halaqah, and so forth (I don't say that, by the way), I feel like we could be inadvertantly putting other programs down for the mistakes that they have, and no doubt, they're trying hard, and I'd rather not kick them while they're making those mistakes.

One that was mentioned above - "our classes are organized." It makes me chuckle to think that being organized is a selling point for a class At the same time, is there a better way to point out that we're organized without making it sound condescending or arrogant?

I was thinking of something along the lines of, "Because our staff has X amount experience running classes, and AlMaghrib Institute has been running many classes across North America for 5 years now, we have the teaching of Islamic Sciences down," or something like that.

What do you think?

Siraaj

Originally Posted by Teena

Assalamu Alaikom, well, I'm assuming when you say that Al-Maghrib is the best you are comparing it to similar "accredited" Muslim schools. (The quotations are not meant to belittle anyone, but we all know that as important as these programs are to us, none of the Muslim schools are accredited by traditional Western schools.) Anyways, as a student who has taken classes with Shariah Academy and my husband took a couple classes with AOU, I will tell you why I prefer Al-Maghrib. I am just not very self-motivated! The online schools (all of them) just send you a book and then you are responsible for reading it, learning the material, and then you go back and take the final exam. To be honest, there's a little more to it than that, but my point is that I need to be taught by an instructor, and that is why I prefer Al Maghrib. So, you could stress that this is the only school of it's kind (at least in Houston). So, rather than saying "We are the best", you can say "We are the only". Just an idea. Teena

Well, that's not quite what I was aiming at. I think the market AOU tries to aim for might be in competition with Arees Institute (sort of, they're not accepting students til '09 now). More like, here's what daw'ah looks like right now in your town, but we're not more of the same, we're way better than that, here's why. See, I want to convey we have the best "product" if you will, but I don't want to put down other organizations either.

Siraaj

[OmerChoudry]

This is an interesting question. During the promo event in Chicago it was said by one of the teachers, "you will learn more in a single Al Maghrib seminar than you have in your whole life (on the subject)". of course most people didnt have a problem with it, but a couple of wks later I was at a masjid where some of the youth were talking about al Maghrib and mockingly referred to the above statement. After talking to them I realized they hadnt even attended the event but obviously someone did who made an issue of the statement. I think many people who arent traditionally used to marketing when it comes to Islamic teaching can mistakenly perceive it as arrogance, and if their a bit cynical, they can make issues out of it.

[Megan Wyatt]

And on that note, to be really really honest and frank, I find some of what IS on the AlMaghrib flyers & website to be offensive..I mean..I get the the idea of using a bit of humor to point out a common reality (boring, unorganized halaqas) , but it does,..well, sound arrogant. It is one thing too sound confident (like when Sh. Muhammad Faqih told us there is such a thing as TOO much humility..an inablity to state your strengths at all) and another to sound, like you put it, condescending....(like the phrase that our instructors are the best of the best...I think that is simply going to far...the moment I think I'm the best is probably the moment I have fallen into kibr, and I'm in reality on the downfall.....) Qualified, would be better. Experienced even better. but THE best..on the whole face of the earth? yikes....

which brings us to the question so well put: Does modern marketing fit completley with the Islamic concept of humbleness and promoting 'ilm? Obviously, ALMaghrib proves in some ways, it does..but like I have suggested in our own Qabeelah-to-be-insha'Allah, is that we should survey everyone to find out WHy & how people got involved with AlMAghrib..for me...I'm where the 'ilm is at. Period.

But since marketing is all about "brand recognition" and catchy phrases, etc...do we want people to remember AlMaghrib for the catchy-but-possibly-souding a bit snobbish phrases...or for the fact that it is here to provide much needed knowledge, done in a way that many people can commit to...etc...


I think this a good set of questions asked, and I would love to see more people's input.


ANd yes, I do mean sharing organized as a highlight...the whole class schedule, everythign is organized (something where most Muslim functions fail) and for the serious amoungst us, or those of us with families to get back to, hour long drives each way ( not inlcuding the time you factor in for carpooling pick) etc, timely and prganized start and end times, breaks, etc mean A LOT!!!!!!!

In general, I strongly believe that there is a fine line between confidence in what you offer, and arrogance as two totally different things. I don't find it arrogant in saying that AlMaghrib offers the best way to deliver Islam to the peoples. Why? Because it's the truth. No arrogance about it. Was the Gillete company seen as arrogant when their whole spin was, "Gillette, the best a man can get"? No. In fact people enjoy and are attracted to confidence inspiring products and services. Such as Disney, look at that giant and how it bloomed. It's all about marketing one's goods in a confident way. The whole "You can't get this anywhere else" attitude enhances it's marketing capacity by atleast 70%.

[Fouzia Usman/Quest]

I agree with when we say that "We are good, we are different, we are unique, we have latest technology, we have largest student body in north america, we have awesome forums..." and so on. Because they are facts. Alhamdulilah!

But I dont agree/like when we talk about existing venues for islamic education. For eg: "Islamic lectures are boring. Good thing AlMaghrib doesnt offer any".

"The list we threw out contained such things as:
Unprepared teachers merely reading out of a book
Limited or no use of technology
Deathly boring lecture format with no engaging hands-on activities
No assignments or exams to make sure the students understood the material
Both teacher and student sitting on wooden stools and frowning all class long "

Also, in the above list, I didnt agree with the first and last points.

In some cases it might be true, but when someone who is completely new to AlMaghrib reads
"Unprepared teachers merely reading out of a book "
how will she/he will feel ? Wont they get offended ?

As long as we point out the flaws in general and if we highlight our strengths, then that would cover up the gap and convey the message why we are special and unique.


Limited or no use of technology
Lectures with no engaging hands-on activities
No assignments or exams to make sure the students understood the material

"Lectures can be boring. Good thing AlMaghrib doesnt offer any".

And Allah knows best.

Sr.Quest