Meet: Markey Battle
Team member of our LGBTQIA+ Task Force
Pronouns: She/Her
Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
Job Role: Copywriter
Years in Industry: 5+
So Markey, tell us about yourself!
I am a passionate creator who knows the power and impact that words can have on the world. I am a firm believer that you don’t write because you have something to say, but you write because you have to say something. Thankfully, I have had to say many things throughout my life. I am an Enneagram Three to my core, an audiobook enthusiast, and a lover of the creative side of life.
How did you get into marketing?
I have worked with several brands and companies throughout my professional career and fell in love with telling their story or spreading their message. I love the creative aspect of marketing, especially as it pertains to capturing a brand’s voice and style.
Marketing is a tough industry, what keeps you in the field?
Marketing is always changing. You will never have the same day at work and you will always face new problems and find new solutions. As a creative, I love the idea that I work in a field that is never stagnant and always growing.
Where do you go for inspiration?
I am always consuming content. Books, magazines, audiobooks, podcasts, newsletters, well-crafted Instagram ads -- everything is an inspiration. I am currently in love with the idea of newsletters. With the correct copy and strategy, I am compelled to care about what kind of a sandwich someone in Maine bought for lunch or what someone in Nantucket is reading this weekend, and I think that is wonderful.
Tell us about some of your work in the space.
I have written for several LGBTQIA+ organizations and topics. I recently worked on a project where I explored the best and worst dating apps for this community and the unique challenges that they face with online dating. I have also written about several news stories surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community. But my favorite project was editing my friend’s book about what it was like growing up as a Christian, while also identifying with this community.
Why do you think it’s important for brands to be inclusive?
No brand should seek to eliminate or alienate anyone. This won’t lead them anywhere, and it’s not a brand’s job to be exclusive to a group of people for any reason. Inclusivity ought to be what drives every brand and what is at the core of its mission statement.
What is a brand you think is doing a good job at being inclusive in its evergreen marketing?
This might be a very run-of-the mill answer, but I truly love what Aerie has done in the past few years with their brand. Even though the company sells intimatewear and it is tempting to only use a certain kind of model or body type, the brand is constantly seeking out not only new talent, but models who have been overlooked in their desired industry for years. While the brand has miles to go and I would argue that no brand has a perfect marketing strategy in the realm of inclusivity, it’s clear that Aerie is for everyone.
What do you think brands have gotten wrong when it comes to marketing to the LGBTQ+ Community?
June is not the only month that you celebrate pride. Also, slapping a rainbow on everything does not say that you’re an ally. I wish every brand that celebrated Pride Month also celebrated the members of the LGBTQIA+ community, but that isn’t a requirement for rainbow washing.
Want to work with Markey? Check out our LGBTQIA+ Marketing Services.