The Enduring Importance of Inclusive Marketing in a DEI Adverse World

Despite gaining significant momentum in 2020 following a surge in social justice awareness, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has faced recent backlash. Yet, inclusive marketing remains essential for businesses seeking long-term success.

Inclusive marketing is not just about representation. It is a strategic approach designed to build deep connections with diverse audiences, celebrating diversity at every customer touchpoint. This can only be achieved by understanding these communities, inviting them to share their lived experiences and cultures, and using those insights to inform the creative process. Market research, such as focus groups, online surveys, and direct engagement with current customers, is critical to transforming data points into actionable insights that drive effective and inclusive marketing strategies that enhance ad relevance and cultivate brand loyalty.

Inclusive marketing cannot exist in a silo, however. And it’s about more than just doing the right thing or making people feel good. It’s also a powerful driver of business growth. Companies that execute inclusive marketing well enjoy a competitive advantage because they have embedded it across the entire organization, from talent acquisition to product development and launch.

Data and business growth strategies support the effectiveness of inclusive marketing. Courageous companies that prioritize DEI, even amid challenges, often discover new market opportunities, drive innovation and establish themselves as responsible corporate citizens.

In this episode of The New Mainstream podcast, Devoreaux Walton, MBA, a Brand & Marketing Senior Consultant at revelant and host of The Inclusive Consumer podcast, discusses the relevance of inclusive marketing in today’s complex business landscape.

About Devoreaux Walton

Devoreaux Walton (pronouns: she/ her) is a consultant, thought leader, and speaker who is the Founder and Managing Partner of revelant, a boutique management consulting firm specializing in business, marketing, and human resources solutions.
She delights clients with branding, marketing, small business planning and strategy, personal branding, employer branding, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging solutions. Walton’s motivation to serve clients is based on her fundamental belief that small businesses are a critical part of a thriving economy within the global landscape. Walton specializes in helping brands successfully navigate change, including brand development, brand strategy, brand launch, rebranding, and brand expansion through growth. 

To teach how inclusive marketing is a competitive advantage for brands, Walton founded and hosts The Inclusive Consumer Podcast, a podcast highlighting thought leadership at the intersection of marketing, branding, strategy, and inclusion. The podcast is available on YouTube and Spotify for global listeners to tune in.

Prior to launching revelant and The Inclusive Consumer Podcast, for over a decade Walton enjoyed climbing the corporate ladder at marketing agencies, Google, and IBM while freelance consulting with small businesses and nonprofits across various industries.