All About the Everyman
As modeled by the Regular Joe or the Girl Next Door, the Everyman archetype is wholesome and genuine – which makes it irresistibly likeable! The Everyman tends to demonstrate the underlying American ideals of hard work and honesty, and embraces common sense values and authenticity. The Everyman feels no need for pretense. It doesn’t desire luxury or measure itself by status symbols — as demonstrated by a high-powered executive who comes to work in jeans and sneakers, for example.
The Everyman wants to fit in and be part of a group. Its motivation is to belong and be accepted. While this generally means a surface-level embracing of all people, it also manifests into a joining of cliques, social clubs, and memberships, to be around like-minded peers.
The Everyman brand archetype is easily seen in mom-and-pop stores, local diners, and community events that have a down-home culture, genuine and caring. TV shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and Cheers celebrate the simple joys of the everyday and being surrounded by people who know and accept you. Personalities like country singer Blake Shelton win us over with homespun charm and good-natured humor. Brands like Wrangler Jeans, Wendy’s, Discover, and Budweiser are heavily dependent on the Everyman archetype. And even many who disagree with Barack Obama’s policies will admit that he himself is a relatable and likeable guy. That’s the Everyman at work.
The Everyman Brand in Action
Everyman brands tend to have or portray a family culture, welcoming and inviting. Their products or services may have mass appeal or be applicable to a broad audience, and are generally meeting a basic need, nothing fancy or extravagant.
The marketing of an Everyman brand often speaks in a colloquial voice and uses wholesome imagery. There are no outlandish claims, nothing designed to get shock value. Money-back guarantees and other trust-building elements are common. Everyman brands will find that social media is a great outlet for them, and smart brands will use it to become even more relatable, transparent, and helpful to their customers.
The organizational structure of an Everyman brand downplays hierarchy. Decisions are made democratically or by consensus. Working in teams is common. There is a strong sense of pride in the work that is done, and the atmosphere is comfortable and casual.
The Different Levels of the Everyman Archetype
Each of the 12 different archetypes has levels. The lower levels are less mature while higher levels are more developed.
Level 1: The Everyman archetype is expressed through seeking any sort of affiliation, typically spurred by feelings of loneliness.
Level 2: One learns how to connect (form and nurture relationships) and fit in.
Level 3: The dignity afforded each person, regardless of differences, is realized and practiced.
All in the Family
There are different aspects of the Everyman archetype that can emerge, based on the strength of various attributes. The book Archetypes in Branding includes the Everyman as one of five related sub-archetypes.
- Everyman
What you see is what you get. Without pretense, the Everyman is sincere, helpful, and genuine. Wanting to belong and get along with others, this sub-archetype treats everyone with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, in the effort to not ruffle feathers, the Everyman may succumb to a herd mentality and lose its own identity.
- Citizen
The Citizen holds a deep responsibility to the community, believing there to be great value in the collective whole. With high integrity, the Citizen works for fairness and equality. The challenge for the Citizen is not to be overly zealous in its sense of righteousness.
- Advocate
The Advocate is compelled to work for the greater good on behalf of others. With passion and energy, this sub-archetype is able to motivate and inspire others to action while uniting people behind a cause. The Advocate should be careful, however, to not let personal gain overtake the greater good.
- Servant
The Servant is committed to helping others, whether in a subservient role, or as a leader. With empathy, awareness, and commitment, the humble Servant asks no reward for serving others. This can, however, become a weakness, leading to burnout or a desire for recognition.
- Networker
The Networker creates communities and connections for the benefit of the whole. With an outgoing nature, the Networker is a social butterfly, friendly and relatable. The challenge this sub-archetype may face is the temptation to manipulate connections for personal gain.