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Love him or hate him, marketers can learn a thing or two from Trump
chicagobusiness.com ^ | Lindsay Stein

Posted on 03/08/2016 8:51:47 AM PST by RoosterRedux

Donald Trump may be the most polarizing figure of this election cycle. And he's ridden a wave of social media and earned media to go from political oddity to the man to beat in the Republican primary, besting competitors who've outspent him exponentially. So it's no surprise that many in adland might be tempted to see him as a marketing case study.

There's no arguing with the results so far, but a lot of what works for Mr. Trump would seem like brand suicide for a traditional marketer. The juvenile attacks on the competition, his lack of messaging consistency over the years, the absence of a detailed product benefit and a questionable relationship with the truth -- which has been called out by fact checkers, the media and the competition -- are all things that would likely sink a brand tempted to embrace them.

But there is a method to the madness, and from finding a need and filling (or exploiting) it to the use of engaging live events to tapping into consumer emotions, lessons can be gleaned from the campaign.

"Whether by instinct or design, Donald Trump is without a doubt the most modern and sophisticated marketer of the Republican candidates," said John Barker, president and chief idea officer at independent advertising shop Barker.

NATURAL SHOWMAN

Mr. Barker said Mr. Trump, "a natural showman," understands that being in headlines is more important than being loved or consistent. Case in point: his unveiling of the Chris Christie endorsement just as opponent Marco Rubio started turning up the heat.

More important, he gets "postmodern marketing." Other GOP candidates, such as Ted Cruz and Mr. Rubio, are mistakenly thinking they should focus on policy to get voter attention and they're not gaining traction.

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagobusiness.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: trump
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1 posted on 03/08/2016 8:51:47 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: hoosiermama; onyx; Jane Long; V K Lee; conservativejoy; RitaOK; Black Agnes; nopardons; ...

Ping


2 posted on 03/08/2016 8:52:29 AM PST by RoosterRedux (When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction. - Mark Twain)
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To: RoosterRedux

those wholove freedom and capitalism love Trump others love the lying cheating cruz.


3 posted on 03/08/2016 8:53:31 AM PST by The_Republic_Of_Maine (politicians beware)
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To: RoosterRedux
Oh contrary, I think Trump has learned from the marketers.
4 posted on 03/08/2016 8:53:51 AM PST by Agnes Heep ("Oh, Master Copperfield, with what a pure affection do I love the ground my Agnes walks on!")
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To: The_Republic_Of_Maine
those wholove freedom and capitalism love Trump others love the lying cheating cruz.

Is that the best you've got?

5 posted on 03/08/2016 8:54:52 AM PST by Agnes Heep ("Oh, Master Copperfield, with what a pure affection do I love the ground my Agnes walks on!")
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To: RoosterRedux

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adeKc6dbsI0 Trump on Trade...


6 posted on 03/08/2016 8:56:26 AM PST by HarleyLady27 ('THE FORCE AWAKENS!!!' Trump; Trump; Trump; Trump; 100%)
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To: RoosterRedux

I do admire the way Trump countered Hillary’s “Republican War on Women” theme by reminding people of Bill’s (and, by complicity, her) track record with women. We’ve seen so little of Bill since then, I thought he might have entered the Witness Protection Program.


7 posted on 03/08/2016 9:01:55 AM PST by riverdawg
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To: RoosterRedux

Zactly.

While I would prefer a discussion of policy and ideas, Trump is undercutting that by

Identifying the current condition as perveived by Americans

Echoing the problems most important to many of us

Proposing a solution we all generally agree on and that he is the best vehicle for moving toward the goals

He’ll, hopefully, pivot to the road map of how we get there and what it will look like, in a meaningful and measurable way.

I’m still a Cruz supporter but, Trump is kicking everyone’s ass on tapping into the pain we feel and our aspirations


8 posted on 03/08/2016 9:05:21 AM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway - "Enjoy Yourself" ala Louis Prima)
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To: Vendome

Go to his website and read his position papers. They are very specific as to how to solve the problems.


9 posted on 03/08/2016 9:09:19 AM PST by Parmy (I)
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To: Agnes Heep; The_Republic_Of_Maine

Here, let me assist The_Republic_Of_Maine, who just posted this gem on another thread!

http://www.mainetv.net/cruz_is_a_liar.htm


10 posted on 03/08/2016 9:15:52 AM PST by onyx (You're here posting, so sign-up to DONATE MONTHLY!)
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To: RoosterRedux


11 posted on 03/08/2016 9:16:38 AM PST by onyx (You're here posting, so sign-up to DONATE MONTHLY!)
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To: RoosterRedux

How could Trump or a PAC associated with him do anything else but return the cash, to accept it would make him a liar considering his statements about other candidates accepting money from bankers, which is amusing anyway since they are not billionaires themselves and able to self fund.


12 posted on 03/08/2016 9:17:43 AM PST by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: RoosterRedux

bookmark


13 posted on 03/08/2016 9:19:38 AM PST by GOP Poet
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To: RoosterRedux

for later


14 posted on 03/08/2016 9:26:57 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: RoosterRedux

From a marketing perspective, Trump has won the war of the airwaves. It is mostly because he is an entertaining man, comfortable in front of the camera and he is full of confidence.

I think he has tapped into the anger of the mass blue collar vote (which we will see in MI.)

But if you wish to repeat this; sort of bottle it and sell it for some other candidate...it will fail. Take a look at Marco. Marco tried to be angry and nasty and he looked foolish.

Donald can dismiss Marco with a wave of his hand. And yet, when Marco did it he looked so uncomfortable it was creepy.

Nope, the marketers will try to copy this and they will fail. There are no other people with the name recognition, “trust,” and smarts who could pull this off.

I’ve tried to think of anyone else in the conservative movement who could pull this off. From the liberal side, there are a few actors who have some brains who could do it...but they are too left wing to be elected (ie, Clooney, Brad Pitt, and their ilk.)

We still remember and Study PT Barnum, Ogilvy, and Geobbles (Yes, marketing and poly sci folks still study Gobbles) Charismatic promoters come along once in a generation.


15 posted on 03/08/2016 9:48:09 AM PST by Vermont Lt (Ask Bernie supporters two questions: Who is rich. Who decides. In the past, that meant who died.)
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To: RoosterRedux

Yeah everybody hates Trump except the Voters:-)


16 posted on 03/08/2016 10:00:09 AM PST by Harpotoo
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To: Vermont Lt
I don't think Trump's strategy can be repeated either. It has taken him 35+ years to refine it and it is so intertwine with his persona that it can't be separated from Trump.

But if he gets elected to the Oval Office, his strategy will be studied in great detail.

While it can't necessarily be repeated, it will be broken into its various parts and those strategic parts will be tested over and over again by marketeers and politicians to determine which, if any, can used to achieve success.

One major piece of Trump's overall strategy that will have great influence is that "authenticity sell."

But unfortunately for Madison Ave, you can't fake authenticity (ergo, you either have it or you don't...can't buy it from ad execs).

17 posted on 03/08/2016 10:28:39 AM PST by RoosterRedux (When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction. - Mark Twain)
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To: Vermont Lt
I think Trump's mastery of marketing is deeper than most people realize.

Rubio seems to believe --"Oh, if I just copy the techniques of the winners, I can beat Trump".

Book knowledge doesn't help very much in a fast-moving environment where you lack management experience. Rubio could ape Trump's messages, but no matter what he says, people know his history.  They know Rubio is a greenhorn who maybe never hired another person in his life.

The other side that people miss about Trump's dominance is his total preparation -- over many years -- to become POTUS.

There are countless examples, but let me cite just one.  Was it a sheer coincidence that the biggest golf tournament in the country was held at Trump's golf course the week before Florida goes to the polls?

Trunp is an organizational genius.


18 posted on 03/08/2016 12:11:05 PM PST by poconopundit (When the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government. Franklin, Const. Conv.)
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To: poconopundit

When I was in business, as I went up the ladder I found that when I needed to know something, I had someone who should provide me with that. I needed to predict what my boss needed to know, and be prepared before he knew he needed it.

As I got to the top echelons of my profession I would have expected the easy decisions to be made below me. If one of my Department Heads came to me with an easy decision I made him or her make it, and explain it.

The President needs to set the vision. He needs to say, “We need to be up there by next year.” He does not say, “You have to do it my way. I am not fixed on my way.”

He then needs to gather his people, give them their orders and have them come back with plans. Some give and take will take place, but he will let them make their own way.

He will give them the tools—in this case, when the President needs something done—the people aroused, a favor done, an ass kicked, break a tie vote—that is when the President gets involved.

Then he should make a big damned deal about the accomplishments—not the arguments.

Those are pretty much the book definitions of what leaders do. Its been a long time since we had a leader.

The fact that ONLY four of his companies have failed is amazing to me. I wonder why he never counters that argument with, “I’ve started 200 companies, 96% ain’t bad...”


19 posted on 03/08/2016 1:21:23 PM PST by Vermont Lt (Ask Bernie supporters two questions: Who is rich. Who decides. In the past, that meant who died.)
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To: poconopundit

I had a second and checked out big the empire is:

The Trump organization lists involvement in 515 subsidiaries and entities with 264 of them bearing Trump’s name and another 54 including his initials.

So, he has 515 companies, and 4 bankruptcies. That is a 99.22% success rate.

I am not a Trump Voter, but I think he is more than qualified to be the chief executive. Anyone who doesn’t is insane.


20 posted on 03/08/2016 1:24:25 PM PST by Vermont Lt (Ask Bernie supporters two questions: Who is rich. Who decides. In the past, that meant who died.)
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