Have you seen ads mistakenly promoting Political agendas as current social issues that they support? Have you been considering showing similar support for the short run in your marketing? If you have, then think again before reacting. This type of political marketing can backfire on a business. Consider ticket and sponsor losses of the NFL blunder when they appeared to take the wrong side of an patriotic issue.
Before you change your website, ads, and social postings, do your research and consider the implications for your business. Is the political issue or current socialistic opinion being supported by hundreds rather than thousands, by thousands rather than millions? News reports can often be misleading. Is the group or charity you are considering making a difference? Is the movement making a difference, is it peaceful or violent? Did it physically destroy property, loot other businesses, or hurt people? However those actions are perceived may reflect on your company as a supporter. How many customers do you want to get? How many are you willing to alienate? How many are you willing to lose? If you make the wrong move/impression, the company page on social media may blow-up in your face instead of in your sales. Have you researched the issue to be sure it is real and not a lie or hiding a different political agenda?
Instead of using the political issue or socialized opinion "of the week" or month to build an advertising campaign, look for a way to use your marketing budget for the long run to build business. Create marketing that builds-up you brand instead of promoting the brand of others. How do you do this? Sell your value, create brand recognition, and build trust with current and future customers. Most customers are interested in WIFM (what's in it for me), so sell the value of your product or service. Build your advertising and social media presence around being known for what you do, and repeat that in multiple formats and places. This reputation is key to create name recognition and service/product reputation. Steer away from ads that leave people thinking "That was an interesting commercial. What was it for?" If you want to build customer loyalty, do it through brand trust. You have to have trust in your compnay first, an uninformative or misleading advertisement makes people think you are covering something up, therefore killing any chance at building trust.
Still considering putting your political views to grab attention by supporting current issue? If you are then you may want to read the articles and tips below before you spend your marketing money.
How Social Media Can Kill Your Business
Politics and Marketing
SBDC 8 Steps To Marketing Your Business
Before you change your website, ads, and social postings, do your research and consider the implications for your business. Is the political issue or current socialistic opinion being supported by hundreds rather than thousands, by thousands rather than millions? News reports can often be misleading. Is the group or charity you are considering making a difference? Is the movement making a difference, is it peaceful or violent? Did it physically destroy property, loot other businesses, or hurt people? However those actions are perceived may reflect on your company as a supporter. How many customers do you want to get? How many are you willing to alienate? How many are you willing to lose? If you make the wrong move/impression, the company page on social media may blow-up in your face instead of in your sales. Have you researched the issue to be sure it is real and not a lie or hiding a different political agenda?
Instead of using the political issue or socialized opinion "of the week" or month to build an advertising campaign, look for a way to use your marketing budget for the long run to build business. Create marketing that builds-up you brand instead of promoting the brand of others. How do you do this? Sell your value, create brand recognition, and build trust with current and future customers. Most customers are interested in WIFM (what's in it for me), so sell the value of your product or service. Build your advertising and social media presence around being known for what you do, and repeat that in multiple formats and places. This reputation is key to create name recognition and service/product reputation. Steer away from ads that leave people thinking "That was an interesting commercial. What was it for?" If you want to build customer loyalty, do it through brand trust. You have to have trust in your compnay first, an uninformative or misleading advertisement makes people think you are covering something up, therefore killing any chance at building trust.
Still considering putting your political views to grab attention by supporting current issue? If you are then you may want to read the articles and tips below before you spend your marketing money.
How Social Media Can Kill Your Business
Politics and Marketing
SBDC 8 Steps To Marketing Your Business
Will you let your business be hurt by putting an irresponsible statement into a black box promotion or funds into a questionable process/policy? If you move too soon, you may lose business. If you have already made the wrong move, better backup and hope to reduce/reflect backfire from the larger population not supporting the protests that is your greatest potential for customers.
