Warning: This blog contains Game of Thrones Season 8 spoilers.
If you don’t know that Season 8 – the final season- of Game of Thrones launched this month then frankly we can’t be e-friends anymore. The TV series has achieved some record breaking international success including breaking the record for illegal downloads and the name Arya making it to the top 20 baby names in the UK.
So what does Game of Thrones have to do with marketing? Well nothing really but when you start talking battlefields, wars and strategic alliance we can relate.
So without further ado here is our list of distinct parallels between marketing strategy and the Battle of Winterfell.
Don’t be afraid to kill – bad ideas
Just like no one is safe in Game of Thrones, the same goes to your marketing strategy. Don’t fall in love with your first idea, it’s not always the best. While performing synchronized dragon aerials in the sky might look amazing the reality is it is an utter waste of time and doesn’t really help the ‘bottom line’ which is literally bleeding to death. At Tower we love a good brainstorm to get the creative juices flowing but with great ideas also comes great editing. You might have that one idea that on paper looks and sounds amazing but is tricky to execute. Remember, sometimes the best ideas are the ones that are simple to execute. Always refer to your SMART objectives to guide you in the planning process.
You can’t plan ahead for everything
This is true in every aspect of business really. Just like Ser Davos hadn’t planned that Khaleesi and her dragon wouldn’t be able to see his pathetic fire signal to start attacking the wights and light up the trench, (why she even needed a signal is beyond us), there will be many obstacles that you cannot control which may affect your well planned out strategy. The key here is to always play devil’s advocate in the planning process so you can at least have a plan B up your sleeve. Failing that, your need to be as reactive as possible to ensure you can move as quickly as the goal posts. No red woman is going to ride in on a horse and light your fire so be ready.
You win over crowds with consistency
While the characters who are quick to follow the latest trend – we’re talking Theon’s sudden heroism and pointless charge that leads to his timely end and Lyanna Mormont’s admirable yet foolish decision to fight alongside her men – those who have stayed true to one consistent message are those who have achieved the highest level of success. Sansa will always be a crypt dweller and that’s how she’s survived 8 seasons.
What marketers can learn from this example is the importance of a consistent message, especially when the communicator can deliver on their promises. Consistency is the way content marketing uses an editorial approach to build trust with the audience. By appearing in the same place at the same time, delivering quality content over an extended period, businesses can build the kind of brand loyalty with their customers that’ll have them declaring “Mhysa” at your feet.
