Season 8 spoilers – we’re not kidding! Stop now if you’re not caught up.
Now that the most anticipated season of any T.V. show in recent memory has wrapped, we can all sit back and take a breath. Looking back (even though season eight was rushed), we can see foreshadowing of much of what happened.
But of course, there were also huge surprises. Who knew that Jon has a lineage connection to the throne? Who knew Daenerys would suddenly torch an entire city and plan even more destruction to solidify her own claim?
It seems like marketing is a bit like that. It’s a long-term game, but it always finds ways to surprise us. We make our plans, set our digital marketing goals, but life happens.
What can we learn about marketing from Game of Thrones? Here are just a few lessons.
You Can’t Plan Ahead for Everything
Certainly Jon tried to, but the reality is that there are always twists and turns. Jon was hoping to support Daenerys claim to the throne, but she simply lost her mind and made that impossible. Of course, the claim Jon had himself shocked everyone.
In marketing it’s much the same. You can’t plan ahead for everything. You can create a written plan, and you should, but be sure to leave room for flexibility.
Struggling to get an initial marketing plan set up? Why not work with a powerful digital marketing agency? They can help ensure that you have a starting point while staying flexible.
Don’t Be Afraid to Kill Your Darlings
Wow. Did Jon step up or what? After being dedicated to Daenerys for such a long time, Jon finally realized that she wasn’t who she used to be. Once, she was worthy of loyalty, but not anymore.
You’ll have marketing strategies and outreaches that are the same way. Once they served a purpose. They worked. They brought in revenue or helped you reach your other marketing goals. But they aren’t working anymore.
Something has changed, and it’s time to change your loyalty. Don’t live and die with a single strategy. Instead, keep a clear head and be willing to kill your darlings if necessary to make space for better options.
Solidify Your Alliances
The alliances in Game of Thrones were full of intrigue. When they worked, amazing battles were won. When they didn’t, a bloodbath ensued. I never wanted to be invited to a wedding in Westeros.
In marketing, it’s much easier to have partnerships. You don’t have to worry so much about being stabbed in the back and betrayed. Instead, find other small businesses and organizations that serve the same audience as you do, but in different ways.
Do you focus on young professionals? Connect with other businesses that do the same and see how you can co-promote. Perhaps you can give a blog post in return for a link back to your website, and they can do the same on your blog. Maybe you can co-host events or co-sponsor charity events.
Regardless, having alliances is a great way to build your brand while cooperating with other companies that serve the same audience.
Don’t Get Too Comfortable
Did you work hard on SEO and finally get a coveted ranking on page one of the search results? Amazing! Enjoy your success, but be sure not to rest. After all, there are a ton of other companies who are interested in claiming those spots as well.
Do you have a strong following on Facebook or another social media platform? Great! But be sure to keep those folks engaged. Just having followers – or even likes – doesn’t translate to revenue. Social media marketing can bring those folks onto your website and into your sales funnel.
How’s your email list? Huge? That’s awesome! However, make sure you’re using it to the best advantage. Take time to learn best practices for email marketing so that you can engage your list while also driving sales and revenue.
Getting to one of your goals is excellent and should be celebrated. But it’s not a time to get comfortable. Keep your high-level marketing on point.
Be Ready to Adapt
Don’t be afraid to reassess from time to time. Has your target market shifted? Has anything changed about how your potential customers access information, the internet, or social media? If so, it’s time to make changes to your marketing plan.
It’s vital to stay active, innovative, and to continue learning and growing in your marketing. You don’t want to fall into a rut or rely too much on a specific platform or strategy. Something can change in the terms of service or simply in the audience behaviour that can make that no longer work.
When you’re ready to adapt and you stay nimble, you’ll be able to win and keep the throne when it comes to building your brand and helping your business be successful.