Obama-mania: Coming to a Campaign by You?
President-elect Barack Obama is quickly shaping up as the most charismatic national political figure since John F. Kennedy or Ronald Reagan (depending on your political bent), so I suppose its only natural that marketers would want to grab a bit of that charisma for their campaigns.
Already in Chicago, Loyola University has run a newspaper ad reaching out to potential students with a takeoff of Obama’s “Yes We Can” slogan. Former rapper and now businessman Sean “Diddy” Combs is coming out with a new fragrance for men and telling the Wall Street Journal that it reflects the new image of African-American men portrayed by Obama.
I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more efforts to grab some of the Obama marketing coattails. If you’re thinking about doing it, be careful. Like any other technique, if done wrong – in an inauthentic or forced manner – it will not work and could do you, your company and its products or services more harm than good.
Comments
But, it can be done right . . . and well. Allow the ideas to surface naturally and holistically. If there is something about your product or company that aligns with what Obama stands for, you won’t have to look for it, it will be apparent. If you have to dig for it - stop! It’ll come across as forced and hurt your credibility.
Posted by: Stacey Mathis | November 15, 2008 6:56 PM