What you’re about to read: three tips on how to market your startup you can learn from Donald Trump – the man who marketed himself into a US presidency.
#1 – Be REAL (or at least come off like you are)
A big part of Trump’s personal brand is about being brash and authentic – entirely different from the polished, scripted persona of other politicians. When he talks – he exaggerates and appears unafraid to be politically incorrect. When he tweets – it looks direct, unscripted, even un-fact-checked.
If you’re a founder – show the world who you are – what your company is – and tell your story as authentically and directly as possible.
#2 – Be BOLD
Okay… so if you want to go viral – get noticed – it’s not enough to just be REAL. What if the real you is an absolutely average, socially anxious wreck? What if your startup makes a boring product or offers a boring service? Nothing wrong with that – but timid and boring isn’t going to encourage people to remember you or share your startup with their friends.
Whether you like him or dislike him – agree with him or disagree with him – Donald Trump is a character. He’s loud and ridiculous. He’s opinionated (more on this later). Bombastic. Bold.
It’s entertaining. Totally shareable.
Like Trump – be bold – regardless of whether you really are.
Does this sound like it contradicts the first tip? It doesn’t.
A lot of times marketing is finding the special parts of something and magnifying those parts to make that something seem bold and new.
So what’s special about you? What’s special about your startup? What’s special about your product or service?
And how can you blow up those things to make a statement?
#3 – Be CONTRARIAN
Final tip – if you can – revolt. Go against something. Preferably something that other people also know and hate.
Trump took a stance when he was running for president. It was a strong, polarizing stance backed by bold, seemingly authentic (not necessarily factually true, mind you) statements and feeling.
The lesson here: take a strong stance and show your audience that you have a common enemy. That enemy doesn’t have to be a person or group of people (I really hope that it isn’t, actually). It can be… wasted time. It can be… diabetes. It can be… whatever you want it to be.
But call it out and attack it with vigor.
Summary of what you just read: be or seem authentic – be bold for added viral effect – share a common enemy with your audience and customers and attack that enemy.
About me: I work in marketing at a tech startup. I don’t like Donald Trump. Wanna talk to me? Click here
The Start Up 