Donald Trump's is a case study in marketing - How to successfully sell a political brand name by branding your opponents.
Politics is a game of mind. It is an art to plant the seeds of doubt in the minds of electorates regarding your opponents, by defining him before he defines himself to the voters.
Trump has successfully done this to his opponents. He defined Jeb Bush as "someone low on energy". Politics is a matter of perception. With his definition he made Jeb Bush, who spoke with long monologues on debates, look drab and boring, with his $150 million chest not withstanding.
Trump's branding of Rubio as diminutive "Little Marco", lampooning his size from top to bottom, worked against Rubio both literally and figuratively. Verbal punches flew between them, but Trump was the one who came out as winner, as he was able to connect to audience to perceive Rubio the way he wanted them to.
Height matters a lot for a public persona (exceptions apply). A good height enhances the stature, it's an asset which attracts attention, adding invaluable value to someone's Leadership ability. Rubio at 5 ' 10" may not fit the bill of a short person and no one has measured his private parts in public. But public perception is very important in politics, your branding can hurt you pretty bad.
The powerful, ever pervading media gave a lot of credence to Trump by repeating often his off the cuff statements - prominent being the CNN. Around this time last year, when the network's rating was fast plummeting, Trump's arrival was like Manna dew from the heaven.
CNN followed Donald Trump, covering his speech everywhere and the smart businessman effectively sold himself using his powerful demagoguery. Both the ratings of CNN and his popularity soon started skyrocketing. Later when Trump trounced Rubio in laters home state of Florida, the little Marco told bluntly to CNN - "You guys made him".
He had a point. By December Trump had taken all by surprise. When he boycotted the debate on Conservative Fox News, the networks ratings plummetted due the lack of his presence - a brand name called Trump.
Trump has generated an estimated free advertisement revenue worth $2 billion since he entered into the Republican fray. So it's not that he owes to the networks - the networks owe him too.
Reminds me of Amitabh's movie HUM (Us) released in 1991. In a scene Anumam Kher who plays the role of a crook cop, delivers a very meaningful monologue - BAGAWAT MEIN TEEN KISAM KE ADDMI HOTE HAIN (There are three kinds of people in a mutiny), ATYACHAARI (the tormentor played by Danny), KRANTIKARI (the mutineer, played by Amitabh), AUR UN DONO KA JHAGDE KA FAIDA UTHATE HUE HAMARA JAISE BYAPARI (Taking advantage of their rivalry are our kind of businessmen).
Very aptly described indeed, its the media, the BYAPARI being the real winner in this case. Not to mention Trump, also a PUCCA BYAPARI who knows his business has already made his business, whether he wins or loses this November.
Politics is a game of mind. It is an art to plant the seeds of doubt in the minds of electorates regarding your opponents, by defining him before he defines himself to the voters.
Trump has successfully done this to his opponents. He defined Jeb Bush as "someone low on energy". Politics is a matter of perception. With his definition he made Jeb Bush, who spoke with long monologues on debates, look drab and boring, with his $150 million chest not withstanding.
Trump's branding of Rubio as diminutive "Little Marco", lampooning his size from top to bottom, worked against Rubio both literally and figuratively. Verbal punches flew between them, but Trump was the one who came out as winner, as he was able to connect to audience to perceive Rubio the way he wanted them to.
Height matters a lot for a public persona (exceptions apply). A good height enhances the stature, it's an asset which attracts attention, adding invaluable value to someone's Leadership ability. Rubio at 5 ' 10" may not fit the bill of a short person and no one has measured his private parts in public. But public perception is very important in politics, your branding can hurt you pretty bad.
The powerful, ever pervading media gave a lot of credence to Trump by repeating often his off the cuff statements - prominent being the CNN. Around this time last year, when the network's rating was fast plummeting, Trump's arrival was like Manna dew from the heaven.
CNN followed Donald Trump, covering his speech everywhere and the smart businessman effectively sold himself using his powerful demagoguery. Both the ratings of CNN and his popularity soon started skyrocketing. Later when Trump trounced Rubio in laters home state of Florida, the little Marco told bluntly to CNN - "You guys made him".
He had a point. By December Trump had taken all by surprise. When he boycotted the debate on Conservative Fox News, the networks ratings plummetted due the lack of his presence - a brand name called Trump.
Trump has generated an estimated free advertisement revenue worth $2 billion since he entered into the Republican fray. So it's not that he owes to the networks - the networks owe him too.
Reminds me of Amitabh's movie HUM (Us) released in 1991. In a scene Anumam Kher who plays the role of a crook cop, delivers a very meaningful monologue - BAGAWAT MEIN TEEN KISAM KE ADDMI HOTE HAIN (There are three kinds of people in a mutiny), ATYACHAARI (the tormentor played by Danny), KRANTIKARI (the mutineer, played by Amitabh), AUR UN DONO KA JHAGDE KA FAIDA UTHATE HUE HAMARA JAISE BYAPARI (Taking advantage of their rivalry are our kind of businessmen).
Very aptly described indeed, its the media, the BYAPARI being the real winner in this case. Not to mention Trump, also a PUCCA BYAPARI who knows his business has already made his business, whether he wins or loses this November.
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