The 80’s were a crazy time – wrought with economic and political change, legendary musicians, TV fanaticism, iconic movies and odd fashion trends. So, can the 80’s teach us anything about marketing? Absolutely!
Hidden in the culture of the 80’s is the secret for unlocking success as a business online!
1. Do Your Own Thing
The 80’s saw copious amounts of fluorescent colors, girls in side pony tails, teased hair everywhere and leg warmers in all climates. Anything went and people expressed themselves uniquely and loudly! Businesses can learn a lesson from the individuality of the 80’s.
Hidden in the culture of the 80’s is the secret for unlocking success as a business online!
1. Do Your Own Thing
The 80’s saw copious amounts of fluorescent colors, girls in side pony tails, teased hair everywhere and leg warmers in all climates. Anything went and people expressed themselves uniquely and loudly! Businesses can learn a lesson from the individuality of the 80’s.
Standing out is the key to getting noticed in the noise of so many companies on social media and advertising platforms. While it’s important to follow best practices, businesses that just copy their competitors will lack the differentiation to succeed online!
Lesson: Carve out your own niche.
2. Being Likable Can Make You
TV shows and movies in the 80’s were filled with people and characters that were just likeable (for instance Bill Cosby or Indiana Jones). This was a time before the age of every character having super strength, artificial intelligence, magic powers, uncanny observation, boatloads of money and all of the other things that make today’s characters noteworthy. In much the same way, businesses can get a long way these days by just being well liked. Getting people to like your business leads to positive word of mouth, brand loyalty, higher customer satisfaction and increased opportunities to branch out and partner with other companies.
Lesson: Just be likeable.
3. More is Better
Forget less is more! More was more in the 80’s. There was big hair, colorful hair, row after row of bracelets up arms and giant shoulder pads in everything! Bigger was definitely better. From a marketing perspective, these days more is more when it comes to getting your business found as well. A well-rounded digital marketing strategy will place your business in front of your target demographic wherever they are. Having your business on the various social media channels, ranking well for your key phrases in organic search and appearing in location or industry-specific directories means that you stand a better chance of getting your business noticed. Just like 80’s fashion, you want to go above and beyond so that your business can attract as many eyes as possible!
Lesson: Be in more places.
4. Technology Shouldn’t Rule
I think we all learned a lesson from The Terminator – technology shouldn’t be relied on too heavily and left unchecked. Nowadays businesses try to automate as many things as they can to streamline their operations; and while efficiency is important, there’s a human element that can be lost in the process. When it comes to things like customer service, people can tell the difference between having a real person answer their emails or reply to them on social media and getting an automated or canned response.
Lesson: Don’t forget the human aspect.
5. Being Able to Evolve is Essential
Madonna was the queen of changing herself to stay relevant. She was always at the forefront of music because no one knew what to expect. Before the days of shocking artists like Lady Gaga becoming commonplace, Madonna stayed popular by making waves and evolving. It goes without saying that as a business you need to evolve and innovate. Disrupting your industry with innovation is the way you make it to the forefront and withstand the test of time.
Lesson: Evolve and innovate to stay ahead.
By Kate Pierce. Kate Pierce is the owner of LionShark Digital Marketing LLC, a West Michigan internet marketing company. Her areas of expertise include Paid Search, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Web Consulting for small businesses, Copywriting and Local Online Marketing. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband and enjoys cooking, watching sports and spending time outdoors. Like a true digital marketing expert (i.e. geek), she loves talking about marketing theory and SEM trends… so don’t say you weren’t warned!
Lesson: Carve out your own niche.
2. Being Likable Can Make You
TV shows and movies in the 80’s were filled with people and characters that were just likeable (for instance Bill Cosby or Indiana Jones). This was a time before the age of every character having super strength, artificial intelligence, magic powers, uncanny observation, boatloads of money and all of the other things that make today’s characters noteworthy. In much the same way, businesses can get a long way these days by just being well liked. Getting people to like your business leads to positive word of mouth, brand loyalty, higher customer satisfaction and increased opportunities to branch out and partner with other companies.
Lesson: Just be likeable.
3. More is Better
Forget less is more! More was more in the 80’s. There was big hair, colorful hair, row after row of bracelets up arms and giant shoulder pads in everything! Bigger was definitely better. From a marketing perspective, these days more is more when it comes to getting your business found as well. A well-rounded digital marketing strategy will place your business in front of your target demographic wherever they are. Having your business on the various social media channels, ranking well for your key phrases in organic search and appearing in location or industry-specific directories means that you stand a better chance of getting your business noticed. Just like 80’s fashion, you want to go above and beyond so that your business can attract as many eyes as possible!
Lesson: Be in more places.
4. Technology Shouldn’t Rule
I think we all learned a lesson from The Terminator – technology shouldn’t be relied on too heavily and left unchecked. Nowadays businesses try to automate as many things as they can to streamline their operations; and while efficiency is important, there’s a human element that can be lost in the process. When it comes to things like customer service, people can tell the difference between having a real person answer their emails or reply to them on social media and getting an automated or canned response.
Lesson: Don’t forget the human aspect.
5. Being Able to Evolve is Essential
Madonna was the queen of changing herself to stay relevant. She was always at the forefront of music because no one knew what to expect. Before the days of shocking artists like Lady Gaga becoming commonplace, Madonna stayed popular by making waves and evolving. It goes without saying that as a business you need to evolve and innovate. Disrupting your industry with innovation is the way you make it to the forefront and withstand the test of time.
Lesson: Evolve and innovate to stay ahead.
By Kate Pierce. Kate Pierce is the owner of LionShark Digital Marketing LLC, a West Michigan internet marketing company. Her areas of expertise include Paid Search, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Web Consulting for small businesses, Copywriting and Local Online Marketing. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband and enjoys cooking, watching sports and spending time outdoors. Like a true digital marketing expert (i.e. geek), she loves talking about marketing theory and SEM trends… so don’t say you weren’t warned!
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