Marketing is a little like the martial arts.  You can bash someone over the head with your message, jab them over and over again until they remember your product, or blend in with their movements so that you subtlety change their ways.

We all know that loud shocking advertisements or fabulous offers get attention.  We know that the more times you get your message or product in front of someone, the more they’ll remember it or be likely to try it.  We also know that softer approaches like product placement, sponsorships and social marketing work.

It all comes down to the martial art style you practice. 

Are you aggressive and go after your objective with a passion like in Muay Thai?  Do you spend your budget on big TV spots or full page color ads in newspapers and glossy magazines?

Do you repeat your moves multiple times until you reach your goal as in Tae Kwon Do?  Are you mailing offers, inserting flyers into packaging, blasting emails and following it all up with a phone call?

Or do you go with the flow and shift forces smoothly like in Aikido, focusing your efforts on blogging, networking, free samples and sponsoring sporting events from the local little league to the X Games?

All three are effective fighting styles and can be successful marketing strategies.  Which do you practice?

Filed under: Marketing Trends, Miscellaneous, Personal Opinions