Are There Any Similarities Between The Oscars and SMS Marketing?
February 24, 2014 10:19 am
The ridiculous hype, the (social) media buzz, the stupid dresses, the tear filled speeches, the cringetacular moments and, vitally, the ceremony! Awards season is in full swing and coming upon us fast is the pièce de résistance of it all, The Oscars.
2013 has been a good year for great movies. Personal favourites of mine were Rush, Captain Philips, The Hobbit, and of course the AMAZING (because I want a Minion!!) Despicable Me 2. Picking the best film from the Academy Awards 2014 crop of contenders is tough going; The Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustle, 12 Years a Slave and Gravity. They are all fantastic movies and each deserves great praise.
Following a recent office debate on the very important and much disputed topic of who’s the hottes… eh, ..I mean, who’s the better actress; Jennifer Lawrence or Amy Adams (nominees for the Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress gongs respectively) an interesting challenge arose; Can I find any similarities between The Oscars and SMS marketing?
Well, challenge accepted!!
Here we go. Five reasons why there are similarities between the Academy Awards and Text Message Marketing:
1. Catch the Eye
Catching the eye of the audience has always been important at The Oscars. Traditionally, most guests at the ceremony will try do so through demonstrating their,eh shall we say “unique”, style to the world.
In 2013 Angelina Jolie put her best foot forward (pun intended) in an effort to catch the headlines with her now infamous awkward leg. The internet went wild following this. For weeks we were treated to a continuous flow of Angelina Jolie leg related meme’s, gifs and jokes.
Much like Angelina Jolie, a text message marketer should try to catch the eye of the audience. Don’t be boring, give your customer a reason to continue reading and, importantly, every now and then do something that will make your customers go “WOW”!
Once you capture attention it’s easier to maintain it!
2. Be Concise/Manage Your Timing
Everybody loves winning something; but please, please don’t milk your acceptance speech! Is there anything more annoying during awards season than when a winner rambles on and on thanking everybody from their granny to their horse’s dentist?
In 1942 Greer Garson’s Academy Awards acceptance speech lasted almost six minutes! SIX MINUTES!
When writing your direct marketing text don’t do a Greer Garson. Make sure to keep your SMS concise and to the point. Be informative but don’t ramble. Doing so will benefit you and your customer.
Remember, keep it concise. Isn’t that right Ted?
3. Know Your Audience
As Michael Moore found out at the 2003 Oscars, know your audience or risk backlash. While collecting his award for best documentary, Bowling for Columbine director Michael Moore decided it was an appropriate time and place to vocalise his opinion of American politics; in particular against then United States President George W. Bush.
However, the audience didn’t quite react in the way the documentary film maker was expecting. He was quickly booed of stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood by the assembled audience of A list celebrities and VIP guests.
Learn from Michael Moore’s mistakes. Know your audience and tailor your message to suit. Don’t try sell shampoo to a bald man or market steak to a vegetarian. Be clever when communicating to your customers.
4. Be Memorable
This is an obvious one. What have Angelina Jolie’s leg, Michael Moore’s attack on politics and Jennifer Lawrence falling over all got in common? Answer: They’re memorable.
Think Ricky Gervais hosting the Golden Globes! He wasn’t up for any award yet, without a doubt, he stole the show. Ricky’s stint as the ceremonies host has gone down in Tinseltown folklore as one of Hollywood’s most memorable moments.
In order to get the most out of your SMS Marketing campaigns try to make your texts as memorable as possible. Try adding the “WOW” factor with a great special offer or unique copy. It’s not rocket science it’s just common sense.
5. Excellence Wins
At The Oscars excellence wins! Just a quick glance at the prestigious list of winners is testament to this statement! Argo, Slumdog Millionaire, The Departed, Titanic, Rain Man, The Godfather, etc. The list goes on and on!
Much the same can be said for text message marketing. An excellent targeted SMS campaign can be a big winner for your business. So, why not try it out today!
So there you have it! Us Mobile Marketers can learn a thing or two from those Hollywood superstars!
Sources: Angelina Jolie, Father Ted, Michael Moore, Ricky Gervais, Featured Image
Categorised in: SMS for Business Service