Genius in Marketing- Obama

[rogercbryan]

Genius in Marketing- Obama

I saw an advertisement on the side of a bus yesterday in Washington, DC that caught my attention. It was an advertisement trying to get people to vote for Obama.

Here is what I saw:
“Think Black – Now you have a reason to vote”

Washington, DC has a huge African American Population so this was a targeted campaign. At first glance I was a little turned off by the ad based on its racial overtone. But after I thought about it for a minute I was impressed by its impact. The lower income minorities are not known for voting in large volumes yet they are predominantly Democrats. The bus has a route in a lower income part of DC. If this simple one sentence campaign can get Americans who typically don’t vote to finally come out to the polls then I will be impressed.

What do you think of the ad? Please leave any racial comments out of this. I simply thought it was an impressive ad that kind of runs the border of racial ideals.

[jasaunders]

From a marketing perspective it appears to be a simple yet great tactic.

From my own personal political perspective, I don't agree that someone should receive votes based on race, religion, gender, ethnic background, or any other group that is or has been discriminated against. It does nothing to help the cause. However, I am realistic enough to know that it happens everyday, in every way, shape and form. Even if a white male runs for president, they will still face difficulties if they were not of the 'right' religion.

In this case, the ad is specifically targeting blacks, and non-blacks are sure to get upset and say this ad is ridiculous. But if you think about it, there are some whites who will NOT vote for Obama just because he is black, just like there are blacks that will vote for him just because he is black.

[Dale King]

Genius in Marketing- Obama

I saw an advertisement on the side of a bus yesterday in Washington, DC that caught my attention. It was an advertisement trying to get people to vote for Obama.

Here is what I saw:
“Think Black – Now you have a reason to vote”

Washington, DC has a huge African American Population so this was a targeted campaign. At first glance I was a little turned off by the ad based on its racial overtone. But after I thought about it for a minute I was impressed by its impact. The lower income minorities are not known for voting in large volumes yet they are predominantly Democrats. The bus has a route in a lower income part of DC. If this simple one sentence campaign can get Americans who typically don’t vote to finally come out to the polls then I will be impressed.

What do you think of the ad? Please leave any racial comments out of this. I simply thought it was an impressive ad that kind of runs the border of racial ideals.

Roger, I'm a huge Obama supporter. I think he's a brilliant politician, and his campaign is being run masterfully. I agree with you about that ad campaign being genius. It's brilliant in its simplicity. And while I don't think anyone should vote for or against someone based on race, I know that it occurs on both sides of the aisle.

Dale King

[rogercbryan]

I agree voting based on someones race is not how it should be done. I do think that many Americans (of all races) are ignorant toward what each candidate stands for. If this was a slogan for a product with the same impact it would be one of the best marketing campaigns I had ever seen. It's simple to the point and leaves no option for a second choice.... to me thats genius

[Doodyps]

I don't have a problem with people voting for whoever they want for whatever reason they want. If they want to vote for him because he's black thats fine, and if they don't want to vote for him because he's black, that's fine. The add works I'm sure, and therefore you would think it's a good strategy. However, politics and economics are not that same thing. He will eventually get blasted for that add I assure you, and will eventually have to apologize for it. Maybe it'll be worth it and get him more votes than he loses, but it will cause bad publicity and generate a lot of bad emotions from people on both sides. While I believe people can vote for whoever they want for whatever reason they want, I don't respect politicians who don't run on issues. Politicians should make appeals to people based on issues, not skin color.

[Dale King]

If they want to vote for him because he's black thats fine, and if they don't want to vote for him because he's black, that's fine.

No, it's not fine. But it is what it is. Perhaps one day we can get beyond all this black and white crap, and judge people on the content of their character, as opposed to the color of their skin. But I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.

Dale King

[Doodyps]

No, it's not fine. But it is what it is. Perhaps one day we can get beyond all this black and white crap, and judge people on the content of their character, as opposed to the color of their skin. But I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.

Dale King

Ok, its not fine and dandy and we should do what we can to educate people so skin color isn't a major reason on why they make ANY decisions. I agree. However, it's a democracy and I have no problem (fundamentally) with any reason anyone wants to vote for anyone, whether racist or not. That's their right to make up their own mind. I don't personally like or support that way of thinking, which is why this advertisement disgusts me, but I support it as their right to make decisions, racist or not, when it comes to voting. This ad of course advocates voting for a man based on skin color. How archaic and racist can you get? There's nothing genius about it. It plays on simpletons who will vote based on race. If the people it appeals to haven't voted in the past, and are now voting just because a black man is running, then there's a problem.

[Dale King]

This ad of course advocates voting for a man based on skin color. How archaic and racist can you get? There's nothing genius about it. It plays on simpletons who will vote based on race. If the people it appeals to haven't voted in the past, and are now voting just because a black man is running, then there's a problem.

While I don't agree with this type of race-based targeted marketing, I certainly understand why the Obama campaign is doing it. They realize that millions of white Americans will simply not vote for a black man for president, regardless of how qualified he is. With these types of ads they're attempting to drive up the black vote to offset racial predjudice against Obama.

Dale King

[Doodyps]

While I don't agree with this type of race-based targeted marketing, I certainly understand why the Obama campaign is doing it. They realize that millions of white Americans will simply not vote for a black man. regardless of how qualified he is. With these types of ads they're attempting to drive up the black vote to offset racial predjudice against Obama.

Dale King

Its obvious why they're doing, and it will likely work, but that doesn't make it right or genius. Its an obvious tactic targeting uneducated people. I don't see anything brilliant about it. You certainly couldn't and shouldn't get away with it in business, and Obama will eventually be forced to apologize for whatever member of his campaign approved the add. By then of course, the ad will have reached thousands of people and done its work, so it wont matter. Its politics as usual. The add targets blacks in DC. It would be no different if McCain put his picture on buses all over Miss. and Alabama and next to it, it said "think white, now you have a reason to vote." The add plays on people's fears based on skin color. Nothing like that should be acceptable in public. I don't mean it should be illegal, but the public should not support an ad like it, or the people who put it there (campaign managers, not necessarily Obama). Candidates typically don't write off on stuff like this.

In all honesty, I don't have that big of a problem with the ad. I'm a huge supporter of free speech. I just think its silly that people would call if genius.

[rogercbryan]

I don't have a problem with people voting for whoever they want for whatever reason they want. If they want to vote for him because he's black thats fine, and if they don't want to vote for him because he's black, that's fine. The add works I'm sure, and therefore you would think it's a good strategy. However, politics and economics are not that same thing. He will eventually get blasted for that add I assure you, and will eventually have to apologize for it. Maybe it'll be worth it and get him more votes than he loses, but it will cause bad publicity and generate a lot of bad emotions from people on both sides. While I believe people can vote for whoever they want for whatever reason they want, I don't respect politicians who don't run on issues. Politicians should make appeals to people based on issues, not skin color.

This post has nothing to do with race... or who you are voting for... we are discussing the marketing aspect of the advertisement I saw. Please try to stay on topic.

[rogercbryan]

Its obvious why they're doing, and it will likely work, but that doesn't make it right or genius. Its an obvious tactic targeting uneducated people. I don't see anything brilliant about it. You certainly couldn't and shouldn't get away with it in business, and Obama will eventually be forced to apologize for whatever member of his campaign approved the add. By then of course, the ad will have reached thousands of people and done its work, so it wont matter. Its politics as usual. The add targets blacks in DC. It would be no different if McCain put his picture on buses all over Miss. and Alabama and next to it, it said "think white, now you have a reason to vote." The add plays on people's fears based on skin color. Nothing like that should be acceptable in public. I don't mean it should be illegal, but the public should not support an ad like it, or the people who put it there (campaign managers, not necessarily Obama). Candidates typically don't write off on stuff like this.

In all honesty, I don't have that big of a problem with the ad. I'm a huge supporter of free speech. I just think its silly that people would call if genius.

From a marketing perspective it is genius... you are adding all sorts of variables to the equation that has absolutely nothing to do with what I posted.

[Dale King]

If this was a slogan for a product with the same impact it would be one of the best marketing campaigns I had ever seen. It's simple to the point and leaves no option for a second choice.... to me thats genius

I agree. It's also culturally brilliant for what it's saying to black people. Great post, Roger!

Dale King

[dtechm]

With Obama's views and what he stands for, he would not have gotten this far if he was not African-American. That is a fact and no one can deny that.

[Doodyps]

This post has nothing to do with race... or who you are voting for... we are discussing the marketing aspect of the advertisement I saw. Please try to stay on topic.

Well considering the ad you are referring to is a political ad trying to convince people to vote for one candidate over another, and considering that it is 100% an appeal to racial tension, I don't see how I'm off topic. Its marketing politics through race. Can you deny that? How is it different than if a candidate went to an area where people were known to be racially insensitive and tried to get votes by sayings he's the "white" candidate. That would work also. Marketing has everything to do with the culture and psychology of your target audience.

I won't deny that the ad works, but duh. Of course it works. Anyone could tell you that playing the race card in this campaign would work. Its not genius, its barely marketing, it's just dirty politics. I just take issue with the fact that you call it genius.

[just1guy]

I don't believe it is a 'genius' marketing tactic (though I'll wait until the end of the campaign to finalize that opinion, hindsight being 20/20 and all) and here's why: He's hitting a market he already owns, which makes it easier. He will no doubt win incredible percentages of the black vote anyway. He will also likely draw more black voters to the polls anyway also. There's too much that could back fire with a campaign like that when he should be concentrating on pulling over more conservatives. He could end up being labeled 'the candidate for blacks' which is something he has been trying to avoid thus far. Now come up with a campaign that would make 75% of blacks vote for McCain and you got marketing genius.