According to social media analyst Charlene Li, selling a product is much like selling a candidate. The best approach is tap into your core group of supporters, empower them to evangelize on your behalf and then let go! Li says that the rise of social networks has impacted the way politicians communicate with their base and that businesses can learn to have a conversation, rather than "message" their audience. Another tip — businesses should develop a thicker skin when it comes to negative feedback and respond to criticism in real-time, like politicians are doing via the internet.

Charlene gives a great overview in the video and this is the theme of my upcoming podcast with Derek Pillie, a fifteen veteran of the political campaign trail.

There are some great lessons that businesses can take away from politics. People have a tendency to evaluate and expect marketing to create immediate business for them. Many times they evaluate marketing firms based who has the “best idea.” If that is the case, why try to convince customers to change their mind? Instead, embrace them!

As a marketing consultant, I view political campaigning as one of the most productive methods of creating immediate business. Campaign Managers are experts at using the vast array of available touch-points to reach customers and more importantly, they are Deadline Driven – Election Day.

I wonder what business can teach politics?

Related Information:
Is your marketing firm having this conversation with you?
The New Names of Marketing are still PDCA
How new is Service Dominant Logic and does it apply now?
Will Product Managers embrace Open Innovation?
Putting Customer Value in the Product Lifecycle

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