Captain Planet and the Planeteers haven’t been on television for a while, but the cartoon was an entertaining outlet for environmentalism, and there is much marketers can learn from it.
Captain Planet is probably indirectly responsible for developing the moral fiber of 10 percent of current young adult environmentalists. Drawing on the powers of the five environmentally conscious and ethnically diverse Planeteers, Captain Planet taught valuable lessons about pollution and responsibility while battling inexplicably deformed super villains. So what does this have to do with marketing?
Take a look at these five tips you can learn from the green-haired hero:
1. Know Your Element. Each Planeteer had a ring and mastery over a certain element, and they knew which power was best for each situation. Similarly, you’ll need to know which of your marketing outlets are effective for which messages.
2. Understand How Powers Combine. Captain Planet was more than just the sum of the Planeteer’s parts; by coming together, they were able to conquer new challenges. In order to get the most out of your marketing campaigns, you’ll need to learn how to align them as a single force.
3. Learn Valuable Lessons. At the end of every episode, there is a valuable lesson to be learned. No matter how your marketing campaigns go, you should learn something new about your brand positioning or your strategies.
4. Minimize Your Spend. Don’t send Captain Planet when you can send one or two Planeteers. Never spend more time or money than you must to get the job done.
5. The Power is Yours. It’s a silly catchphrase, but it’s still true. If you don’t have the power to overhaul your company’s brand strategy, you at least have the power to recommend new directions.
If you liked this entry in our “marketing tips to learn from _____” series, be sure to check out our entries on Iron Man, Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Terminator, and Lex Luthor, too!
