Pokemon has evolved through six generations, appealing to kids everywhere, but behind the amusing franchise, you can find some fantastic marketing tactics.
Pokemon, with franchise iterations in video games, movies, series, cards, and toys, has been a familiar marvel for children all over the world for nearly 20 years. With a lineup of cute, badass, and amusing creatures, Pokemon has fascinated kids as well as adults for its infectious qualities. Regardless of whether you’ve ever played or watched Pokemon (on your own or with a child), you can learn from the brilliant qualities of the franchise:
1. Appreciate Diversity. The familiar “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” slogan could apply to your marketing campaign. But instead of capturing hundreds of little monsters, you’ll be implementing your campaign in a dozen or so different channels. Diversify your strategy to see the most comprehensive results.
2. Balance Your Team. Each Pokemon has unique strengths and weaknesses, and in order to be successful, you need to make sure your team is balanced. When you’re assembling a team of employees or partners, make sure you have a complementary blend of abilities.
3. Predict Your Opponents. The rock-paper-scissors style type charts in Pokemon require players to carefully predict their opponents’ next moves to be successful. In the same vein, as a company you should always be thinking about what your competitors are going to do next, and responding appropriately.
4. Be Lovable. Pokemon wouldn’t have gotten far if its creatures weren’t virulently lovable. Find or make something lovable about your company—whether it’s your brand, your personality, or simply your offerings.
5. Cultivate Instant Recognition. You probably couldn’t recognize the 700+ creatures in the Pokemon world, but I bet you could recognize Pikachu. Develop a consistent face for your brand, and make sure it becomes instantly recognizable.
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!
