Every now and then, I like to take a look at how I can relate some general themes in the TV shows I watch to marketing. It’s fun to make connections between the real world and fantasy – and sometimes it’s amazing what you find. So today, I’m bringing you… 5 Marketing Tips from Game of Thrones! Enjoy! Spoilers, obvi.

1. Start with a catchy name or tagline that defines you, your business or your marketing initiative.
Do some soul-searching to figure out exactly what your message is – and how you want to be perceived. What makes you different? What do you want to be known for? Having an interesting name or an intriguing tagline will make you memorable to your audience. It can be who you are, what you do, or a nickname that sticks. In Game of Thrones, there are several people who are well-known by their nicknames.  Let me tell you, the cast of GOT is huge – so having cool names to remember the characters by is very helpful as a viewer!

A couple of examples:

• “Mother of Dragons”: Danerys Targarean – everybody in Westeros (the land of Game of Thrones) knows who that is because she is the only person in the show with dragons! That definitely makes her stand out.
• “Kingslayer”: Jaime Lannister – he killed a king. The very king he was sworn to serve as leader of the Kingsguard (basically the head of the Secret Service). No one in the show will LET him forget this name; and you won’t forget it, either!
• “The Spider”: Lord Varys – this nickname refers to his place in the “web” of informants that he monitors all across the land. Pretty cool, huh? (if you’re into being a shady spy). 

2. Set your goals and stick to them. What do you want to achieve in your marketing efforts? Having a destination in mind will help you find the right avenues to take on the journey. Do you want 1,000 Facebook followers? Do you want to see an increase in sales because of traffic to your website? Define the end result, and with your goals in mind, you can accomplish them in marketing – no matter what comes your way. For example, in Game of Thrones Season 2, Stannis Baratheon (the fallen king’s brother) set off for King’s Landing with the goal of claiming the throne as the rightful heir. In the Battle of Blackwater Bay, most of his army was demolished and he was forced to retreat. However, he has not given up – recently in Season 4, Stannis sought help from Braavos and the Iron Bank in an effort to find other ways to accomplish his task. That’s dedication.

3. Take the time to strategize. Now that you have set your goals, it’s time to determine your strategy. There are many different marketing activities to consider: logo redesign, new website format, social media marketing, email campaigns, direct mail pieces, content writing… the list goes on and on. It makes sense to select the marketing activities that are going to be best for your business.  Similarly, in GOT, pretty much everyone in Westeros has a strategy in mind. The “king” of strategy in my book is Tywin Lannister. He doesn’t even care that his grandson bit the dust (not that any of us do, either)… as Hand of the King, he is the Master of Puppets, and he NEVER makes an impulsive decision. It’s clear that he has carefully and methodically calculated every move to be able to reach his goal of ruling Westeros.

4. Build a loyal following. Once the strategy is executed, it’s a good time to build a core network of advocates for your business. Whether they realize it or not, they are an integral part of the marketing process through customer reviews, testimonials, and social media comments. Loyal clients / fans are invaluable – and it comes from being good to them. The best example of this I can think of in Westeros is Daenerys. Although Dany did sack several cities through questionable methods, in the process she ultimately gave most people a second chance at life. As a result, she probably has the world’s most loyal following.

5. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. We were all taught this valuable lesson when we were 5. It’s important to remember it in marketing, just as in life. Remember those goals that we made? Do your marketing activities align with those goals? Can you really make that delivery on time? If not, maybe you shouldn’t mention it in your marketing materials. You’ve got the strategy, you’ve got the following, now you’ve just got to live up to your promises to keep up the momentum and grow. You see where I’m going with this, GOT fans.

Extra Special Bonus (for fun):

Do’s and Don’ts of Westeros 

• Don’t attend a wedding in Westeros.
• Don’t drink the wine. Ever.
• Don’t assume that anyone is your friend.
• Do bring an extra winter coat or two when you visit The North – especially if you plan to journey beyond The Wall.
• Do beware of the three-eyed raven.
• Do run far away when you hear The Rains of Castamere. And there you have it!

Let me know your thoughts and follow me on Twitter if you found this interesting!

Written By: Jocy Vuiller