Mary Schmidt Marketing Troubleshooter

Seth Godin has an excellent list of lessons re primary voters and their needs. All of which can - with a bit of variation - be applied to real-world marketing (substitute “target prospect,” “early adopters” or “loyal customers” for “primary voters.”) Here are three to which I can really relate:

- Primary voters are not everyone. They have different needs and beliefs than the mass market.
- Primary voters want a candidate that will offend other primary voters.
- Primary voters want authentic, direct communication.

Great list, but I’d add one prerequisite, “Are ‘they’ even paying attention?”

I’m a “primary voter.” I care about politics. I read. I listen. I think. I pay attention. And, at this point, I’m avoiding most of the so-called “debates” and talking head pontification. Way too much yah-yah, way too little substance. And, it’s been going on for way too long already. I had election exhaustion months ago. If I feel this way, wonder how the “man/woman in the street” feels? Are they even paying attention?

It’s impossible to get your message out if people aren’t listening. (and yelling louder won’t help.)

Related Posts:
The 2% Solution (Not)
Our Target: The Stupid People (with an example from the 2006 election.)

(Why do I talk about politics on a business blog? Because politics is nothing but a messy mess of terrible, cynical stupid marketing. It’s not really “get the vote out” - it’s “get the stupid vote out.” Great examples of what not to do in many cases. We can do better, people.)