In the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, businesses are constantly seeking innovative ways to captivate audiences and drive engagement. Situational marketing, a strategic approach that leverages timely events or trends to promote products or services, has become a powerful tool in the marketer’s arsenal. By aligning with popular cultural phenomena or significant moments, businesses can ride the wave of public interest to effectively introduce new product lines or services.
Situational Marketing At Work.
One striking example of situational marketing in action comes from the entertainment industry. Specifically the phenomenon known as the Taylor Swift Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift, a global icon in the music industry and a marketing maestro, is constantly embedding savvy marketing strategies such as easter eggs (hidden messages, hints, or references) into her concerts, music videos, song lyrics, social media posts and even her clothing. She also uses the number 13 as her lucky charm and part of her brand identity, wearing the number during performances and incorporating it into release dates and merchandise. Even her new album announcement was made at the 2024 Grammys after her 13th Grammy win.
These strategies help to provide fertile ground for businesses looking to capitalise on the cultural phenomenon that is Tay Tay.
Enter the concept of friendship beads! A nostalgic accessory reminiscent of childhood bonds and camaraderie. Australian local craft businesses have astutely capitalised on Swift’s penchant for gifting friendship bracelets to her fans, creating their own versions adorned with symbols representing Swift’s various eras and albums. These friendship beads have become, not just accessories, but symbols of solidarity among Swift’s fans, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.
Bega Vegemite welcomes Taylor Swift to Australia
But That’s Not All
Through strategic partnerships with Swift’s fan communities, savvy social media and timely marketing campaigns, Australian businesses are effectively integrating the Taylor Swift Eras Tour and all that it entails into their 2024 marketing plans. Weaving themselves into the Taylor Swift narrative. By aligning their products with Swift’s brand and the excitement surrounding her tour, these businesses are seamlessly tapping into the enthusiasm of her fan base. Resulting in increased brand visibility and sales.
A few examples are;
- Locally, Orange-based Printhie Wines investigating ways to get a bottle of their award winning Swift Cuvee into the artist’s hands when she visits Australia,
- Vegemite booking a billboard welcoming Taylor into the country,
- Cotton On announcing their Concert Ready collection,
- Glassons utilising TikTok marketing to advertise various products made for Swift’s Australian concert,
Other Examples Of Situational Marketing In Recent Years
Beyond the realm of entertainment, recent events in Australia have provided fertile ground for businesses to use situational marketing to showcase their existing products or to pivot to a new product or service. For instance, the resurgence of interest in outdoor activities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic prompted businesses to promote camping gear, outdoor apparel, and recreational equipment. With travel restrictions in place, Australians turned to domestic tourism. As a result, businesses started to highlight local experiences and products tailored for road trips and outdoor adventures. Local restaurants and cafes started delivering to their communities. Local distilleries created hand santisers. Every woman, man and dog started selling facial masks. People started side hustles, capitalising on the indoor plant trend by propagating their own plants. Just to name a few.
Similarly, the growing awareness of sustainability and environmental conservation has spurred businesses to promote eco-friendly products and initiatives. From reusable straws and cups to compostable packaging and recycling facilities for hard to recycle items. Who would have ever though that people would pay $60 for a water bottle that doesn’t even fit in the cup holder of your car?
Wherever cultural changes occur, there are companies seizing the opportunity to align themselves with consumer values and differentiate their offerings in a crowded market. In essence, situational marketing offers businesses a dynamic approach to connect with consumers in meaningful ways.
So How Can Your Business Join The Party And Use Situational Marketing To Grow?
1. Have a look at events happening in your local area, your state, your country or even the world and see how these event can align with your product or service.
A local seasonal festival or event.
Situational marketing does not have to be on a national or international level to be effective. Local businesses and brands can also take advantage of popular local events, community celebrations, and regional trends to engage their audience. These types of events could help you create engagement for your social media. Alternatively, it can provide you with inspiration for your shopfront, your sales events and your stock displays. Another great local example here in Bathurst was a clothing store located near the Winter Festival got people to take a photo of their store from parts of the festival venue for a $500 voucher.
The 2024 Olympics
Situational marketing could be used by gyms, clothing stores or even hospitality venues to create a new exercise program, promote patriotic active wear or a new special menu. Popular news stories or posts about the events and the athletes can create opportunities to increase engagement on your social media platforms. Either by allowing followers to state their opinion, conducting a survey or promoting products or services related to the events. And individual sporting events with a lot of hype can provide you an with an attraction to pull people into your venue.
Annual local and national sporting finals.
Sponsoring a team can help your reputation and brand image as well as help your business become more visible within the community. Similarly, local sporting clubs can use it as a motivational tool to sign up new members.
2. Stay attuned to cultural trends to find new ideas for products and services
Read up on the evolution of cultural trends and pick a side!
Make sure you understand the changing sentiment to enable you to show leadership in these areas and forge a deeper connection with your customer. Also, consider the changing landscape when planning new products or services and designing or purchasing new packaging.
3. Learn all about technological trends to get an idea of what direction you should take your business
AI can help with your content creation, planning and even job ads to entice stellar applicants. See how it can be implemented into your processes to make them more efficient and customer friendly.
Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences can be used to create immersive shopping experiences. By allowing customers to virtually try on clothes or visualise furniture in their homes, you can enhance the shopping experience, driving engagement and sales.
Chatbots during industry conferences or events can provide attendees with real-time information, answer FAQs about the event, and offer personalised recommendations, improving the overall event experience and fostering engagement.
5G-Enabled Experiences in Sports Marketing can offer fans unique in-stadium experiences during major sports events, such as live AR replays or exclusive behind-the-scenes content, enhancing the live viewing experience and deepening fan engagement.
Voice Search Optimisation can help your businesses optimise their content for voice search to capture the attention of users searching for products or information related to seasonal events, such as holiday recipes or summer travel tips, making it easier for consumers to find their offerings.
But Beware Of Overkill!
While leveraging current events and trends can significantly boost engagement and relevance, overuse or forced connections can lead to audience fatigue and skepticism.
It’s crucial for businesses to ensure their marketing efforts are authentic, thoughtful, and genuinely align with both their brand values and the interests of their target audience. Over-saturating your marketing with every trending topic or event, or jumping onto an already saturated bandwagon without a unique angle, can lead to diminishing returns and even backlash from consumers. Striking the right balance is key to maintaining credibility and fostering lasting relationships with your audience.
The power of situational marketing lies in its ability to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary opportunities for growth and innovation. For more ideas on how you can use it, give us a call. We can help you build and implement a marketing plan that encompasses situational marketing in all its dynamic and impactful forms, tailoring strategies that resonate with your target audience and align with current trends and events.
This article was inspired by a myriad of Taylor Swift marketing stories including Smart Company articles, and stories.
