7 Social Media Lessons from Game of Thrones
Your calendar may tell you it’s April, but Winter Is Coming. That’s because Game of Thrones is set to return in just a few weeks. While most viewers are eager to learn about what really happened to Jon Snow or the fate of Daenerys Targaryen, we are still enthralled by all of the lessons GOT has offered us in its first five seasons.
The next stop in the GOT academy is social media, a pressing topic for virtually every company operating in the 21st century. To the surprise of many, GOT offers up some delightful indirect lessons on how to run a successful social media campaign. Read below to discover the 7 Social Media Lessons from Game of Thrones.
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Storytelling is everything
Ever wonder why you’re constantly on the edge of your seat when watching Game of Thrones? Above all, the show tells an incredible story with many powerful themes and interesting characters. Rather than rely on conventional storylines, Game of Thrones has completely revolutionized the art of drama.
Your social media campaign should be no different. Your content strategy needs to weave an interesting story that will convert eyeballs into clicks and clicks into sales. In the social media world, content is king (unless that king is Joffrey Baratheon).
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The power of repetition
The first sentence of this article reminded you that Winter Is Coming, and here we are repeating it. This phrase was made famous by House Stark. They uttered it repeatedly because of its significance.
For most companies, certain messages simply bear repeating. If you have a core message you’re trying to deliver to your audience, make sure you get it out there more than once.
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The importance of clear, concise messaging
“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.”
That chilling quote was uttered by Cersei to Lord Eddard Stark. It pretty much summarized the everything you need to know about the battle for power erupting throughout the Seven Kingdoms (and we don’t need to remind you how many people have died trying to satisfy their quench for the throne). Unfortunately, Eddard Stark found out the hard way that there’s no concession prize for those who dabble in the levers of power.
Social media can open up new opportunities for your business, but not without clear, concise messaging. What is your company all about? What is the product or service you are offering and how does it help your end customer? You should have a clear way of relaying that information to the public.
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Listen, learn and apply
You may not like Lord Baelish (in fact, he’s downright sleazy), but there’s no questioning his ability to listen, learn and apply. Lord Baelish has quickly become one of the most powerful people in the Seven Kingdoms despite not belonging to a royal family. That’s because he’s adept at looking two steps ahead and positioning himself accordingly.
While I certainly don’t recommend that you become a sleazy social media littlefinger, you can use this platform to build market intelligence. One of the most powerful tools offered by social media is its ability to help you monitor movements on an interactive marketplace with millions (and in some cases, billions) of people. When using social media, you should be acquiring market intelligence and keeping tabs of mentions, likes, replies and relevant hashtags that can help you gain more exposure.
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No crisis is too big to manage
If you can take one thing away from GOT it’s that no crisis is too big to manage. After all, Cersei and Jamie Lannister were accused of incest. That’s an accusation that very few people recover from (especially when it’s true). But in typical Lannister fashion, they diffused the crisis by attempting to murder Brandon Stark. They weren’t successful, but at least they were willing to diffuse the situation, no matter how bad it looks. (Yes, we realize that attempted murder is no way to go about solving your problems, but this is the Seven Kingdoms we’re talking about.)
Not every social media campaign has the desired result. In fact, some campaigns can end up harming your company, especially if it becomes exposed to malicious mentions or negative publicity. But remember: every social media crisis can be resolved.
Whether you’re dealing with an unsatisfied customer or looking to overcome negative publicity, just be truthful and sincere. Using SMM tools can help you control the chaos; reaching out to unsatisfied customers and launching new ad campaigns can also help you improve your brand’s image.
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Love your brand
Joffrey Baratheon was the ruler of King’s Landing, and boy did he know it. He made sure everyone knew it. Whether they liked him or not, everyone knew King Joffrey Baratheon was the most important person in the Seven Kingdoms.
While King Joffrey’s self-love was a little extreme, it still gets the point across that social media should be your opportunity to spread love for your brand and everything it has to offer. Also be sure to track nice comments and positive mentions about your company and share it with the world. Social media is your opportunity to shine (like King Joffrey before he croaked).
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Be like Jon Snow
Jon Snow is the only real hero on Game of Thrones. You know it. We know it. Everybody knows it. His noble character, charming personality and strong convictions made him one of the most memorable characters on the show. For this reason, he is easily the most popular character to grace the GOT screen.
Do you want to develop an authoritative brand that everybody loves and admires? Be like Jon Snow. Want to sell more on social media and convert more leads into customers? Be like Jon Snow. Want to turn your enemies into your friends, just be like Jon Snow. The rest will fall into place!
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