Business Lessons Learned from Top Gun: Maverick (No Spoilers Here)
It’s amazing to see a record-setting debut for a sequel arriving 36 years after the original.
There are some vital lessons to be learned about marketing and branding from the success of the much delayed, much discussed, masterfully promoted film Top Gun: Maverick.
1. Know your brand inside and out. Be loyal to its fan base. Never waiver from or second guess that fan base. Respect their needs and wants and deliver the quality and creativity they’re expecting and they’ll reward you for it.
2. Understand how to properly market your product, whether it’s through social, traditional media, doing live events, or a combination. Not every medium is right for a particular product, service or industry. Thinking outside the box is important. Trying to shoehorn your brand some place it just doesn’t fit can be a massive waste of energy and resources better spent on tried and tested solutions.
3. It’s important to recognize exactly when to press the “go” button when you’re promoting a product. Tom Cruise and his production and marketing teams had to sit on this film for several years in a row while the pandemic ravaged the globe. Cruise was unwavering in how he wanted the product to be seen—ONLY on big screens—which meant being patient and undoubtedly dealing with epic levels of pressure to do what so many others were doing and try to make a “good deal today” with streaming services. Knowing when to go to market and being willing to stick to your guns despite pressure and opposition is key.
4. Make it big. Make it loud. Make it exciting. Make it funny. You can’t go wrong by being bold in your creative decisions and this is true for any brand or product. The more exciting and creative you make it, the more impact it will have. So don’t be safe. The bold choices get the best reactions. At this point who hasn’t seen James Corden and his “help me” sign in the jet cockpit as Tom Cruise takes him through another set of barrel rolls? Genius.
At Light Touch, we help our clients make bold decisions and smart choices when it comes to communicating their value. We respect their audience and create content they find engaging, helpful, and entertaining.
We have high standards and we want to help your company invest in the uniqueness of your story with world-class content that gets the exact kind of attention you’re looking for.
Go see Top Gun: Maverick if you haven’t already. You won’t be disappointed.
-Wil Seabrook – Founder Light Touch Media Group.
First published on LinkedIn.
