{"id":2633,"date":"2020-05-20T16:02:40","date_gmt":"2020-05-20T16:02:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/2020\/05\/20\/3-digital-marketing-lessons-from-tiger-king-2\/"},"modified":"2025-05-07T19:37:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T19:37:05","slug":"3-digital-marketing-lessons-from-tiger-king-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/?p=2633","title":{"rendered":"3 Digital Marketing Lessons from \u201cTiger King\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"field field-name-field-lead-image field-type-image field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" typeof=\"foaf:Image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.selligent.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/blog_image_front\/public\/blogpost-tiger-king-2.jpg?itok=B4J9Hiq1\" width=\"370\" height=\"190\" alt=\"Image of one popular meme created following the success of the Netflix documentary \u201cTiger King,\u201d featuring the series\u2019 lead character, Joe Exotic, embracing a tiger\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\" property=\"dc:title\">\n<h3>3 Digital Marketing Lessons from \u201cTiger King\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\" property=\"content:encoded\">\n<p>True quarantine confessions: I watched \u201cTiger King,\u201d the crazy Netflix documentary about the bizarre subculture of big cat breeding, featuring Joe Exotic and a cast of other eccentric characters. And by all measures, I\u2019m not the only one. While Netflix is notoriously unforthcoming about ratings and viewership, the show reportedly garnered <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/tv\/tiger-king-ratings-34-million\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">34.3 million unique viewers<\/a> in the U.S. within its first 10 days, according to Nielsen.\u00a0And in an informal poll of colleagues, about half admitted to having watched the show, too.<\/p>\n<p>We could spend hours discussing the reasons for the popularity of \u201cTiger King,\u201d but let\u2019s leave that for some other pundits. We\u2019re in marketing, so now that the dust has settled and viewers are ready to move onto the next shiny thing on Netflix, let\u2019s try to glean something valuable out of the seven or eight hours we spent (lost?) watching this circus freakshow. And with the recent news that Nicolas Cage has signed on to play Joe Exotic in an upcoming \u201cTiger King\u201d limited series, interest in the phenomenon is not about to wane anytime soon. So here, then, are a few \u201cTiger King\u201d lessons for digital marketers. Read at your own risk&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3>\n\t<strong>TIMING IS EVERYTHING<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>No one can predict the makings of a viral smash hit. There are so many ingredients to success and it often comes down to luck and timing. In the case of \u201cTiger King,\u201d it certainly helped that most of the world was on lockdown when the documentary debuted; with all of us #togetherathome, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nielsen.com\/us\/en\/insights\/article\/2020\/staying-put-consumers-forced-indoors-during-crisis-spend-more-time-on-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TV viewing and streaming have soared<\/a>, as we look for content to keep us preoccupied. Programming executives were certainly not planning for a pandemic. Sometimes things are beyond your control. But as marketers, there are things we can control when it comes to timing.<\/p>\n<p>Delivering the right message at the right time could be exactly what a customer needs to move towards purchase. Consumers today are fully in control of their journeys and expect brands to be there right when the need arises. Brands need to be there in those <a href=\"\/blog\/customer-experience\/designing-digital-customer-experiences-to-take-advantage-of-micro-moments\">\u201cmicro-moments\u201d<\/a> or they\u2019ll lose an opportunity \u2013\u00a0and maybe a customer.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/blakemorgan\/2019\/05\/21\/50-retail-innovation-stats-power-customer-experience\/#47a0ed42447e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">51 percent<\/a>\u00a0of smartphone users have purchased from a different company than the one originally intended because that company gave them information right when they needed it. Your marketing team should be asking questions like: <em>What do customers need at this very moment?<\/em> <em>What are they actively searching for?<\/em> Understanding this requires a 360-degree customer view, including personal preferences, past purchases, and preferred devices, with data captured in real time across channels, made available across your entire organization via\u00a0<a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/universal-consumer-profile-cdp-capabilities\">customer data platforms (CDPs)<\/a>. This data is the key to serving <a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/email-website-mobile-personalization\">personalized experiences<\/a>\u00a0and relevant\u00a0<a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/ai-machine-learning\">offers created via AI<\/a>\u00a0in the right moment. And using location-based targeting will serve your customers the right answers at the right moment.<\/p>\n<p>With the right technologies, marketers can harness customer insights and data in real-time and quickly modify messaging or branding for maximum effectiveness.<\/p>\n<h3>\n\t<strong>GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s truth to that old adage, as many in show business will attest. The programming powers that be in Hollywood and at Netflix didn\u2019t sign off on \u201cTiger King\u201d without taking note of research and analytics. Documentaries are hot. True crime podcasts, books, and TV shows are all the rage. Reality TV continues to rule the ratings. Then there\u2019s the age-old appeal of animals. Actors will tell you, as per W.C. Fields, &#8220;Never work with children or animals.&#8221; That\u2019s because they always end up stealing the scene. People love to watch animals.<\/p>\n<p>As marketers, are we using our data to give our customers what they want? Over 75% of consumers are more likely to purchase from a retailer who knows their name and purchase history and who recommends on-taste products (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accenture.com\/us-en\/interactive-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Accenture<\/em><\/a>). <a href=\"\/resources\/white-papers\/the-case-for-personalization\/wpcase4persous\">Personalization<\/a> is the magic dust that makes it possible. It\u2019s critical for brands and companies to use the data in their customer data platform (CDP) \u2013\u00a0both purchase history and real-time situational history \u2013\u00a0to make sure every interaction at every touchpoint is laced with personal relevance. With <a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/ai-machine-learning\">artificial intelligence (AI)<\/a>, marketers can predict consumers\u2019 next move in the customer journey and meet them there with relevant messaging and recommendations.<\/p>\n<p>Selligent offers a full suite of functionalities to keep customers engaged on a personal level. From <a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/email-website-mobile-personalization\">email, website and mobile personalization<\/a>, to AI-generated customer journeys and automatic retargeting with full cadence control, with the right data foundation, Selligent enables marketers to deliver personal relevance that forms deeper connections.<\/p>\n<h3>\n\t<strong>NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A GOOD SURPRISE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cTiger King\u201d was the gift no one knew they wanted. Sure, it combined some of those tried-and-true showbiz staples (true crime, animals, etc.). But a true story about a redneck, gun-toting, country music singing, potentially murderous zookeeper with multiple husbands, hordes of wild animals, and a cult-like following of employees? We were shocked and surprised. No one could have dreamed this up. And of course, we ate it up.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone loves a good surprise. And as digital marketers, we can score big by surprising or delighting our customers. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/2d25352183624383ae898a384c0dce79\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">61 percent of consumers<\/a>, a surprise gift for being a good customer is single-handedly the best way for brands to engage.<\/p>\n<p>Celebrate milestones and reward long-term loyalty, by sending a coupon on the anniversary of signing up as a member, or for reaching a higher loyalty level. Birthdays are also a welcome occasion to reach out, and these messages have a high likelihood to be opened: <a href=\"https:\/\/newscenter.td.com\/us\/en\/news\/2016\/td-study-reveals-the-best-ways-to-say-thanks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">77 percent of consumers<\/a> like when brands demonstrate their appreciation.<\/p>\n<p>And look past rewards points:\u00a0it\u2019s not all about discounts and monetary incentives.\u00a0Sure, those things are important. But when you only focus on those things, you risk creating high-churn buyers. Consider how to reward your loyal customers with offers that prioritize long-term, non-monetary\u00a0benefits over instant gratification\u00a0(recommendations, invites to special events, first access to new products, etc.).<\/p>\n<h3>\n\t<strong>BONUS LESSON: THE POWER OF A MEME<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Memes provide a unique lens into our culture at any given moment. Everybody wants to \u201cgo viral\u201d with a meme or a trend \u2013\u00a0but there\u2019s no magic formula for social media success. It often comes down to timing, as we discussed above. And nothing lit up the internet over the past few months quite like Joe Exotic and the endless variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/5810608\/tiger-king-memes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cTiger King\u201d memes<\/a>. (We shared one of our favorites in the photo for this blog post.) <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/blog\/tabid\/6307\/bid\/33363\/memejacking-the-complete-guide-to-creating-memes-for-marketing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">According to HubSpot<\/a>, \u201c&#8230;clever marketers are jumping on the opportunity to use these viral pieces of content to their advantage. (Memes are) funny, clever, and great for social sharing. As a marketer, \u2018memejacking\u2019 &#8212; or hijacking popular memes to describe a certain situation &#8212; can be a great way to create fun, engaging marketing content that shows off your brand&#039;s personality and likability.\u201d Just be careful, because memes are of the moment. No one wants to be that brand that tries too hard to plug into pop culture, but comes off instead as tone deaf, behind the curve, or unoriginal.<\/p>\n<p>And with that, let\u2019s get back to our binge-watching! Hopefully we can extract more lessons along the way, as we sink further into our quarantine couches&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\">\n<p class=\"cta\"><a href=\"\/blog\/digital-marketing\/3-digital-marketing-lessons-from-tiger-king\" class=\"\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"field field-name-field-lead-image field-type-image field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" typeof=\"foaf:Image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.selligent.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/blog_image_front\/public\/blogpost-tiger-king-2.jpg?itok=B4J9Hiq1\" width=\"370\" height=\"190\" alt=\"Image of one popular meme created following the success of the Netflix documentary \u201cTiger King,\u201d featuring the series\u2019 lead character, Joe Exotic, embracing a tiger\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field-name-title field-type-ds field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\" property=\"dc:title\">\n<h3>3 Digital Marketing Lessons from \u201cTiger King\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\" property=\"content:encoded\">\n<p>True quarantine confessions: I watched \u201cTiger King,\u201d the crazy Netflix documentary about the bizarre subculture of big cat breeding, featuring Joe Exotic and a cast of other eccentric characters. And by all measures, I\u2019m not the only one. While Netflix is notoriously unforthcoming about ratings and viewership, the show reportedly garnered <a href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/tv\/tiger-king-ratings-34-million\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">34.3 million unique viewers<\/a> in the U.S. within its first 10 days, according to Nielsen.\u00a0And in an informal poll of colleagues, about half admitted to having watched the show, too.<\/p>\n<p>We could spend hours discussing the reasons for the popularity of \u201cTiger King,\u201d but let\u2019s leave that for some other pundits. We\u2019re in marketing, so now that the dust has settled and viewers are ready to move onto the next shiny thing on Netflix, let\u2019s try to glean something valuable out of the seven or eight hours we spent (lost?) watching this circus freakshow. And with the recent news that Nicolas Cage has signed on to play Joe Exotic in an upcoming \u201cTiger King\u201d limited series, interest in the phenomenon is not about to wane anytime soon. So here, then, are a few \u201cTiger King\u201d lessons for digital marketers. Read at your own risk&#8230;<\/p>\n<h3>\n\t<strong>TIMING IS EVERYTHING<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>No one can predict the makings of a viral smash hit. There are so many ingredients to success and it often comes down to luck and timing. In the case of \u201cTiger King,\u201d it certainly helped that most of the world was on lockdown when the documentary debuted; with all of us #togetherathome, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nielsen.com\/us\/en\/insights\/article\/2020\/staying-put-consumers-forced-indoors-during-crisis-spend-more-time-on-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TV viewing and streaming have soared<\/a>, as we look for content to keep us preoccupied. Programming executives were certainly not planning for a pandemic. Sometimes things are beyond your control. But as marketers, there are things we can control when it comes to timing.<\/p>\n<p>Delivering the right message at the right time could be exactly what a customer needs to move towards purchase. Consumers today are fully in control of their journeys and expect brands to be there right when the need arises. Brands need to be there in those <a href=\"\/blog\/customer-experience\/designing-digital-customer-experiences-to-take-advantage-of-micro-moments\">\u201cmicro-moments\u201d<\/a> or they\u2019ll lose an opportunity \u2013\u00a0and maybe a customer.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/blakemorgan\/2019\/05\/21\/50-retail-innovation-stats-power-customer-experience\/#47a0ed42447e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">51 percent<\/a>\u00a0of smartphone users have purchased from a different company than the one originally intended because that company gave them information right when they needed it. Your marketing team should be asking questions like: <em>What do customers need at this very moment?<\/em> <em>What are they actively searching for?<\/em> Understanding this requires a 360-degree customer view, including personal preferences, past purchases, and preferred devices, with data captured in real time across channels, made available across your entire organization via\u00a0<a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/universal-consumer-profile-cdp-capabilities\">customer data platforms (CDPs)<\/a>. This data is the key to serving <a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/email-website-mobile-personalization\">personalized experiences<\/a>\u00a0and relevant\u00a0<a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/ai-machine-learning\">offers created via AI<\/a>\u00a0in the right moment. And using location-based targeting will serve your customers the right answers at the right moment.<\/p>\n<p>With the right technologies, marketers can harness customer insights and data in real-time and quickly modify messaging or branding for maximum effectiveness.<\/p>\n<h3>\n\t<strong>GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s truth to that old adage, as many in show business will attest. The programming powers that be in Hollywood and at Netflix didn\u2019t sign off on \u201cTiger King\u201d without taking note of research and analytics. Documentaries are hot. True crime podcasts, books, and TV shows are all the rage. Reality TV continues to rule the ratings. Then there\u2019s the age-old appeal of animals. Actors will tell you, as per W.C. Fields, &#8220;Never work with children or animals.&#8221; That\u2019s because they always end up stealing the scene. People love to watch animals.<\/p>\n<p>As marketers, are we using our data to give our customers what they want? Over 75% of consumers are more likely to purchase from a retailer who knows their name and purchase history and who recommends on-taste products (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accenture.com\/us-en\/interactive-index\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Accenture<\/em><\/a>). <a href=\"\/resources\/white-papers\/the-case-for-personalization\/wpcase4persous\">Personalization<\/a> is the magic dust that makes it possible. It\u2019s critical for brands and companies to use the data in their customer data platform (CDP) \u2013\u00a0both purchase history and real-time situational history \u2013\u00a0to make sure every interaction at every touchpoint is laced with personal relevance. With <a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/ai-machine-learning\">artificial intelligence (AI)<\/a>, marketers can predict consumers\u2019 next move in the customer journey and meet them there with relevant messaging and recommendations.<\/p>\n<p>Selligent offers a full suite of functionalities to keep customers engaged on a personal level. From <a href=\"\/platform\/capabilities\/email-website-mobile-personalization\">email, website and mobile personalization<\/a>, to AI-generated customer journeys and automatic retargeting with full cadence control, with the right data foundation, Selligent enables marketers to deliver personal relevance that forms deeper connections.<\/p>\n<h3>\n\t<strong>NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A GOOD SURPRISE<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cTiger King\u201d was the gift no one knew they wanted. Sure, it combined some of those tried-and-true showbiz staples (true crime, animals, etc.). But a true story about a redneck, gun-toting, country music singing, potentially murderous zookeeper with multiple husbands, hordes of wild animals, and a cult-like following of employees? We were shocked and surprised. No one could have dreamed this up. And of course, we ate it up.<\/p>\n<p>Everyone loves a good surprise. And as digital marketers, we can score big by surprising or delighting our customers. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/2d25352183624383ae898a384c0dce79\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">61 percent of consumers<\/a>, a surprise gift for being a good customer is single-handedly the best way for brands to engage.<\/p>\n<p>Celebrate milestones and reward long-term loyalty, by sending a coupon on the anniversary of signing up as a member, or for reaching a higher loyalty level. Birthdays are also a welcome occasion to reach out, and these messages have a high likelihood to be opened: <a href=\"https:\/\/newscenter.td.com\/us\/en\/news\/2016\/td-study-reveals-the-best-ways-to-say-thanks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">77 percent of consumers<\/a> like when brands demonstrate their appreciation.<\/p>\n<p>And look past rewards points:\u00a0it\u2019s not all about discounts and monetary incentives.\u00a0Sure, those things are important. But when you only focus on those things, you risk creating high-churn buyers. Consider how to reward your loyal customers with offers that prioritize long-term, non-monetary\u00a0benefits over instant gratification\u00a0(recommendations, invites to special events, first access to new products, etc.).<\/p>\n<h3>\n\t<strong>BONUS LESSON: THE POWER OF A MEME<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Memes provide a unique lens into our culture at any given moment. Everybody wants to \u201cgo viral\u201d with a meme or a trend \u2013\u00a0but there\u2019s no magic formula for social media success. It often comes down to timing, as we discussed above. And nothing lit up the internet over the past few months quite like Joe Exotic and the endless variety of <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/5810608\/tiger-king-memes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u201cTiger King\u201d memes<\/a>. (We shared one of our favorites in the photo for this blog post.) <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/blog\/tabid\/6307\/bid\/33363\/memejacking-the-complete-guide-to-creating-memes-for-marketing.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">According to HubSpot<\/a>, \u201c&#8230;clever marketers are jumping on the opportunity to use these viral pieces of content to their advantage. (Memes are) funny, clever, and great for social sharing. As a marketer, \u2018memejacking\u2019 &#8212; or hijacking popular memes to describe a certain situation &#8212; can be a great way to create fun, engaging marketing content that shows off your brand&#039;s personality and likability.\u201d Just be careful, because memes are of the moment. No one wants to be that brand that tries too hard to plug into pop culture, but comes off instead as tone deaf, behind the curve, or unoriginal.<\/p>\n<p>And with that, let\u2019s get back to our binge-watching! Hopefully we can extract more lessons along the way, as we sink further into our quarantine couches&#8230;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"field field-name-node-link field-type-ds field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\">\n<p class=\"cta\"><a href=\"\/blog\/digital-marketing\/3-digital-marketing-lessons-from-tiger-king\" class=\"\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[71],"tags":[218],"class_list":["post-2633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-health"],"gutentor_comment":0,"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Goldstar Media","author_link":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/?author=4"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2633"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goldstarmedia.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}