Black Panther is definitely going to change the way marketers think. You’ll notice that the movie is a movement pushing advocacy for diversity while ensuring that every tribe in the world has the opportunity to be heard. No right thinking marketer will see this drive and overlook it. Everything is different!
If you’re a marketer and you’re looking for new ways to achieve a successful campaign, you can learn these tips from Black Panther.
Tell the truth:
The story Black Panther is centred around Africa and the people in the continent especially East and South Africans. The movie features details like the different cultures, African artifacts from West and East Africa, historical African armies, respect for ancestors and the hierarchy in a typical African kingdom. These details are truths from the African history and everyone was excited to watch the spin the crew would create with it.
Reach the right people
For the first time, Disney reached out to African communities by having a premiere in South Africa and screenings in Kenya and Nigeria, building the conversation around the movie serving as a positive representative of the people. Another tactic was a music tie-in led by Kendrick Lamar, whose Black Panther: The Album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 music album chart.
Tell a story
The audience of the record breaking movie is in love with the idea of the story and it has built fierce anticipation for the movie. Marvel Studios must be applauded for an indepth story line which looked simple on the surface but unique and real at the screenings. Everyone kept roaring for more.
Do something that has not been done before
Black Panther is the first blockbuster on Africa and no one could believe it would ever be done. Fortunately for us, we get to enjoy T’Challa and the heroes of Wakanda in the theatre and not comic books.
Have an almost all black cast
Have you heard this before? Once you go black, you don’t go back! Well, we’re not sure how true this would be for Marvel Studios but we could learn something from them when it comes to choosing the cast for movies. Many of the cast were chosen from black communities around the world. Using a diverse cast from diverse cultures may have contributed to the success of the movie. Maybe picking one of most exciting young new directors in Hollywood, Ryan Coogler who also happens to be an African American as director of the movie struck a chord.
