As we prepare to celebrate one of my favorite holidays, the 4th of July, and celebrate our freedom, our liberty, let’s not forget how awesome it is that the American revolution actually happened.
It really was a turning point in history, giving rise to the most advanced civilization and form of representative government, with more power into the people’s hands, than had ever been seen in the history of the world.
It took some pretty powerful marketing strategies to make the American Revolution happen.
One of the things that is often forgotten about the revolution is that up until almost 1770, nobody really wanted to break away from Britain, in America.
Really, the American people were looking to have control over their own destiny. Not much different than people today.
But a funny thing happened along the way. A bunch of incompetent politicians were in control of Britain, and a bunch of geniuses were busy taking control of the American side of things.
To make the American revolution happen though, and to get people to put their safety, security, and even their life on the line, some seriously amazing marketing had to take place. A completely powerful and compelling vision had to get across to the common folk, because let’s face it – most of the time it’s the common people who do the dirty work in any type of war.
So to get the message out, some serious convincing had to take place, and there’s 3 main strategies that the Revolutionary Americans used.
The first was to have a message that interests the right people. The landowners, the merchants, and the people who were running things in America were certainly not cool with the taxes, the tarrifs, and the other obstructions being put on trade.
And they certainly weren’t cool with being told what to do by a bunch of people far away in Britain, who had never set foot on American soil.
When Patrick Henry yelled out “Give me liberty” and then stuck himself in the heart with an imaginary knife, falling to his knees screaming “or Give me death…” – this was the right message to the right people.
The second powerful marketing idea is to get your message out to as many people as possible, as fast as possible.
Thomas Paine was there making the case for revolution with his pamphlet titled Common Sense. The language was colorful, magnetic, and compelling – in short, it worked.
And combined with the printing presses running overtime to get the pamphlet into everyone’s hands, the hearts and minds of Americans were charged towards rebellion.
Finally and most importantly – you gotta follow through on your promises.
The founding fathers definitely followed through. They led the Americans to victory, and then locked themselves in a room for almost 30 days in the heat of a Philadelphia summer to create the constitution, that has amazingly held together pretty well to this day.
The American revolution lives on to this very day in the hearts and minds of freedom lovers everywhere, and for this we can thank an amazing group of people, and three powerful marketing strategies for making it happen.
This year when you raise a glass to Alexander Hamilton (or your favorite revolutionary), be sure to remember that the marketing strategies that gave us this great nation are also the same ones that you can use to skyrocket your business on the web.
After all, the freedom and prosperity that is available to those who are brave enough to go after it and grab it, is what the revolution was all about.
Happy Birthday America,
-Wally
P.S. – Be sure to keep an eye on Wally’s Web Stars over the next few weeks. There’s a lot of new stuff to tell you about and I’ll be posting some great updates here.
