Who you gonna call? Five marketing lessons from the Ghostbusters

10 hours ago

2 min read

Poster with Ghostbusters cosplay crowd; bold red text reads Five Marketing Lessons We Can Learn From the Ghostbusters and martyn-hayes.co.uk

Come October, there's always something strange in the neighbourhood. Movie goers will remember the Ghostbusters films for giant marshmallow men and proton packs. However, the fictional on-screen ghost-hunting start-up also demonstrated some surprisingly smart marketing.

In this fun, festive and frightful blog, we'll draw on this spooktacular franchise from Sony Pictures and Ghost Corps. Let's explore five lessons marketers can learn from the boys in beige.

Five effective marketing tactics applied by the Ghostbusters

1. They understood their audience

You may recall their famous tagline, "We're ready to believe you". It was a useful piece of customer-focused messaging because it speaks directly to what their consumers needed.

It’s likely their clients weren’t just dealing with paranormal problems. They probably felt dismissed, ridiculed or ignored. Instead of focussing marketing messages on their expertise, the Ghostbusters addressed their consumers' pain points, perceptions and needs of being taken seriously.

Effective marcomms starts with understanding what matters to your audience.

2. They positioned themselves effectively

The Ecto-1 wasn't just transport. Its sirens, branding and dramatic appearances across New York gave it the image of an emergency service. Plus, it became a moving advertisement.

This tactic could be considered as guerrilla marketing. It would have created a buzz on the streets and got citizens talking

The lesson? If you want people to remember you, don't blend in. Find a distinctive position and own it.

3. They used multiple channels

The Ghostbusters didn't rely on a single advert. They promoted themselves through television, radio, newspapers and public appearances.

Your end uses rarely act after seeing one message. Reaching audiences through various channels increases visibility, familiarity and trust.

4. They had in a memorable jingle

If you heard the words "There's something strange in the neighbourhood...", you’d probably be singing the next line in your head.

The iconic tune from Ray Parker Jr became inseparable from the brand. Decades later, people still recognise it instantly.

Strong branding creates mental shortcuts. When customers have a problem, you want your organisation to be the first thing that comes to mind.

5. They let customers do the talking

As the business grew, they featured customers (sort of) in their advertising rather than themselves.

In the second film, Janine Melnitz (Annie Potts) and Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) acted as customers making the all important phone call.

This worked because your patrons will likely respond to like-minded people. It helps if they see themselves in your product or service. Customer testimonials, reviews and user-generated content often feel more authentic than corporate messaging.

Sometimes your best spokesperson is a happy customer.

Conclusion - They had the tools, and they had the talent!

The Ghostbusters may have spent their days battling supernatural threats, but they also showed some remarkably effective engagement tactics.

They focused on user needs, built a recognisable brand, used multiple channels and embraced customer advocacy. Not bad for four scientists running a ghost-removal start-up from an old firehouse.

Happy Halloween