Star Wars is one of the most successful franchises of all time and puts on full display what it takes to reach a wide audience and build a loyal following.  While they may have a much bigger marketing budget than your typical B2B technology firm, there are many lessons we can learn from their success.

Early Promotion

Disney begins advertising the Star Wars films up to three years in advance of their release date.  This gives ample time to build the hype around its product prior to launch.  It allows for a lengthy paid promotional campaign as well as enough time for word of mouth advertising to spread.  This ensures that when their product hits the theaters, it will be a rousing success.  This illustrates the need for early promotion when launching a product or hosting an event.

Multimedia

The Star Wars movies are promoted through a wide variety of media including video, memes, written articles, press releases and even microsites.  This ensures the promoters reach their audience through their preferred medium.  Consumers seek out information in a variety of different forms and leveraging a multimedia approach allows you to canvas more of your target market.  It also keeps your campaigns and marketing materials fresh.

Multi-Channel

People seek out and consume information from a variety of different channels and platforms.  Star Wars promoters use social media, media websites, movie previews and even email when promoting their films.  Knowing where you audience gets their information and entertainment allows you to target those areas with your marketing efforts, making them more impactful and efficient.

A Great Story

The Star Wars movies contain great plots, subplots, character development, themes and morals which all combine to make a great story.  They’ve created an entire culture around their movies, books and merchandise.  The importance of a brand story and showing off the personality of your company has become paramount in a hyper personalized marketing landscape.   A well-developed message and right people to deliver it are essential in B2B marketing.