Aug 04, 2016
Hollywood and sports celebrities continue to make their mark on the United States Presidential election as demonstrated vividly at the most recent Republican and Democratic National Conventions. A recent study by e-Poll market research identified the top 20 celebrities that appealed most to each political party.
With only a few exceptions, Democrats and Republicans have very different favorites when it comes to celebrities. We certainly saw this play out at the conventions in Cleveland and Philadelphia (think Scott Baio versus Katy Perry!).
Here are a few more insights from the research:
- Democrats like celebrities that are edgier and more diverse.
- There is a correlation between Democrats’ favorite shows and strong affinity for the actors in them.
- Republicans enjoy family-friendly celebrities who often play “law-and-order” roles, with fewer women and minorities.
- Republicans’ love of a program on the small screen does not translate into love for its stars.
Clearly, celebrities are brands in their own right and bring with them an audience and the associative power of an endorsement. This has never been more evident than now as we witness candidate brands in action on a daily basis. Every experience that we see or hear impacts how we perceive a person’s brand, be it a candidate, a celebrity, or even a personal friend.
Branding is everywhere, and a brand comprises what people perceive, which may or may not be what you’d like for them to perceive. Is your organization building the right brand experience? Are you providing customers and prospects with the experiences that reflect what you think your brand is or what they think your brand is?
Building brand experiences that align with an organization’s vision is critical. Learn how to harness the power of your brand story to create a clear and compelling message that engages your customers and grows your business by downloading our latest ebook Transformational Marketing: Moving to the TopRight.
