521: The Way to Earn Attention, with Raja Rajamannar
Apr 12, 2021
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Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for Mastercard, discusses the end of traditional advertising and the need for permission-based marketing. He emphasizes the importance of creating affinity with consumers instead of relying on loyalty programs. The conversation explores the frustration of interruptive ads on digital platforms and the shift towards storytelling and storymaking. The power of word of mouth and creating a natural connection between brand and experiences are also highlighted.
Traditional advertising is becoming obsolete, and brands should focus on permission-based marketing and creating affinity with consumers.
Marketers should shift from storytelling to storymaking, creating experiences where consumers become part of the brand's narrative.
Deep dives
Shifting from Loyalty to Affinity in Marketing
Raja Manar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for MasterCard, challenges the traditional approach to marketing and emphasizes the need for brands to focus on creating affinity rather than assuming loyalty. He highlights that people are not naturally wired to be loyal to commercial brands, citing how even in personal relationships, a majority of individuals admit to not being loyal. Raja suggests that brands should strive to create a contextual preference and influence consumers at the point of decision-making, rather than relying on traditional loyalty programs. He emphasizes the importance of meaningful experiences and storytelling in fostering affinity between consumers and brands.
The Changing Landscape of Advertising
Raja Manar, President of the World Federation of Advertisers, discusses the evolution of advertising in the digital age. He highlights the negative experiences consumers often have with traditional advertising, such as frequent interruptions and the rise of ad blockers. He argues that traditional advertising is heading towards obsolescence and urges marketers to adopt new methods. Raja emphasizes the need for marketers to adapt and find new ways to connect with consumers, acknowledging the power of influencer marketing and the importance of creating experiences that engage and delight consumers.
Embracing Storymaking in Marketing
Raja Manar advocates for a shift from storytelling to storymaking in marketing. He explains that storytelling involves brands telling their own stories, while storymaking involves creating experiences where consumers become part of the brand's story. Raja shares MasterCard's approach of curating and creating unforgettable experiences that align with the brand's values. He emphasizes the need for these experiences to feel natural and unforced, ensuring a seamless integration of the brand into the consumer's narrative. Raja highlights the power of word-of-mouth marketing and the potential for small organizations to collaborate and make a difference through meaningful experiences.
Making Marketing Holistic and Purpose-Driven
Raja Manar emphasizes the importance of holistic living and mental well-being in marketing. He discusses how organizations should prioritize the overall well-being of individuals, considering factors such as stress, diet, and lifestyle. Raja encourages organizations, irrespective of size, to associate with causes that align with their brand values and positively impact society. He highlights the potential of collaborations, partnerships, and social experiences to amplify the brand's impact. Raja also emphasizes the democratizing nature of technology in marketing and the significant role it plays in creating a competitive edge for small organizations.
Raja Rajamannar: Quantum Marketing
Raja Rajamannar is Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for Mastercard, and president of the company’s healthcare business. He also serves as president of the World Federation of Advertisers. Raja has held C-level roles at firms ranging from Anthem to Humana, and has overseen the successful evolution of Mastercard’s identity for the digital age, from its Priceless experiential platforms to marketing-led business models.
Raja’s work has been featured in Harvard Business School and Yale School of management case studies, and been taught at more than 40 top management schools around the world. He is the author of Quantum Marketing: Mastering the New Marketing Mindset for Tomorrow's Consumers*.
In this conversation, Raja and I discuss the reality that traditional advertising as we know it is ending. He also invites us to rethink how we’ve traditionally thought about customer loyalty. Instead of telling stories about our brands, we should be doing the work to create stories along with our customers.
Key Points
Organizations need to engage in permission-based marketing to be credible to consumers.
It’s helpful to think about relationships with consumers as affinity instead of loyalty.
Most of what we call advertising today is interruptive to consumers and a poor experience. It’s not entirely dead, but certainly heading that way.
Invite consumers into unique experiences by making the transition from storytelling to story making.
Create experiences that are scalable and economically viable and sustainable.
Smaller firms can seek out opportunities to create partnership that will help them make stories that are purposeful.
Resources Mentioned
Quantum Marketing: Mastering the New Marketing Mindset for Tomorrow's Consumers* by Raja Rajamannar
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
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