Public Relations & Social Marketing Insight

If there’s one tactic that has stood out in this presidential campaign, it is the way GOP frontrunner Donald Trump has slain his foes with the jawbone of an ass.

Trump’s penchant for labeling his opponents—from “Lyin’ Ted” Cruz to “Low-Energy Jeb” Bush—has been like a boxer’s left hook to the liver. It doesn’t look like much until the other guy drops.

Now Trump is trying to do the same to his Democratic foes, calling them “crooked” and “crazy.”

After The New York Times Magazine explored the issue (“Donald Trump Shares His Opponent-Branding Secrets”), I wondered: Do the same labeling techniques work in PR and marketing? Whether it’s throwing mud or branding oneself positively, does Trump offer lessons to PR pros?

The consensus is that such tactics can work, but mudslinging is “risky,” a word Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton uses in an effort to brand Trump.

“Trump has a knack for coining just the right moniker, the perfectly dismissive and catchy thing,” The Times writer stated. “‘It works, it flows,’ Trump said, admiring his latest work.”

Created with Haiku Deck...

Here is a simple presentation version of the last post I wrote on the connected story. Its in a tool called Haku Deck. Simple text and pictures on the fly using creative commons pictures.

[A very promising, easy to use tool for better presentations and storytelling ~ Jeff]