Dumebi.Okonji

The famous Big Brother Naija show which recently aired its 4th season is known for its controversial nature and sizzling drama. It is arguably one of the most-watched reality TV shows in Nigeria as several ex-housemates have gone on to be quite successful in their chosen careers and others, not so much. BBNaija is also one of the most sought after reality shows in the country as intending housemates are spotted damning all odds for the auditions annually. This year's edition themed "Pepper Dem"; a popular Nigerian slang depicting competitive malicious controversy did due justice to its name. It is only natural that the immensely successful show came backed with eye-opening marketing lessons that a number of us have known in theory but might have never seen play out on such a large scale. For me, here are a few which stood out this season. Mapping Out Your Target Audience: Knowing your audience and tailoring your content to capture their attention can never be overemphasized. In this season, like others, the target audience is thoroughly mapped and well understood. The choice of housemates, location, tasks, and sponsorships are evident in the prioritization of the audience. At the core of your business, is customer satisfaction; get to know their needs and let it drive your business decisions. "No Leave, No Transfer": The catchphrase popularized by the most controversial housemate; Tacha who got disqualified is famous for depicting doggedness. In essence, clients come and go, but you have to stay in business and keep getting better at what you do. As marketers, we see clients leave all the time, and these are painful but very defining moments in our careers. When clients leave, the business doesn't stop. So take a hint from Tacha (but try not to get disqualified wink!). As marketers, our ultimate goal is to resonate in the mind of our audience and the main way we achieve this is by carefully selecting catchphrases that stick, are timely and stay relevant just like this. Not Having A Strategy, Is Also a Strategy: Many a time, an idea pops out of nowhere and being the go-getters we are, a lot of marketers just run with it and hardly plan strategically for possible outcomes or pitfalls. Avid viewers of the popular show have expressed their displeasure at multiple twists and turns they considered unnecessary and unstrategic. This reaction is the same when businesses embark on unstrategic implementations without due planning and evaluation. Do you have a business strategy? If you don't, your audience can most likely tell. They are also talking about it but in most cases, not to you.