7 reasons to believe that Shakespeare was a marketer!

A couple of weeks back, while helping my son prepare for his English literature exam, my memories took me back many years to my own school days when love and deep respect for Shakespeare was considered as a noble virtue by everyone. A Renaissance period genius, Shakespeare, wrote some of the most incredible plays and poetry this world has ever seen. He made us laugh, made us cry, and truly understood human nature. He invented words and phrases that we use in modern-day English and most probably don’t know came from the Bard himself. No one can come close to claiming the contribution that he has made to the English literature.

But did you know that Shakespeare was also a marketing expert? This revelation came to me recently when I looked at a few of his famous quotes through business and marketing lenses.

Here are a few of his wise words that can inspire businesses and marketing professionals around the world.

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. — Romeo and Juliet

Actual meaning: Names themselves do not hold any worth nor meaning. They simply act as labels to distinguish one thing or person from another.

Meaning in a marketing context: Your brand is the name or a label for the service or the product you deliver to your customers. Branding is important but the service you provide should speak for itself. Changing the brand name won’t matter if the service quality remains intact. Customer satisfaction, as a result of excellent service, builds your reputation and further your brand.  

All that glisters (glitters) is not gold. — The Merchant of Venice

Actual meaning: Not everything that shines is valuable. Something can be just superficially attractive.

Meaning in a marketing context: It is very easy for marketers to get attracted to all the new digital and mar-tech trends. But all things that shine don't add business value or growth in revenue. Staying customer-centric and focused on the business purpose helps in deciding the trends to go after as they guarantee results. 

To business that we love we rise betimes and go to ‘t with delight. —Anthony and Cleopatra

Actual meaning: If you love what you do, then you’ll enjoy waking up each morning.

Meaning in a marketing context: It is crucial for marketers to love what they do. Whether it is for themselves or the customers. Finding purpose and then defining what it means to everyone helps in staying invested until the goal is reached.

Love sought is good, but given unsought is better. — Twelfth Night

Actual meaning: When you are trying to find something and you get it, it is good. But when it comes to you without you looking for it, it is even better

Meaning in a marketing context: This applies to customer success via nurturing which helps in getting positive testimonials which further leads to the business recommendation from happy customers. If we pay close attention to our customers, treat them well, they become our biggest advocates in the industry. They talk about positive experiences and recommend us to other organisations.

How poor are they that have not patience? What wound did ever heal but by degrees? — Othello

Actual meaning: Patience pays

Meaning in a marketing context: Patience is a virtue. Especially in marketing. It is important to realize that marketing takes time. Nothing happens overnight. It’s not just a question of one big ad here or there or one promoted Facebook post. People need to go through a certain process and you have to reach them a number of times before they’re going to be ready to buy from you.

Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice. — Hamlet

Actual meaning: Listen more, speak less

Meaning in a marketing context: Marketers should learn to hear to listen. They need to be receptive to hearing and customer needs and embracing complaints. Gathering customer feedback and market research is essential to improving offering and the way it is communicated.

Go wisely and slowly. Those who rush stumble and fall. — Romeo and Juliet

Actual meaning: Don't be in a hurry. Always look where you are going.

Meaning in a marketing context: The world of business is a hectic, busy place. Yes, there is merit in staying on the ball and launching programmes for speed to market but rushing without proper feedback, analysis, reflections and optimisation can lead to poor snap-decisions which can become counterproductive.