Why Netflix Seasonal Marketing Strategies Are Top-Tier

Just a few years ago, Netflix had no competition in the world of streaming. In an effort to replicate the company’s success, many more streaming platforms have emerged over the last decade. The Streaming Wars have changed the way we watch and interact with shows and movies. And despite the tremendous surge in competition, Netflix has remained atop the streaming mountain. Netflix remains the #1 global streaming platform with over 225 million subscribers.?

Netflix has not maintained its popularity simply by being the first streaming service to arrive. Original content and innovative marketing have been the keys to Netflix’s continued success.?

Particularly, Netflix does a great job marketing new seasons of its biggest shows. From Stranger Things, to Ozark, to Squid Game, Netflix’s marketing team always has something creative up its sleeve. Here is a look at some of the best marketing strategies Netflix has used over the years.

What Goes Into a Netflix Marketing Strategy?

One of the keys to Netflix’s digital marketing strategy is that it treats season premieres as launch dates for a new product. This gives each show time to generate plenty of hype across the web before its new episodes even reach viewers.

One of the best examples would be the marketing strategy for Stranger Things. The most-watched show in the history of Netflix, Stranger Things understandably receives a large marketing budget. So how has Netflix promoted the most recent seasons of their hit show?

Nostalgia Marketing

Aside from the usual marketing content (trailers, behind-the-scenes content, promotional appearances), Netflix has cultivated a strong following for the show through experiential marketing. Building up to the release of Stranger Things season 4, Netflix enlisted the help of animators from around the globe. Netflix soon released its “Stranger Morning Cartoons” campaign. The campaign spoofed the old “Saturday morning cartoons” that were popular in the 1980s and ‘90s. This was a nod to the show’s built-in ‘80s nostalgia.

Experiential Marketing

Perhaps the most unique marketing strategy Netflix has used is the ongoing Stranger Things: The Experience exhibit. This promotional exhibit allows fans in cities across the globe to explore the world of the show through interactive exhibits. In some cases, fans can even meet cast members. The goal behind this experiential marketing campaign is to build a stronger connection between fans and the show. This also allows the show to remain culturally relevant as we await its fifth and final season.

Building Hype: Promotional Marketing

A more recent example of a successful Netflix marketing strategy is its newest hit show, Wednesday. The Addams Family reboot was built up gradually over several months in anticipation of its release. On November 23rd of this year (a Wednesday, of course), the show premiered.?

Netflix used as many online channels as it could to promote the show. They released trailers on its site and YouTube as early as this past August. The official Netflix Twitter account has been featuring a Wednesday banner for several weeks as well.?

By the time Wednesday finally arrived, audiences had been seeing promotional materials for the new show for months. That hype has allowed Wednesday to become the latest streaming sensation. The show’s first season is already the second-most viewed season of an English language program in Netflix history. This is just three weeks after its release.

Make Your Own Digital Marketing Strategy

There are a few lessons we can take from the Netflix digital marketing playlist. First, promotional marketing prior to launching a new product can have tremendous results. And second, a strong and diverse online presence is important if you wish to grow and engage your audience.

But these marketing strategy examples are not just for billion-dollar streaming platforms. Small businesses need great marketing strategies just as much as major corporations. Visit Web Content Development to learn more.