So far in Season 4 of Mad Men, we’ve already learned how to fire clients like Don Draper. Now, in episode 405, The Chrysanthemum and the Sword, Don takes this a step further and shows us how scolding and calling out your clients can actually work in your favor.
The brief synopsis is this: the Honda company is taking bids, and they have very strict rules on how the presentations and courting should work. Don makes it appear as though he’ll be breaking the rules by presenting a full-blown commercial to the Honda execs, which only gets his competition to do the same. However, upon presenting, Don simply calls his Honda audience out that they haven’t even followed their own rules, and he returns their check and turns down their business.
I’ve ranted and warned and cited other experts regarding focus groups before. But now, I can play the “Don Draper said so” card when the idea of focus groups come up (and don’t think I won’t!).
In episode 404, “The Rejected,” of Mad Men, the season finally makes a little progress. Pete’s gonna be a daddy, and he’s finding ways to fully leverage his account with the dad-in-law. Don finally has to face some consequences of sleeping with his secretary. Peggy’s found a new lesbian friend who’s introducing her to all kinds of new things.
All good stuff, but not exactly the kind of meat I’m looking for in terms of what we marketers can actually put into play today.
OK, so it’s a little difficult to extract this week’s obvious marketing lesson out of Mad Men. But I think I was able to take something away from it.
Episode 403, “The Good News,” starts giving us a little bit more on each of the characters. Joan wants kids, but her husband’s probably headed for Vietnam. Don’s en route to Acapulco, but just U-turns to New York after finding out Anna has cancer. And Lane is separated from his wife.
Another lesson in Mad Men Marketing: what “type” of person is Don Draper? We find out in episode 402 of Mad Men.
Lessons learned from the season 4 premiere of Mad Men. Don Draper essentially fires his client, Jantzen, in episode 401 of Mad Men. Is it actually a good idea to fire clients? Heck yeah, and this is why.
