"Top Gun: Maverick" Marketing Lessons

The biggest movie of the summer is, of course, "Top Gun: Maverick." We loved seeing the elements of a solid marketing framework come to life - the heroes and guides, the challenges, the plan, the call to action, the success and failure, and, ultimately, the transformation.

But what has stuck with us is Maverick’s journey from hero to guide. So many of our clients come to us, used to years (or even decades!) of marketing their business in the same way: positioning themselves/their business as the hero, and shouting out their features and benefits. We love to support them in reframing their messaging and marketing with their customer as the hero, and the business as the guide.

As the guide, it's your job to show how you understand what your hero is facing, how you can help solve their problems to achieve success, avoid failure, and transform into the person they're meant to be.

Be the guide, like Maverick becomes to his students, and show your clients - the heroes of their story - how you can help them win the day.

Have you seen "Top Gun: Maverick" yet? Did you see this transformation on the screen?

Be the Guide: Your Pre-Flight Checklist

Inspired by Top Gun: Maverick & StoryBrand

• Show that you understand the problems your hero is facing, as well as who they want to transform into once they overcome their challenge.

• Demonstrate empathy and authority so your hero will trust you.

• Invite your hero to move forward with a clear 3-step plan and a compelling call to action.

• Cast a vision for the future, showing what success will look like (and the failure you're helping them to avoid).