Whether you’re a fan of the show or perhaps have never watched an episode, just about everyone on the planet (or so it seems) is familiar with the television show, Game of Thrones (GoT). It’s influence on mainstream media is such that just about everything has had its own GoT twist, and in that same vein, even internet advertising agencies are also within the grasp of influence of this show.
It’s perhaps better said that internet ad agencies are, in some ways, quite similar to the happenings on GoT, and given the serious nature of the show’s material, one might start to wonder how exactly advertising on the internet could be so cutthroat. The truth is that online ad work is a pretty brutal world.
Before getting too caught up in dragons & the colors of weddings, it’s best to approach this topic by way of exploring common themes found in GoT that relate fairly well to the world of internet advertising. For starters, perhaps the most important theme in both realms is power. Everyone wants to ascend to the top, and the means by which that will happen are fairly unscrupulous at times. That may be a bit harsh in terms of the advertising world, but there is truth to the idea that the internet ad agency world is becoming congested, leading to more competition between agencies. Clients are highly touted prizes in the advertising landscape, and with the right relationship being forged, an ad agency can see its level of influence over internet advertising spread.
It’s important to look at the notion of justice & its underlying partner, cunning. GoT takes the idea of justice & turns it on its ear because in most cases, those that are good & just are quickly decimated. The bad guy tends to be the victor, and this is through his or her use of cunning. In terms of advertising, justice as a concept can best be looked at in terms of parity among agencies in securing new clients. Cunning is the manner in which agencies now have to maintain a much more narrow focus on specializing in certain areas of the online advertising game. Moreover, cunning is also understanding that getting the right people in your agency will increase your chances of success because you’ve sought out the best.
Finally, internet advertising agencies are fully immersed in the GoT themes of maturation and hard truths. As ad agencies weigh their success against less than positive results, they get better at knowing what works & what doesn’t. They also realize that not only are antiquated strategies in need of updates, but general adaptation to a new, tech-savvy world is vital for survival. Standing still, being lazy, or resting on one’s laurels will do no one any good, and in the end, ad agencies are also in danger of fading away.
Internet advertising agencies, it seems, are involved in a rather high-stakes game of success or failure. Much like Game of Thrones fans, online ad agencies are left wondering what will come next, but in such a tough business landscape, they don’t have the luxury of waiting for the next season.
