He was neither a president nor a movie star, still, he is revered as an apostle of peace and non-violence across the globe. His teachings and principles are a postulate in itself that led India’s freedom movement. He is none other than the ‘father of our nation’ and the ‘founder of free India’, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

As we celebrate his 151^st birth anniversary today, 2^nd October 2020, let’s go back down memory lane to reminisce the magnificence of this great man. Whilst being a champion of democratic movements, he’s also been the greatest marketer of all times. His compelling quotes, finance and investment lessons, and marketing concepts are one that can give any new-age marketer a run for his money.

4 Marketing Lessons from Gandhiji That Your Brand Can Adopt

• Customer is King

  Gandhiji always emphasized treating customers well. Good customer relationships result in a profitable business. Here’s a quote by him to think about “A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so.”

• Focus on Learning Things

  “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever”. This is one of Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quotes that apply to every successful marketer or entrepreneur. Rather than focusing on the end result or profit, one should always focus on the process. Throughout life, one must focus on constantly learning new things without thinking about the consequences. Train every employee, stakeholder and non-stakeholder to add value rather than making a mere sale, and watch how customer satisfaction follows. It is a by-product of the sales journey from the start to the finish.

• Talk to their Emotions

  Every action of his was designed to evoke an emotional response. Whether it was during the Salt March or fasting until death, Gandhiji would always talk about the emotions of the people whom he was addressing. Similarly, in your marketing and advertising efforts too, tap into your audience’s emotions to make them notice, remember, share and buy your product or service. Emotion always elicits a consumer response.

• Honest & Ethical Communication

  He always emphasized the importance of open, honest and ethical communication. Whether it was writing to the press, addressing fellow countrymen or talking to the leaders or the British government, he always did so in an ethical manner. In marketing and business too, your communication with your customers and prospects should be transparent and ethical. A competitor may try to hit your brand image but if you work with a sound mind and tap into your inner strength, nobody can ruin your reputation.

Mahatma Gandhi was undoubtedly the greatest marketer of all time. His teachings, quotes and lessons are all a testimony of his greatness. Do you agree?