5 marketing fails that could have derailed American independence

Would we be toasting to freedom and fireworks on the Fourth of July if the heroes of early American history had fallen victim to a poor marketing strategy?

If our nation’s struggle for independence had taken place in today’s complex media environment, even the Founding Fathers could’ve used an advertising agency and communications firm to help get their message heard and avoid marketing mishaps.

So, don your red, white and blue, fire up the grill and celebrate that these #MarketingFails of today and yesteryear didn’t send the fledgling United States up in flames:

1. Botched communication of “one if by land, two if by sea.”

Establish strong brand guidelines to ensure critical messages are communicated consistently and correctly.

The American Revolutionary War would’ve started with the Patriots caught off guard if Paul Revere had given the wrong signal to forewarn about British troop movements. Luckily, he was well versed in how to communicate the covert message and correctly hung two lanterns in Boston’s Old North Church to alert his cohorts that the Brits were rowing across the Charles River to attack Patriot arms and leadership.