3 Trump Tactics to Build Your Brand
Imagine this: a set of marketing strategies so effective, they turned a reality TV star into the President of the United States. These aren't "tips and tricks." These strategies go deeper—hitting people right in their emotions, their beliefs, and their values. And when you hit people there? They take action.
I saw this in action at AmericaFest, a massive conservative event with Trump and other big-name leaders on stage. But this isn’t about politics. It’s about understanding how to influence people in a way that makes them feel something—and then act on it. Whether you’re trying to build a movement, grow your business, or even just get more people to open your emails, these strategies work.
Now, I know you’ve probably heard about the "us vs. them" mentality—the way society tries to force us to pick a side and stick with it. If you’re not a fan of Donald Trump, it may feel strange to replicate the same strategies that put him in power. And if you’re someone who leans conservative, it might seem odd to take advice from someone who’s not all in on the same ideas.
But here’s the thing: once you step outside that binary thinking, that’s when things start to get interesting. It’s not about agreeing with any one side. It’s about understanding how people think, what drives their decisions, and how you can use that to your advantage—no matter where you stand.
So, let’s get into the playbook that’s changed the game for the conservative party. These aren’t tactics from some political playbook; these are strategies that can make you more influential, persuasive, and effective—whether you’re running a business, launching a campaign, or just trying to get more people to pay attention to what you’re saying.
Strategy #1: Use Status to Make People Move
One of the most powerful strategies I saw at AmericaFest was how they used status to get people to take action. Buy tickets. Donate. Get involved. They’re all about making people feel important, special, like they belonged. And to do that, they created levels of access that made you feel like part of an exclusive club, or—if you didn’t want to feel left out—like you needed to do more, give more, be more.
I felt this firsthand when I was at the event with one of my clients, who’s considered an elite in the conservative movement. The guy’s donated a ton, has his own show pushing conservative ideas, and is all in on the game. So when I checked in, they handed me an Executive pass. Let me tell you, I quickly understood what it felt like to have the world at your feet. I could get into any room—VIP lounge? Executive lounge? Yeah, I was there. I could cut in front of any line, skip past security, walk straight into rooms with the most powerful people in the country, like it was no big deal.
And I’m not gonna lie—it was hard not to feel like I was on top of the world. I borrowed that sense of power from my client, who’d earned it, but damn, I still felt it. I’d walk past people, and celebrities would walk up to me just because they saw the word "Executive" on my pass. It’s wild how quickly you get used to that kind of treatment, and how easy it is to start thinking you’re somehow better than everyone else. It’s addicting.
That’s the power of status. One of the most powerful ways to get people to take action—whether it’s buying your stuff, donating, or paying more attention to you—is by giving them status. People want to feel special. They want to feel like they’re part of an exclusive group. They want to stand out from the crowd. And when you tap into that, they’ll act. Simple as that.
When you wrap your product or service in this cloak of exclusivity, you don’t just make it desirable—you make it feel earned. It’s not about the offer itself; it’s about the feeling people get when they interact with you. They want to be recognized, they want to feel important, and they definitely want to be rewarded for showing up.
This works because it taps into a deep human need: the need to belong to something bigger and better. Whether that’s a VIP pass at an event or being hailed as an elite member of a community, status makes people act. And once they become addicted to that status, they don’t want to lose it. Here’s how you can use this exact same strategy in your business to boost engagement, loyalty, and yes – your revenue.
Create exclusive offers for your “elite” clients: Make it feel like the kind of deal only insiders get to see. It’s special because it’s limited.
Use tiers or levels in your groups, memberships, and courses: Offer different levels so people can level up—it’s like a game, and everyone wants to win.
Reward commitment: Make them feel like they earned it. The longer they stick with you, the better the perks.
Personalized recognition: Shout out your top clients. Show them you see them. Make it feel personal.
VIP experiences: Give them the rockstar treatment. Private events, behind-the-scenes, whatever makes them feel like they’re in the “inner circle.”
Early access: Let the best of the best get first dibs on your stuff. It’s a power move, and they’ll love it.
Create an "elite" group: Build a cult of high-value members. Give them exclusive access to content, events, or resources only the cool kids get.
Limit availability: People love scarcity. Give them a limited-time offer, and watch them scramble.
Celebrate milestones: Make a big deal when someone hits a goal—whether it’s an anniversary, a purchase, or a big win.
Offer VIP customer service: Roll out the red carpet. The more they pay, the faster they get treated like royalty.
When you make your audience feel special, you’re not just selling a product—you’re building a loyal audience. You’re making them feel seen, heard, and valued. And when people feel like they belong to something bigger, they’ll do the work to stay in that circle. The more status-driven experiences you create, the more your audience will want to act.
Strategy #2: Align With Others to Build Your Audience
One of the most underrated ways to grow your audience and make a name for yourself is teaming up with people in your industry. Most people try to do it alone because they think collaboration is some kind of threat. They’re either too busy guarding their own little piece of the pie, or they're afraid of rejection when they ask to collaborate with people considered “bigger” than them. But the most successful people get it. When you team up, everyone wins. Stop trying to protect your turf—start expanding it.
When you partner with others who already have a following, you both get to share the spotlight. It's simple: you get in front of their people, and they get in front of yours. Everyone wins.
I saw this play out over and over at AmericaFest. There was a main stage with all the big shots, but the real magic was happening outside—where all the “micro-influencers” were talking, interviewing, and sharing audiences. It was a press day on steroids, and everyone was more than happy to help each other out.
My client did nine interviews on day two. Nine. We watched his follower count explode the days following. Celebrities were coming up, asking for pictures (because they know their audience will grow when we share the pic). Nobody was too “cool” to make a connection.
It hit me: for them, this isn’t about being the most famous person in the room. It’s about making sure they’re known by as many people as possible—and that means collaborating instead of competing.
Here’s how to make it work for you:
Do interviews: Find podcasts in your industry and pitch them on an interview with you, ask them to come on yours. Cross-pollinate audiences.
Cross-promote content: Have friends in the industry? Share this article with them. Then, share each other’s posts, hype each other up. It’s a win-win.
Stop being “too cool”: Don’t protect your “status.” Collaboration > competition. Someone recognized you in a grocery store? Take a pic. Someone new stopped into your business? Take a second to get to know them. A “smaller fish” in your industry wants to collaborate? Why not? Wtf else are you doing?
Leverage guest appearances: Get on other people’s stages, and invite them onto yours. Simple.
Create joint offers: Run deals together that feel exclusive. Their audience sees it, and yours wants in.
Share the love on social: Post pictures together, tag them, show that you’re “in” with the right people.
Host joint events: Whether it’s a live event or a webinar, team up. It doubles the audience.
Don’t overthink it: When you help others win, you win too. It’s that simple. Get out there and build some bridges.
Strategy #3: Create the Spectacle
The power of perception is real. If people think you’re a hot commodity, they’ll treat you like one. They want to be where the action is. Whether you’re hosting an event or releasing a product, when it looks like everyone else is interested, it becomes a must-have or must-do experience.
You don’t need to have the biggest crowds or the most elaborate setup to make people believe you do. The trick is creating a perception that everyone wants in on what you’re offering. Because people are drawn to what seems popular, what seems in demand. And when something feels big, exciting, and successful—people want to be a part of it.
This is the strategy behind why big crowds and “sold-out” events are so effective. It’s not about the numbers themselves. It’s about the feeling of scarcity and exclusivity. When people see that something is in demand, they assume it’s worth their attention—and they act fast to secure their place.
This is exactly how Donald Trump ran his campaign and built his brand. Every rally was “the biggest,” every crowd was “record-breaking,” and even when there were empty seats, it didn’t matter. The cameras made sure to focus on the full sections. This created an image of incredible demand, and that demand is what fueled the perception of success. It overrides the lefts narrative that America is against this - because, “Look how many people came to see him!”
At AmericaFest, the event was the perfect example. Speakers had grand entrances, dramatic montages, smoke on stage—the whole nine yards. The cameras would pan across the audience to show how massive the crowd was—when in reality, lots of those seats were empty. But the cameras didn’t show that. They focused on the full sections, where the energy was palpable. The illusion of success made it seem like everyone was there, like it was a can't-miss event.
Social media posts from influencers and leaders in the movement followed suit. Everything was designed to look bigger than life. It wasn’t about the reality; it was about the perception. And it worked. People were hyped. They felt like they were part of something huge, and they wanted in.
So here’s the strategy: Create the spectacle. Make everything feel bigger than life.
Make your events feel like an event: It doesn’t have to be massive, but it should feel special. Think about lighting, music, and atmosphere that makes it feel like a spectacle.
Frame everything as "the best" or "the biggest": When you launch something, position it like it's the most important thing happening right now. People want to be part of what’s big.
Curate your content to show success: Whether it’s social media or in your marketing materials, show off the highlights. Frame your wins as monumental—don’t shy away from making things look epic.
Use selective visibility: Pick and choose what you show. Focus on the moments that scream success—skip the ones that might look less impressive.
Leverage social proof: Show people reacting with enthusiasm, getting excited, posting about you. It’ll make others want to join in on what looks like a winning game.
Create a spectacle, and people will flock to it. It’s not about the actual size of the crowd or the event—it’s about how you present it. Make your marketing, events, and offers feel like something unmissable, and watch the demand follow.
These strategies aren’t about politics—they’re about understanding human nature and using it to your benefit. They helped get Trump elected, and whether or not you agree with him, there’s no denying their effectiveness. Replicate them in your own business.
Create exclusivity, collaborate, and make your efforts a spectacle. If you’re sitting there thinking, 'Kassidy, my moral code is way above all this,' then don’t use it. Or, take what works for you and leave what doesn’t. I’m not here to create your moral code—I’m here to tell you what works and help you implement it (if you want to).
If you have any questions about this, or you just want to yap – you can reach me at kass@themarketingwitch.com.
Until next time,
Kass