“Leave your ego outside. The biggest deterrent to success may be the ego. It has the power to destroy both achievements and chances. – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Of all the celebrities alive today, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson possesses one of the most remarkable and reliable cross-platform brands. It is clear that there are many lessons to be gained from Johnson’s branding success, as seen by his approximately $300 million net worth and $90 million in revenues this year alone.
After starting out as a wrestler, Johnson has used his celebrity status to his advantage to build an impressive Instagram following, partnerships with brands like Apple and VOSS water, and a personal brand that is so strong that it requires its own marketing firm, Seven Bucks Creative. Seven Bucks Creative is the strategic division of Johnson’s Seven Bucks production company that assists in promoting all of his artistic endeavours.
These are five ingenious ways that The Rock has developed his online persona.
Johnson strategically expands into new markets by using his current reach. He has gained a sizable fan base with the release of three blockbuster films in 2019 (Jungle Cruise, the Jumanji sequel, and Hobbs and Shaw), in addition to his lengthy and prosperous filmography. Johnson uses his 153 million Instagram followers and the fame he gains from several successful blockbuster films each year to expand into new countries. However, brand builders everywhere have an existing reach, even if it is merely through extremely local relationships, former coworkers, or student networks. This tactic is not just for movie stars.
Johnson is the master of brand partnerships, but he chooses carefully which branding initiatives to take on. He prefers things that he already uses and loves because he feels inauthentic when he shops for brands that do not fit with who he is.
Johnson notes in his Instagram announcement that he has been drinking VOSS water for years, so this is one of those product partnerships that feels natural. That’s accurate, as evidenced by the fact that it’s mentioned in this 2017 GQ piece. “Owning water always intrigued me – partly because I drink 4 gallons a day,” Johnson wrote on Twitter. But what really drove me to close this acquisition was finding the ideal partner—someone who shared my ethics, values, and admiration for the company culture.” He is the star of VOSS’s newest advertising campaign, “Live Every Drop,” which is being produced by his creative business Seven Bucks and will include behind-the-scenes looks at his lifestyle.
with addition, he recently assisted with the introduction of Under Armour’s Project Rock Collection, another brand favourite that seems like a logical progression of the things he currently enjoys using and doing. Because of these strategic branding partnerships, his brand comes out as reliable and genuine.
Those who know Johnson say it is not surprising at all that he has achieved such global success. He puts in a lot of effort and is so dependable that his discipline has paid off financially. “It’s meant to speak to how training is a mentality, that the work you put in the gym extends to real life, and that mentality is consistent,” stated the Chief Marketing Officer of His Seven Bucks in a Fast Company piece. We wanted to convey in this campaign how Dwayne incorporates the same discipline from the gym into everything, which is part of what makes him so amazing.
Even a casual observer can notice how diligently he works to promote his films and how regularly he posts on Instagram; it appears that his dedication is paying off.
Even while it could seem like something he does naturally, he probably has a large network of mentors, advisors, and supporters to help him build his brand to the fullest. If you had access to a brain trust that was available 24/7/365, how would you respond? Enhance and prosper, that’s what. For this reason, fresh materials for business owners like Forbes8 are priceless. You may access streaming content and original series from prominent figures in the field using this app and platform, which is specifically made for entrepreneurs. At this point in your entrepreneurial journey, identify what you most need and have it supplied. Maintain your focus and knowledge to reach your goals.
Even if some people might find fun of the movies Johnson releases or the box office results in North America, his movies are hugely successful in the Asian market, which has helped him establish his brand in new areas. His most recent movie, Skyscraper, did not do well at the box office in the US but made over $48 million in its opening weekend in China, making it the highest grossing title globally that weekend.
Similar to Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford a few years ago, Johnson has successfully tapped into the popularity of his films in the Asian market to collaborate on Chinese and Japanese brands, an opportunity that some others might have passed up. However, Johnson puts a lot of effort into building such markets; to promote Skyscraper, for instance, he recently travelled to Beijing and Hong Kong. His vision has paid off, as seen by the growth of his business.
It is easy for Johnson to integrate products across mediums since he chooses his branding collaborations carefully, making sure the products match his lifestyle. For instance, he sports Under Armour in his movies, which enhances the consistency of his brand and provides him with free advertising for his goods.
There is a lot to learn about Johnson’s online branding approach given his success in a variety of genres, countries, and decades. Even the smallest firm may benefit from his techniques, which include the simplicity with which he harnesses his social media following, the clever connection of his real-life passions and product integration, the dedication he demonstrates in content development, and the vision with which he seeks out new markets.