How Nike Got 3.5 Billion Viewers for Free

Welcome to Marketing in the Age of Machines. Each week, we bring you the following:

👉 An innovative marketing strategy that has worked for others.

👉 The 2 most relevant contents in marketing, AI, and business that will help you understand the ever-changing landscape.

👉 3 tools for the Marketer of the Future.

👉 The quote of the week. A simple take on everyday marketing concepts.

🤓 How Nike Got 3.5 Billion Viewers for Free

Problem
Reebok invested heavily in exclusive sponsorship rights for the Olympic Games, spending nine figures to secure visibility. However, their presence failed to translate into cultural impact or emotional connection with audiences. Despite their official status, they were quickly overshadowed, struggling to stand out in a saturated environment where attention was fleeting and dominated by moments that truly resonated with viewers.

Solution
Nike sidestepped the limitations of not being an official sponsor by focusing on a single, high-impact idea: giving Michael Johnson, the fastest man on Earth, custom metallic-gold running spikes. Johnson wore them while breaking the 200m world record in front of 3.5 billion viewers. The striking visual and symbolic power of the golden shoes generated headlines, media coverage, and fan engagement without Nike needing to pay for sponsorship rights.

Lesson
Winning attention isn’t always about outspending the competition, it’s about owning the moment. Nike’s golden spikes became a cultural icon because they tied a powerful visual to a historic achievement. The takeaway: in marketing, strategic creativity can beat massive budgets, and relevance can eclipse exclusivity.

1/. 10 Email Lead Generation Techniques to Capture Top Leads and Win Customers in 2025
Email lead generation delivers an ROI of 312% and outperforms many modern channels. Its success depends on targeting the right audience, offering strong lead magnets, and delivering personalized, concise content. The post shares 10 key techniques and best practices to capture, nurture, and convert high-quality leads in 2025.

Read the full post here:

2/. How to Boost Lead Generation for Packaging Companies
This article explores how packaging companies can improve lead generation by moving beyond traditional methods like trade shows and referrals. It highlights how digital tools like SEO, PPC, and LinkedIn allow businesses to reach the right decision-makers more effectively. By focusing on targeted campaigns and the right platforms, companies can make their lead generation efforts far more impactful.

Read the full post here:

👉 Tools in the Age of Machines:

• Profound: Monitors how AI platforms mention your brand to boost visibility.

• Venngage AI: Turns text prompts into professional visuals and infographics.

• Pictory: Converts scripts into videos with AI-generated visuals and voiceovers.