How Did Tesla and Elon Musk Create an Empire with a $0 Marketing Budget

Innovative marketing strategies, which made Tesla

Ford and Audi are 117 and 110 years old, respectively. Yet, none of these car makers make headlines like the 17-year-old Tesla.

Tesla and Elon Musk are everywhere. On T. V, newspapers, and all over social media. All you hear is news about Tesla. And its charismatic CEO, Elon Musk.

Now the funny thing is that — all the publicity that Tesla and Elon Musk get through various channels is without spending a dime. You heard me right! Tesla allocates zero budget on marketing. A move that Elon Musk pioneered.

In a world where there is a notion that businesses don’t sustain without Facebook ads and billboards. Tesla sells its products like wildfire. Even before they start production. Musk despises paid advertising.

Let me show you how Showmanship and brand trust can market a new brand into becoming a household name. All with a zero marketing cost.

Elon Musk

Do you know the name of the person who owns BMW or Ford Motors?

That’s right, No!

But the first name which pops in your mind when you think of Tesla is Elon Musk. How did an individual become the face of a car company?

It’s because Elon Musk is the face who runs the place in Tesla. He takes most operations into his own hands from product design to product launch. He has a jovial, outgoing character which helps him bond with potential customers and the media. Elon Musk is no stranger to the world of entrepreneurs. As he is a founding member of PayPal, which took the world by storm.

Elon Musk has created an unscripted persona. That makes him a credible PR person. Over businessmen who emphasize dress code and looks over inner personality. Musk leverages his over 36 million followers on Twitter to communicate with his loyal fanatics. On the current developments with Tesla and its subsidiaries. Such as SpaceX, SolarCity, and Tesla Batteries. Grand publicity Elon Musk does through Twitter is free. Though the impact is of epic proportions. Musk is already an online celebrity with a growing engaged following. This is proven with his frequent appearances on online influencer platforms, podcasts, and countless interviews on and off T.V.

The Key is that the Tesla community is always closer to the Tesla products through Musk. The more you see and hear about Tesla. Tesla makes money off you, turning you into a buyer. By gaining your trust through Elon Musk. Who knows the potential of classy Showmanship and social communication. Which costs $0.

Tesla’s timely business model

Tesla built its organization around sustainable technology, aiming to ease lives. And enrich them with premium technology at affordable rates.

People are more and more concerned about climate change than ever. Many of them like to preserve the world and adapt to sustainable changes where possible. In Tesla’s case, it all started with the move to join the electric car transition movement.

Tesla builds electric cars and technology for a better future. At a time where electric cars meant high cost and fewer features. Tesla got it right when it made electric cars to solve the problem of consumers who wanted a highly functional car at an affordable cost. This business model soon grabbed the attention of the media and press. As the problem which Tesla was trying to solve, aligned with the biggest problem the world has. Global warming and climate change resulting from the carbon footprint.

From T. V stations to print media — everyone wanted to know what Tesla does differently. This was one significant way how Tesla and Elon Musk rose to fame from out of the blue.

Tesla’s technology aid to projects

Tesla demonstrated the genuine drive for sustainable living by involving in technology aid. When millions of people in Puerto Rico were hit by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Essential services powered by the national electrical grid failed. Such as water and power. Tesla volunteered to install the Tesla solar panels and Tesla batteries. To empower the lives of 3.4 million people.

This became sensational news around the world. People believed in Tesla. As a brand that walks the talk as a company that wants to help with sustainable technology.

Tesla has contributed to countless welfare projects similar to Puerto Rico. This gave them a positive status and widespread publicity for the carmaker headed by Elon Musk. For whom paid publicity was not on the “To-do List”.

Getting the press to sell Tesla

Tesla capitalized on the fact that they got a marketable CEO. And that Tesla differed from the traditional carmakers. And the positive media support they mustered. By now, Tesla and Elon Musk understood how to use free media promotion. To gain traction before product launches.

So, Tesla fed the media with sensational newsworthy events that the media loves to share. They literally took publicity to new heights when they launched their Falcon Heavy rocket into orbit. Through the SpaceX program on February 6, 2018. When all eyes were focusing on Tesla. And what it would do next. The rocket had a payload of a Tesla Roadster car, which was the highlight of this publicity stunt.

If this doesn’t make headlines, then what will?

Next, SpaceX took two NASA astronauts into Space in a privately funded spacecraft. The Falcon 9 rocket on May 30, 2020.

This is while most people around the world were in lockdown — who had nothing to do but watch TV or social media. Guess what, Tesla made headlines worldwide again for all the good reasons. Which resulted in a sudden hike in Tesla following. The share value of Tesla, Inc skyrocketed to beat Toyota to become the largest automaker in the world by market value. Talk about free publicity!

Elon Musk’s “Musketeers” promote Tesla

Tesla builds cars with “out of the box” designs — integrated premium features with cool technology. Also, changing the electric car industry by introducing super-fast cars, driven by advanced technology. For a price that only Tesla can offer. While other brands offered expensive cars with less high-tech. Or people had to pay more for better functions. Tesla does not want people to trade features for the price. A highly satisfied clientele is Musk’s priority in business.

Therefore Tesla envisioned providing stunning cars with elegant features. Designed for a movement who loves the planet and who loves to arrive in style. With an affordable price tag. This business model attracted the younger generation who loves value for money.

This customer-centric product design influenced many Tesla users to show off their cars online. They were advocating for Tesla without their knowledge. By influencing people with the Tesla machine. It became a trend that people who own Tesla cars called themselves “Musketeers”. The Musketeers promoted Tesla, the Elon Musk style. This is emotional marketing 101, my friends.

This promotion became social proof of Tesla’s winning formula. Through social media sites like YouTube and Facebook, etc. Indirectly creating a sales funnel for potential and existing Tesla customer base. Ultimately paving way for Tesla and Elon Musk to make money while spending nothing for publicity.

The key takeaway from Tesla’s rapid success in free marketing is. Focusing money on the core value of a product is important to win over a clientele loyal to your brand. Instead of forcing your brand down their throats day in and day out.

Flamboyant marketing budgets and million-dollar promotions will not guarantee you sales. Consistency, quality, customer-centric thinking and the right price tag will. Also, convey all that to the world loud and clear. Above all, innovation towards greater good drives people towards good brands.

You can be an online marketer or an existing entrepreneur. Who loves to learn a thing or two about marketing. Ignore when people say that you need to spend money to make money. That you will fail if your advertising budget is low. Or if you are an inexperienced marketer, then you can’t make it as a successful entrepreneur. All that is just to discourage you from pursuing what you are capable of.

Because Elon Musk and the Tesla collaboration have proven us otherwise. Therefore, perfect your product. Tell the world why they should buy from you instead of others. Add an emotional element to your sales hook, always!

Innovate with creativity by solving one problem at a time. This will get a loyal following. To spread the word about your brand for free. Build credibility, and the customers will find you. Because here, we got a multimillion-dollar company that has made millions in revenue. By following the best marketing strategy alive today.

Word of mouth marketing!

Tesla and Elon Musk are turning their patrons into selling Tesla products, unintentionally. Creating advocates out of Tesla fans who are proud to show off Tesla products.

Only because they love to own Tesla’s groundbreaking technology for the greater good.