TED talks are all about “ideas worth spreading,” and it’s easy to see why. The organization brings together people from all walks of life who share deep insights over the course of 10-20 minute talks. The knowledge gained and lessons learned are anything but typical, which is why live events often sell out and people who’ve had the opportunity to be a TED speaker add it as a prominent part of their resume and online profiles.
Luckily for Marketers, there are many TED talks that focus on how to become better at reaching and understanding customers. The following is a list of the best TED talks for marketers as of this article’s publication.
How to Make Choosing Easier
Sheena Iyengar
Sometimes there are too many choices, which gets people to buy less – not more. With a new trend popularizing customization, people have many more options with regards to the products they buy. In this TED talk for marketers, Sheena Iyengar shares new research that demonstrates how businesses can improve the experience of choosing.
Choice, Happiness and Spaghetti Sauce
Malcolm Gladwell
The idea of choice is an intense fascination for marketers, which is why Malcolm Gladwell presents another interesting take on how choice affects purchasing in this TED talk for marketers.
Bitcoin. Sweat. Tide. Meet the Future of Branded Currency.
Paul Kemp-Robertson
What do Bitcoin, Nike Sweat Points and bottles of Tide have in common? Depending on the person and their culture, they act as forms of currency for purchasing products and services. In this TED talk for marketers, Paul Kemp-Robertson discusses currency in modern times and how it’s founded on marketing principles.
How to Start a Movement
Derek Sivers
In this TED talk for Marketers, Derek Sivers shares how to start a movement with the help of a footage of a man dancing during the Sasquatch Music Festival (2009). The footage acts as an example in how to go about starting an effective movement.
What Physics Taught Me About Marketing
Dan Cobley
As marketing is often described as part art and part science, it makes sense that one man could be both a brainy scientist as well as a passionate marketer. In this case, Dan Cobley is this man, and he shares the similarities between physics and marketing in this TED talk for marketers, especially as they relate to branding.
Technology’s Long Tail
Chris Anderson
Chris Anderson is the editor of Wired, and he knows a little something about how technology fits into customer purchasing behavior. In this TED talk for marketers, he shares four key stages of any viable technology:
- Setting the right price
- Gaining market share
- Displacing an established technology
- Becoming ubiquitous.
How to Get Your Ideas to Spread
Seth Godin
Can you really call yourself a marketer if you haven’t heard of Seth Godin? Seth Godin is the author of many popular and revolutionary books, who got his start as a marketing guru for many companies: past and present. In this TED talk for Marketers, he talks about why bad or crazy ideas are more successful than boring ones at getting customer’s attention.
Why Sneakers Are a Great Investment
Josh Luber
Who knew that sneakers could be such an interesting source of customer data and information about marketing trends? Josh Luber, the founder of Campless, explains why investing in sneakers is a great idea in this TED talk for marketers.
Beware Neuro-Bunk
Molly Crockett
Have you seen any food and drink products (or supplements) that make claims about being able to affect your brain power? Molly Crockett talks about the ridiculousness of these things, and how they’re not currently prove with science. It’s like an episode of Marketing Mythbusters.
Life Lessons From an Ad Man
Rory Sutherland
Think of this TED talk for marketers as MadMen in real life, with an emphasis on how the perceived value of a product impacts customer decision making.
What Consumers Want
Joseph Pine
Do you know? Does anyone? The specific focus in this talk is on both customization and authenticity. Joseph Pine takes a stab at answering this important question in this TED talk for marketers.
404, the story of a page not found
Renny Gleeson
Nobody’s excited to get a 404 page not found error, unless the 404 page is used in an entertaining and creative way. That’s the main focus on Renny Gleeson’s TED talk topic.
