Tesla's "We, Robot" event showcased how to plan and execute an effective product launch.

Planning for a successful launch begins months, sometimes years, in advance.

Tesla had been hinting at autonomous vehicles for years, building anticipation. In the weeks leading up to the event, the company intensified its preparations, gathering data around the Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, California, where the launch would occur. This location choice itself was strategic, adding a touch of Hollywood glamour to the proceedings.

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Tesla also teased the event through various channels. The name "We, Robot," a clever nod to Isaac Asimov's work, sparked curiosity. Elon Musk's social media presence and previous promises of autonomous vehicles created a long-term build-up of excitement.

At We, Robot, Tesla unveiled three main products. The products were as follows:  

1. The Cybercab. A sleek two-seater autonomous taxi.
2. The Robovan is a larger vehicle designed for up to 20 passengers.
3. And updates to their Optimus humanoid robot.

This immersive event allowed attendees to interact with the new technologies, including ride-sharing.

However, product launches come with both advantages and risks.

On the positive side, they can generate significant media attention, increase brand awareness, and potentially boost sales. Tesla's event achieved these goals, creating a buzz around its autonomous vehicle technology.

On the flip side, launches can be costly and risky.

If a product fails to meet expectations or experiences technical difficulties during the unveiling, it can damage the company's reputation. A notable example is the 2019 Cybertruck launch, where the vehicle's "unbreakable" windows shattered during a demonstration, leading to widespread ridicule.

The aftermath of a successful launch can be powerful. It can create sustained media interest and keep the company in the public eye. In Tesla's case, the "We, Robot" event generated significant discussion about the future of autonomous vehicles and robotics.

Interestingly, just days after the Tesla event, SpaceX (another Elon Musk company) successfully caught a rocket booster mid-air for the first time. While not directly related to "We, Robot," this achievement added to the excitement surrounding Musk's ventures, keeping his name in the headlines and reinforcing his image as an innovative entrepreneur.

Tesla's "We, Robot" event demonstrates the potential impact of a well-executed product launch. A carefully planned event builds anticipation, and developing and executing an engaging presentation can create significant buzz around a company's new product. Be prepared for potential pitfalls and ensure your products live up to the hype. When done right, a product launch can be a powerful tool for driving innovation and shaping the future of an industry.

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"I am friends with school shooters." Governor Tim Walz said those words to over 43.1 million people who watched the Vice Presidential Debate. There have been memorable lines in past presidential debates, but this line might become the most memorable in history.

This was not the most watched Vice Presidential Debate. The debate in 2020 between then Vice President Mike Pense and Senator Kamala Harris was watched by 57.9 million viewers. And the VP debate with the most viewers at 70 million was with then-Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin.

But was the night capped off at 43 million. Or were there more viewers?

At the risk of sounding like a "knucklehead," as Walz commented about himself, advertisers can get many eyes on impressions. But will those same people remember your product, be your target demographic, and have them do a call to action?

It's not looking likely. Even if the answer was yes, how could it be measured?

Viewers consume modern debates via television, social media, and streaming. And as sophisticated as technology is these days, only so much data can be gathered from this debate.

Let me explain.

As the 2024 presidential and vice presidential debates unfolded, advertisers and campaign strategists navigated a rapidly changing media landscape. The traditional methods of measuring debate viewership are struggling to keep up with modern viewing habits, leaving a significant gap in understanding how Americans engage with these crucial political events.

The main challenge lies in the disconnect between reported TV viewership and the number of people tuned in across all platforms.

While Nielsen reported that about 43.15 million viewers watched the vice presidential debate on the legacy news networks, this number may not be accurate. Many viewers, especially younger audiences, watch debates through streaming services and social media platforms, which aren't captured in Neilsen ratings.

This shift has three major implications for advertisers and political campaigns:

First, there's a growing need for more comprehensive measurement tools. Traditional TV ratings alone no longer provide an accurate picture of debate engagement. Advertisers demand integrated systems that can track viewership across all platforms, including TV, streaming services, and social media.

Without this data, companies risk misallocating their advertising budgets and missing out on key audience segments.

Second, the rise of social media has changed how people interact with debates. For example, the 2012 presidential debate generated over 10 million tweets. And that number has likely grown exponentially since then.

As a result, campaigns have been investing heavily in social media advertising during debates, with some spending six-figure sums on Twitter ads alone. This shift allows for more targeted and real-time messaging. However, it also means advertisers must be prepared to respond quickly to debate events.

Lastly, the demographic breakdown of debate viewers is changing.

A significant part of the vice presidential debate audience (29.7 million out of 43.1 million) was aged 55 and older. This skew towards older viewers on traditional TV means that advertisers targeting younger audiences may need to focus more on digital platforms and social media to reach their desired demographic.

As we move further into the 2024 election season, it's clear that the world of political advertising during debates is evolving rapidly. Advertisers and campaign strategists who can adapt to these changes and find innovative ways to reach viewers across all platforms will likely have the upper hand in influencing public opinion.

It is important to study and test new technologies. Try different and innovative ways to connect with your audience. Be the leader, not the follower.

Manipulation is the skillful handling, controlling, or using of something or someone. Whether it's the sculpture you made in art class or how you convinced your friend to do your homework — both are considered manipulation.

That is what we saw on 9/10/24 during the presidential debate number two. The ABC News network and the Democrat Party attempted to manipulate the TV audience to make Vice President Kamala Harris seem like she is a competent leader and Donald Trump is the incumbent.

And it almost worked. But the American independent voter saw through the facade.

Vice President Kamala Harris's negative attacks on Donald Trump offered no clear vision of how to fix the country she and her administration wrecked.

I can't describe the manipulation without calling out who benefited from the act, can I?

The claims for biases are out all over the web and television. I only highlighted what happened during the debate and how this act backfired on ABC and the Democrats in the eyes of the independent voter.

Hiding Vice President Harris

The American independent voter saw through the bias towards Harris by the ABC moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. Seventeen lies and claims by Vice President Kamala Harris went unchecked by the moderatos. Five times during the debate, David Muir and Lindsey Davis falsely fact-checked Donald Trump. It turns out President Donald Trump was right about all his claims.

We also have evidence from an ABC employee whose whistle blew before the debate on what to expect. This person produced an affidavit, signed it, sealed it, and submitted it to the Security Exchange Commission. Fact check Trump and do not let him get away with his claims.

The first question was the most important. "Are Americans better off than they were four years ago?"

Harris didn't answer the question.

She talked about her childhood upbringing instead. There were no follow-up questions during the rest of the debate to challenge her as she and the rest of the Biden administration have been in power for three and half years.

The Democratic Party has had the legacy media as an alley for decades. Rush Limbaugh was famous for pointing this out to his audience.

Viewers Noticed Bias

The independent viewers did not seem to be fooled by Harris's act.

Viewers noticed bias from the moderators in favor of Harris. Trump supporters were not surprised that happened. However, the supporters were frustrated Harris got away with lying and gaslighting the viewers about Project 2025, January 6, and Charlottesville.

All of those claims have been proven untrue.

Mark Penn, the top advisor to Bill and Hillary Clinton, wants to investigate this debate. These points are in addition to the ABC whistleblower's release of a six-page affidavit.

Undecideds saw through the facade of Harris. It was her lack of answers to the moderator's questions.

NPR/PBS News and Marist [conducted] a poll of undecided voters after the debate. Six out of ten polled [who watched the debate] were not convinced to vote for Harris. Additionally, five out of six voters stated that they would be casting their vote for Trump.

The American public has become increasingly discerning and not easily swayed by the tactics of the traditional news media. Some are, but others aren't. And those others are especially discerning when policies have a direct financial impact.

New media has opened up eyes and minds.

Make your judgments by listening to the commentators you trust for your news. The ratings of the debate were 67.1 million viewers. Yet, ABC's regular broadcast doesn't come close to cable news, podcasts, and streaming.

Vice President Kamala Harris may have had help from the ABC Network to win the debate. However, they were not successful in manipulating the undecided voters.

They pulled out every trick they could, and Donald Trump didn't have his best night, I don't think.

However, perhaps he knew what he was doing and what would happen. This underrated victory for Donald Trump may have had a long-lasting effect on the news media and the Democrat party.

Perhaps this was his plan all along.

We shall see on November 8 if all the above is true. Trump is ahead in the electoral college. Can he hold the lead, or will the Democrats and their allies in the press continue to manipulate the American electorate?