marketing

Ok, the Solana ad is gone. How does something like this happen to a project this size? It reminds me of an infamous soda ad… 

https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/104385867-kendall-jenner-pepsi-1.jpg?v=1529474725&w=750&h=422&vtcrop=y

Burning playbooks @ Heretic.wtf Prev: CMO at Aleo, RabbitHole, Gaia + a bunch of agencies.

Nationalism is rising in culture and has been reflected in many brands recently. Companies like Anduril have leaned into an America-first narrative. Solana took this even further.

Instead of focusing on their message, they singled out groups. Instead of creating an anthem for Solana, they made one for nationalist views… with a pretty small group actively supporting.

Then they backtracked. By deleting the video, they effectively canceled themselves.

It makes hardly any sense for a permissionless technology to take such a restrictive stance.

This reminds me of the Pepsi Kendall Jenner ad:
	•	Executed internally with little external input
	•	Lack of leadership
	•	Trying to co-opt a movement for their brand

My learnings and reminders:

	•	Missteps can spiral quickly. Brands need strong crisis communication & real-time social listening.
	•	Understand & respect cultural moments before incorporating them.
	•	Engage diverse voices internally & externally to stress-test concepts.

Great brands take bold stances, even if it alienates some audiences. Solana took this risk to the extreme. They were trying to catch the attention of a very specific group (red hats)