How Did Trump Win the Election? Our Answer Might Surprise You (or Maybe Not)

In a stunning reversal from the previous election, Donald Trump has reclaimed the presidency. While many factors played into his victory, one standout element was his bolstered social media presence and significantly improved design strategy.

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This shift not only underscores the importance of visuals and messaging in modern politics but also serves as a lesson for businesses and personal brands looking to make an impact in today's digital age.

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In the 2020 election, Biden defeated Trump for the presidency. Many people say it was due to his strong social media presence and superior design work. In case you don’t remember, Kyle and Ryan from Vivid Creative Studio were actually on the design team for the Biden Campaign during this election - they helped create amazing graphics for different campaign events, as well as designing lots of social media posts.

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The Biden-Harris design team for the 2020 election comprised 23 different people, while Trumps’ design team was literally only 2 guys. It seems that in 2024, Trump learned from his mistakes, and chose to make his design strategy and social media presence a much bigger priority. 

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The Power of Design in Modern Campaigns

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Design is more than just aesthetics - it’s about crafting a narrative. In his first campaign, Joe Biden’s team set a high standard with sleek, relatable graphics and a strong emphasis on unifying messaging. And it worked. But this election cycle, Trump’s campaign flipped the script, stepping up their game with eye-catching visuals, engaging videos, and content tailored for lots of different social platforms.

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The Trump campaign recognized a simple truth: people respond to what they can see, share, and remember. By leaning into bold visuals, emotional storytelling, and even humor, they connected with voters in ways that transcended policy discussions.

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Trump and Biden (later replaced by Harris) were both competing against an independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at first, who had a very strong social media presence as well. RFK Jr. shared tons of short, relatable videos on Instagram and Youtube that grabbed a lot of people’s attention. Near the end of the campaign, RFK Jr. joined Trumps’ team, and the content they shared together was second to none. Once they teamed up, it really felt like Trump gained an advantage over Harris - largely due to the strong social media presence that they both had. 

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Why Social Media Wins

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Social media isn’t just a space for conversation anymore; It’s the digital public square. The Trump campaign flooded these platforms with targeted ads, viral content, and graphics that energized their base while swaying undecided voters. Because in this day and age, people aren’t just watching the debates or the news, they mostly get info from what they see on social media.

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Strong social media content is:

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• Visual: Posts with striking designs or videos are 40% more likely to be shared.
• Fast: In a 24/7 news cycle, timely content creates relevance.
• Emotive: Messages that evoke passion, humor, or urgency drive engagement.

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This strategy didn’t just keep his name in the headlines - it made him the conversation.

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What Businesses Can Learn

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Trump’s win highlights an undeniable truth: whether you’re running for president or running a small business, strong design and a smart social media strategy can set you apart. Here’s why:

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1. Brand Recognition Matters: Just as voters recognize a candidate’s logo or tagline, your business benefits from cohesive branding. A memorable logo, consistent color palette, and clear messaging make your brand easier to identify.
2. Engagement Builds Loyalty: Engaging content builds trust. People want to support brands - or candidates - that feel authentic and relatable.
3. Your Audience is Online: If your business isn’t on social media, you’re missing an opportunity to connect directly with customers.
4. Professionalism Drives Credibility: Poor-quality graphics or neglected social pages send the wrong message. Invest in quality design and content to show you care about how you’re perceived.

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Looking Ahead

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As this election showed, good design and a strong online presence are absolutely essential. Whether you’re a political candidate, a real estate agent, a local brewery, or an artist, investing in professional branding and a smart social media strategy can transform the way people see and support you.

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At Vivid, we specialize in creating designs and digital strategies that make people notice. We’ve proven ourselves as people whose design skills are so good that we’ve won presidential campaigns before. Let’s make your brand as unforgettable as a winning campaign.

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Want to start building your brand today? Contact us to create graphics, videos, and content that will put you ahead of the competition.