You may have heard that Taylor Swift recently released a new album. The life of a showgirl.
Not only did the album break sales records, but it also sparked endless musical analysis (Who exactly is in “Father Figure”?) and viral moments (Is the Secret of the Orange Door). Strictly speaking solved?).
Naturally, Swift’s marketing expertise is as impressive as her musical talent. The album’s release also highlighted Swift’s talent for promotion – and underscored why she’s a one-of-a-kind pop star.
While not everyone can land a No. 1 album or embark on a sold-out stadium tour, all is not lost: these can still help you stay on top of your own business Marketing Lessons from Taylor Swift.
Illustration by Olivia Heller
Reward your most loyal customers.
Swift is known for her loyalty to her loyal fans, the Swifties. Years ago she showed up at someone’s house by chance wedding shower she was invited to it, and Bought Christmas presents for other followers. Before I release her Call And lover albums, she hosted secret sessions where she premiered the record (and ate homemade treats) with hand-picked groups of super fans.
These experiences made her followers feel unique and special – And cemented their fan base for life.
Make an effort to know your audience. To know WHO Your customers will improve your marketing.
- Send a short survey to your email list and receive a discount in return.
- Have an online conversation and answer questions from followers.
- We surveyed Masters in Marketing readers earlier this year and they told us they wanted to see even more tactical content!
Host a customer review event.
- If you have a brick and mortar store, Schedule a specific day to celebrate your customers with a festive event.
- Smaller (or virtual) businesses may host a sale or special offer to reward customers.
- Take a page from The Hustle Playbook: Our sister newsletter offers you a unique link to share with friends and colleagues. You start earning prizes—like notebooks, mugs, or a backpack—when at least three of those people subscribe.
Start a membership club.
- Who doesn’t want to be part of a special club, especially if this is what it offers? Discounts, members-only events or exclusive news?
- Consider free or low cost membership to make this accessible to more people.
Keep things fresh – but consistent.
With each Swift album era, fans can expect certain things: exclusive vinyl variants, a different color scheme (The life of a showgirl is bright orange and cool mint green) and special merch options (including a unique cardigan and a snow globe). This method is certainly interesting for collectors – but it also shows how Swift’s career evolves over time.
Maintain a regular marketing rhythm.
Customers value a business that is predictable and reliable.
- Send out a newsletter on the same day of the week or share a video every two weeks.
Create a content marketing strategy.
It’s easy to lose track of what content you want to share (or want to share). A structured content marketing strategy, which may include a content calendar, for example, can help you identify what is missing And what is successful.
Cultivate a brand that showcases your personality.
A true millennial, Swift was quite active on MySpace and loved sharing her life through video blogs or diary entries. When her career took off, she stopped using social media as much, but when she did, her personality came through. After all, only Taylor would do that accidentally takes her parents to a club in Las Vegas.
Don’t feel pressured to market everywhere.
- It’s tempting to jump on every viral trend or new social media platform. After all, FOMO is real. Focus your marketing on the channels with the most potential (or followers) for better results.
- The HubSpot Marketing YouTube channel was I’ve been running the same playbook for three yearsand it’s a workhorse for us as it gets almost 425,000 views every month. HubSpot marketer Nelson Chacón Guzman says the secret is how focused it stays: a channel (YouTube), a format (How-to explanations) and a strategy (SearchInformed).
Combine your sales messages with personal insights.
- Customers respond to marketing that sounds human. In addition to news about your company, share things from your life. For example, maybe you ate an amazing dessert, read a great book, or saw a beautiful sunset.
- Focus on your strengths. Not everyone loves being on video or is an award-winning photographer. But maybe you’re a top copywriter or can make an Instagram caption shine.
- Lean into the areas where you feel most comfortable; Your marketing will thank you later.
Be welcoming.
Swift’s fan base is full of lore. (Appendix A: The “No, It’s Becky” Meme.)
But even if you’re not an OG fan who saw them open for Rascal Flatts in 2006, you’re not excluded from the fandom. If anything, longtime loyalists want to include everyone, whether they’re Taylor Tots (the term for adorable toddler Swifties) or new converts.
Swift clearly feels the same way: The viral TikTok dance for “The Fate of Ophelia,” for example, isn’t all that complicated — and you can even do it while sitting down!
Occasionally introduce yourself again.
With the way algorithms work today, it’s easy to miss an important event or a cool deal.
- Don’t be afraid to say hello to your followers from time to time. Eventually even Swift did this before every Eras Tour show, shouting, “Hello, my name is Taylor – and I was born in 1989!”
Be authoritative but not exclusive.
- Use inside jokes or colloquialisms sparingly, as these phrases could turn off potential customers. Instead, talk about your company in a language everyone can relate to.
