Key Takeaways
- Strong Branding: Build a clear, unique identity for your business.
- Customer Engagement: Connect with your audience regularly via social media.
- Exclusivity: Offer limited-time products or deals to create urgency.
- Storytelling: Share your brand’s journey to build emotional connections.
- Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with other brands for wider reach.
It’s Called “Show Business” and Nobody Does it Better than Taylor Swift
I admit it. I’m fascinated by Taylor Swift. It’s not because I love her music, it’s because I admire her as a strong businessperson and a master marketer. Taylor Swift has reached the pinnacle in music, and touring, and now, she even gets exposure in sports, thanks to her man, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs football team.
Crazy Cat Lady and Storytelling
Like Taylor Swift, I’m also a crazy cat lady and I love the way she shared photos of her cats. I help people get funding from sponsors. When approaching sponsors, you need to create a sponsor proposal. I always tell my clients to include storytelling in their proposals. It helps to make an emotional connection and shows your humanity.
The art and sounds of music will always be subjective, but one thing is for certain: Taylor Swift’s career is a resounding success. Do you enjoy her music? If you do, more power to you! Regardless of how you feel about her music, one thing’s for sure: there’s a lot to learn from the pop singer’s business strategies.
Taylor Swift’s Extensive Professional Journey
Taylor Swift’s recent Eras Tour is a record-breaking success, surpassing $2 billion in ticket sales as per Statista. Music and concerts are only the beginning. When it comes to her business strategy, she’s redefining what it means to be a pop star. According to the Harvard Business Review, Swift has leveraged the concept of calling her fans Swifties, connecting with them via social media platforms, and proving the power of customer engagement.
Looking back at the monumental success of her Eras concerts, Taylor Swift was also able to elevate the concert experience to new heights. She formed an avenue for her fans to take part in her journey by including interactive features through TikTok.
With the creative addition of segmenting her songs in a way that celebrates different eras of her musical career, Taylor Swift proved the tried and true power of storytelling. Ultimately, Taylor Swift and her team have uncovered and created the perfect formula to skyrocket her pop singing career to the highest levels.
Small Business Tips From Taylor Swift’s Career Success
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is a masterclass in both business strategy and fan engagement. There are several takeaways that small business owners and entrepreneurs can learn from her success. especially in terms of branding, community-building, and leveraging social media. Here are a few key lessons:
Photo by Matthias Wagner via Unsplash
1. Branding and Identity
Swift has carefully crafted her identity through distinct albums, each with its own theme and aesthetic. For small business owners, having a clear brand identity—whether it’s a specific style, message, or vision—helps you stand out. And by naming her fans, “Swifties,” she helped create a stronger sense of community among them. This is also something you might be able to take into account with your brand.
2. Customer Engagement and Relationship Building
Swift is known for her direct engagement with fans on social media, sharing personal moments, insights into her creative process, and even responding to fans. For small business owners, this highlights the importance of being accessible and responsive to customers. Consistent interaction builds loyalty and creates a more personal connection.
Fans are also regularly given glimpses behind the singer’s curtain—whether through storytelling in her songs or sharing behind-the-scenes. This level of transparency can help customers feel more connected to your journey, making them more likely to support you. You can capitalize on the same concept for your small business by sharing similar media and experiences with your customer base.
3. Exclusivity and Limited-Edition Offerings: Cashing in on FOMO
By making concert tickets and exclusive merchandise available in limited quantities, Taylor Swift creates a sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). For entrepreneurs like yourself, offering limited-time deals, exclusive products, or early access to new products speeds up and increases sales. Additionally, your small business can also provide personalized services or products that cater to the specific needs of a customer, making them feel valued and appreciated. Getting personal with your customers is a great way to show how your product or service meets their needs.
Photo by Anthony Delanoix via Unsplash
4. Strategic Partnerships and Sponsorships
Another important element that Taylor Swift and a lot of other successful celebrities do is partner with other brands for cross-promotions. This is where sponsorship really shines and you can use some of Taylor Swift’s strategies for your business. My entire life transformed when I founded Sponsor Concierge for this very reason. You might not think it’s possible, but the truth is, there are plenty of opportunities out there to connect your business with other big companies. My book, “Corporate Sponsorship In 3 Easy Steps,” goes over all the details. If you haven’t considered it before, get in touch, and I’ll help you discover how it’s done.
5. Storytelling and Content Marketing
Taylor Swift’s music often tells a personal or relatable story, creating an emotional connection with fans. You can also leverage storytelling in your brand’s messaging and marketing efforts. Don’t be afraid of sharing the reasons and motivations as to why your company exists and what your company’s goals are. By sharing important and relatable details, you can start building an emotional connection that resonates with customers.
Taylor Swift and Her Business Strategy
Taylor Swift’s success has become more than just mere music. By analyzing her success, you’ll find a blueprint for savvy business practices. By mastering branding, fan engagement, and storytelling, she’s shown that connecting with your audience is the key to long-term success. As a small business owner, you can learn a lot from her strategy and then apply these same principles to foster more success for your brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Taylor Swift’s business strategy contributed to her success?
Her strong brand, fan engagement, exclusivity, and partnerships drive her success.
What can small businesses learn from Taylor Swift?
Create a clear brand, engage with customers, offer exclusives, and tell authentic stories.
How does Taylor Swift use exclusivity to boost sales?
She offers limited-time tickets and merch, creating urgency—small businesses can do the same.
Final Thoughts
Even if you’re not a fan of Taylor Swift’s music, you can definitely respect her success and business strategies. There’s plenty to unpack here, and her career continues to grow, you can be sure more secrets can be uncovered. For you and your business, start where you can, by taking into account the tips in this guide. Soon, you’ll start seeing results and you can further refine your methods as you grow your business.
I don’t know about you, but this process is what got me excited as I went from my Wealthy Bag Lady business and founded Sponsor Concierge. Being able to grow both businesses and become an influential leader in my own right was something I never dreamed of. But if I can achieve it, then it’s possible for you too! I’d love to hear more about your journey, so contact me today so we can skyrocket your business to the next level. the next level.
Deckard & Company.