What Taylor Swift Taught Me About Marketing

Posted by Christina Hills | Articles | 16

Last night I went with my daughter to a Taylor Swift concert.

It was amazing!

There were 11,000 fans packed in a stadium all dressed up in colorful home make clothes, with their “We Love You Taylor” handmade signs, waving their glow sticks, all showing their adoration of Taylor Swift.

As I was experiencing the screaming, singing and jumping, I was thinking about the great job Taylor did in understanding her audience: Her fans are middle school girls.

Yes, there are some high school girls there too, and there were elementary kids too. Even a few boys amongst the mothers and fathers who came as chaperones to the concert.

But what struck me about the whole thing, is that Taylor Swift knows her market and speaks directly to them! She talks about falling in love with boys, and then having your heart broken when you break up. She talks about mean girls in school, and what it’s like to enter high school for the first time and how scary that is.

She is not trying to be all things to all people, she is just relating to the group who loves her! And because of this, she is a huge hit!

Taylor Swift’s lesson on marketing is to know your audience who loves you, and communicate directly to them! Don’t worry about the everyone else.

So who is your market? Have you defined who they are? What age, what gender, what desires? Is your website speaking directly to them? (Feel free to comment in the box below)

About The Author

Christina Hills

Christina Hills helps entrepreneurs setup their websites using WordPress without having to rely on a webmaster. Her trainings are fun and she makes it easy! Get the free PDF "The Do-It-Yourself Website Creation Checklist" Report Here

16 Comments

Amy Jones Anichini on August 16, 2013 at 7:01 am

Great post, Christina! Excellent advice about making sure you’re marketing to an appropriate audience. Gave me some ideas.
- Christina Hills on August 16, 2013 at 7:31 am
  
  Yes, it’s great to watch others and get inspired by them
- Erica Gordon on August 16, 2013 at 8:28 am
  
  Thanks for presenting this illustration of great marketing – it doesn’t get much clearer than this! My target audience is working moms between the ages of 22-45 who want more out of life, are ready to take their deferred dreams off the shelf and willing to start working toward achieving them and creating the life they fully deserve.
  - Christina Hills on August 16, 2013 at 9:54 am
    
    Erica,
    you may want to narrow the age range a bit. The mind of a 22 year old is very different from the mind of a 45 year old. Like Taylor swift: her market is middle school kids 11-14, but her reach ranges from 8-18. 22-44 is your reach, but what is your target?
Alenn Nidea on August 16, 2013 at 7:21 am

Hi Crisitina, that’s a very insightful comment about Taylor Swift.
I hope I can start my own communication medium soon.
- Christina Hills on August 16, 2013 at 7:31 am
  
  Alenn,
  The best way to get clear about your message, is to just start!
Barbara Smailey on August 16, 2013 at 8:06 am

Way to GO, MOM!!! What a Great Mom you are to take your daughter to the concert! I’ve seen her in your “crazy-fun” videos! I’m glad to hear you singing the praises of this talented, inspired and inspiring young woman. Her awareness of her responsibility to her fans is admirable. She doesn’t go for the shock and breaking barriers of decency as many others feel is necessary to get attention. You’re absolutely right, and I applaud her morals and values and what an inspirational role model she is for so many lucky girls she reaches. May she stay true to her values and her many fans.
- Christina Hills on August 16, 2013 at 8:22 am
  
  Barbara,
  Thanks for saying so! When I agreed to go, I didn’t know much details about Taylor Swift. But then as the date was approaching, I learned more about her, and liked her message. The icing on the cake was a big “Thank You :-)” to the crowd on the screen after the concert was over.
  
  I’ve never seen a celebrity thank the crowd like that after an event!
  🙂
Ann on August 16, 2013 at 8:10 am

Great post Christina! Your content is right on! Knowing WHO your audience is and WHERE they hang out are two of the most important things to know when it comes to marketing your business. Thank you for sharing!

Ann
Author’s Coach
- Christina Hills on August 16, 2013 at 8:22 am
  
  Ann,
  Yes, where they hang out is KEY!
  - denise on August 16, 2013 at 10:19 am
    
    Great post Christina and point well made — so important to know our audience and how to speak directly to them!
  - Steven Gam. on August 17, 2013 at 8:19 am
    
    Christine,
    
    I know that my market is the 50+ walkers, but I’m not sure where they “hang out”.
    
    Can you please provide me with some advise as to their hang outs.
    
    Thanks
    - Christina Hills on August 22, 2013 at 4:37 am
      
      Steven,
      That is a great market! I don’t know that market as I’m not in that space, but I would guess that they are on Facebook, more than Twitter or Instagram. But do go to a shoe store that sells walking shoes and ask them. Maybe you could do a cross promotion!
      🙂
Cindy Schulson on August 16, 2013 at 12:20 pm

So true Christina! Knowing who you’re marketing to is essential. It’s also important to get clear about your message and what you stand for. And not just so you can appeal to your target market, but so you can build a business that is true to you.

It’s what I call creating your “Core Message”, and it can be even more powerful than your marketing message.

Thanks for sharing!
warm wishes,
Cindy
Kevin on August 16, 2013 at 2:21 pm

Right on target, Christina.
Rich Dominguez on August 16, 2013 at 2:35 pm

Christina, you and Taylor are so right about focusing on the Target. It may take some time and analysis to identify that group but the task is not to be shortcut if you want your website to be one that brings in and retains buyers rather than lookers.
Rich

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