Taylor Swift has become one of the most popular musicians in the world for many reasons: she has a good voice; she’s one of the best song writers of all time; she puts on great concerts; she works her heart out.
But there is one ingredient that is rarely discussed and it’s one of the main drivers of her success. The secret sauce to Taylor Swift’s success has been… public relations.
PR is a communications process that manages and distributes information in a strategic way to build and promote a favorable image and reputation of an individual or an organization, which influences the attitudes and opinions of key stakeholders.
In the end, public relations is all about relationships. To protect and promote one’s image, the most effective and efficient strategy is to build a bond between the individual and the different groups that can affect their success. In other words, build a connection and increase engagement with them to build a community of loyal supporters.
No musician has done this better than Taylor Swift. Publicist Anna Kate Womack explained it best:
“Swift and her crew work hard to keep her fans engaged by including hidden messages in her social media postings, clothes, music videos, and even song lyrics. For instance, in the music video for "I Can See You," she hid Easter eggs, suggesting she would announce the re-recording of her album "1989." A road sign reading "I-9 89 TV" piqued fans' interest in that upcoming album and paved the way for Swift's unveiling of it. With such fun messages, Swift shows supporters that she cares about them as much as they care about her.”
In the end, Taylor Swift and her PR team know it’s not about “I” or “me,” it’s about “we.” Taylor Swift has become a living legend by using public relations to build a strong connection with her fans.
What is the lesson for you? As a thought leader, you need to build a community of dedicated followers. Your community will help you amplify and advocate your ideas, insights and opinions, pushing them to a tipping point that can create change.
As best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell revealed in his book The Tipping Point, there is a magic moment when an idea crosses a threshold and spreads like wildfire. And the impetus to that is usually a community of passionate supporters.
So, if you want your ideas to spread like a wildfire and create lasting change, then follow Taylor Swift’s example and build a bond with your supporters.
