Inspiration is everywhere. The top pop tunes today are no exception. They are full of inspiring marketing wisdom. Pharrell Williams, Iggy Azalea, and others illustrate important lessons in marketing. So turn up the music and let the lessons sink in while you rock out.

“Happy” by Pharrell Williams

The wildly popular earworm spreads positivity like butter on toast. It encourages engagement and ignores the haters. The chorus of the song tells listeners to clap along, inviting them to join in the fun and happiness. It reinforces using happiness as a shield against negativity. Behavioral scientists have found that a positive message that evokes psychological arousal has the power to go viral above other approaches. Spread your message by getting your potential customers to clap along and be happy.

“All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor

A controversial body acceptance anthem, this hit song serves as a reminder: if you alienate one buyer persona while targeting another, you’re probably shooting yourself in the foot. In this case, Trainor’s lyrics are positive about big bodies, while slamming small ones with derogatory language. Everyone could use a boost to their self-image now and then, so why rail against one group to raise another up? It doesn’t work well in the song and it won’t serve you as a marketing model, either. This song reminds you to create and target multiple personas(assuming you need them), while not forgetting to see the forest for the trees.

“Fancy” By Iggy Azalea

For some business owners, marketing and self-promotion may feel a bit too much like bragging. If you’re tentative about your efforts, you’re probably selling your business short. Take a tip from “Fancy” and show your customers exactly who you are. Marketing your brand in a way that endears customers and makes you memorable is the path to standing out from your competitors. With your brand etched in their minds, it’s only a matter of time until you have amassed a loyal following.

“All of Me” by John Legend

You might not immediately think of marketing when you hear this love song by lyrical poet John Legend, but the lesson is there. Think about what you get and give to your customers. Which behaviors are you tracking? Which ones are you ignoring that could give you further insight into who your customers are and what they want? Even if you’re already using small business CRM, you may not be leveraging it to paint a full picture of your clients. Social CRM integration can pull your contacts’ social media profiles from all over the web with their email address, helping you learn where your customers are spending their leisure time online and what’s most important to them.

“Rude” by MAGIC!

This upbeat Reggae fusion song is all about persistence and overcoming obstacles. In the song, the singer asks his future father-in-law, “Why you gotta be so rude? Don’t you know I’m human, too?” In marketing, persistence can be a key factor to success. Remember you’re marketing to other humans. People don’t want to be constantly bothered, especially not with information that doesn’t pertain to them. Segmentation, buyer personas, and good old listening skills can help you avoid overwhelming your customers and prospects. Know when to call it quits, too.

“Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus

Similarly to being too persistent, you don’t want your marketing efforts to come crashing into a prospect’s inbox without knowing a thing about them. Influencer marketing involves seeking out the things or people who influence your prospective customers. You can also include likely influences in buyer personas. When you know who these influencers are, utilize them for content marketing and social media marketing, such as guest posting on their blog. Identify multiple influencers. Reach out to them; build a relationship. Make them part of your campaigns.

“Ho Hey” by The Lumineers

“I belong with you. You belong with me. You’re my sweetheart,” is the chorus in this sweet, catchy song. Show your current customers they belong with you and they will become loyal customers. 20% of your customers have visited you at least 10 times. They make up 80% of your total revenue. Plus, they spend ten times more money with you. If your customers don’t know how much they mean to, they may not stick around. Whether you start a loyalty program, email occasional special offers to your loyal customer list, or even offer a VIP program for a fee, offer those special people valuable benefits with your business.

Though you probably wouldn’t have thought it before today, inspiration for marketing can be found in many places. Next time you’re bobbing to the music during your commute, listen a little more closely to discover the hidden marketing wisdom in the lyrics.

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