Grow Your Digital Marketing Business: Lessons From Bridgerton
Once you officially start your digital marketing business, you need to learn how to grow it and make it flourish, just like the courtships and marriages in Bridgerton.
Nowadays, people take a while to get to know each other before taking the plunge and getting married. But in Regency times, people got married first and then got to know each other. For your digital marketing business, you need to take the plunge to start it (see last week's blog on this topic), and then you take the time to support its growth.
Just as Kate and Anthony’s initially contentious relationship evolves into a powerful partnership, starting a digital marketing business requires embracing both strategic thinking and determination.
Imagine you're launching your digital marketing agency. At first, you might feel the tension between the creative and analytical aspects of the business, much like the initial clash between Kate and Anthony. By channelling Kate’s strategic mind—researching market trends, understanding your target audience and crafting insightful campaigns—you lay a solid foundation. Simultaneously, adopt Anthony’s determination and resilience to forge strong client relationships and navigate the competitive landscape.
By balancing these dual strengths within yourself, you can steadily grow your business, much like Kate and Anthony ultimately find success together. This journey highlights the importance of blending strategic insight with persistent effort to build a thriving digital marketing agency.
Now that you've successfully started your own digital marketing business, it's time to grow it and watch it flourish into a masterpiece Benedict would want to paint.
Prepare your tea and pastries, put on your best Regency attire and pull up in the drawing room, and let's see what Bridgerton can teach us about growing your digital marketing business:
1. The Featherington's Flamboyance: Standing Out In A Crowded Market
Most of the families in Bridgerton have more neutral colour pallets. We see the Bridgerton's in pale colours. In contrast, the Featheringtons are always seen in bright colours, with loud patterns and even louder voices. Madame Delacroix even comments in season two about having fabrics that no one else would want.
The Featheringtons also stand out because they are a household dominated by women. Lady Featherington was the dominant personality in her marriage, and when the new Lord Featherington showed up in season two, she created a business plan to try to save their estate.
It's safe to say the Featheringtons stand out from the rest of society... But they're still right in the middle of high society.
How does this apply to digital marketing?
In order to grow your digital marketing business, you need to find a way to stand out in a busy, crowded online digital space. The Featherington family, with their loud and bold approach, offers a valuable lesson for brand differentiation in a crowded landscape.
To set your brand apart, take a page from the Featheringtons by embracing unique and eye-catching elements that capture attention. This could mean developing a distinctive visual identity with vibrant colours and striking designs or creating memorable and unconventional marketing campaigns that intrigue and engage your audience.
Additionally, just as the Featheringtons leverage their distinctive style to make a splash, you can highlight your brand’s unique value propositions and tell compelling stories that resonate with your target market. By being bold, creative, and unapologetically yourself, you can carve out a distinct space in the digital marketplace and attract loyal followers.
Your marketing should be a balance between standing out and staying true to your brand. People want to know you and what you stand for, what makes you different. When you stay true to yourself and your brand, you should naturally find something that makes you stand out. The Featheringtons remained steadfast in who they were. Despite apparent pressures from society to fit in, Lady Featherinton always insisted on doing things her way. This made her a memorable and liked member of society.
2. Simon and Daphne's Partnership: The Power of Collaborations and Networking
In Bridgerton times, marriages were often quite strategic. Some were lucky enough to find a love match, but they were still seen as mostly business transactions. Collaborations and networking helped maintain the upper class at this time. Parents looked for matches for their children that would provide them with some kind of benefit, such as when Daphne married Simon, the Duke.
Their union, initially formed out of mutual benefit, evolves into a powerful partnership that leverages each other's strengths. For a digital marketing business, this mirrors the importance of forming strategic alliances and networking within the industry.
How does this apply to digital marketing?
By collaborating with complementary brands, influencers or experts, you can amplify your reach and enhance your services. Just as Simon and Daphne support each other's personal growth and societal standing, effective partnerships in digital marketing can lead to shared resources and audiences, increased credibility and mutual success.
Embracing the spirit of collaboration and building a strong network can propel your business forward, much like the transformative journey of Simon and Daphne's relationship.
When you're new, networking and collaborations can help get new eyes on your brand. It can also help convert your leads to sales faster. Much like Daphne's match was able to help her sisters' prospects, collaborations with others in the industry can elevate potential leads' opinions of you. Since they already trust the person you're collaborating with, you can take them through know-like trust much quicker.
To find potential networking and collaboration opportunities:
Identify Key Figures: Engage with influencers, brands and peers in your niche through industry events, webinars, and social media groups. Try to find people who fit both your values and your overall marketing style. If you're a quiet introvert, finding an outgoing extrovert might not be a good fit.
Personalize Outreach: Show genuine interest in their work and find common ground, similar to how Daphne and Simon built a relationship on mutual respect. Make sure you're not just asking them for things but genuinely getting to know them, and make your outreach as personal as possible. No one likes to get a cold DM that clearly shows the person didn't even look at your profile.
Collaborate on Projects: Partner on initiatives that offer mutual benefit, just as Daphne and Simon’s marriage strengthened their positions. It's not just about you benefitting from them. Most people are more willing to support you if they also feel like they're getting value out of it. Make sure it's clear what value you have for them (and make sure it's more than just "experience.").
Attend Industry Events: Participate in relevant gatherings to build relationships, mirroring how Simon and Daphne navigated high society. This does not have to be in-person. Nowadays, many things are run online (from the comfort of your own home). Be strategic about this. Find events that fit your style, your brand, your business, your values and your personality, but that also give you the best chance of showcasing your business strategically.
Offer Value: Cultivate connections by providing value, ensuring a supportive and beneficial network for your business growth. Don't solely focus on finding people without finding a way to demonstrate the value you hold. Keep up with posting on social media, blogging, podcasting, YouTubing, whatever you do. Most people want proof that you can offer what you say you can, they want you to demonstrate. Make sure you are consistent and getting results.
3. Lady Danbury's Wisdom: Continuous Learning and Adaptability
Lady Danbury, with her sharp wit and unyielding confidence, exemplifies the power of guidance and adaptability in navigating societal changes in Bridgerton.
As a seasoned matriarch, she offers invaluable advice to those around her, helping them to maneuver the intricate dynamics of Regency society. Her ability to remain relevant and influential despite shifting social norms highlights the importance of staying informed and flexible. Lady Danbury's guidance is both strategic and empathetic, empowering characters like Simon to confront their pasts and embrace their futures.
Her adaptability ensures she not only survives but thrives amidst change, offering a powerful lesson for anyone looking to stay ahead in a constantly evolving landscape.
How does this apply to digital marketing?
Lady Danbury has excelled in high society because she knows the value in keeping up with learning new trends and staying relevant. The online business world is always evolving, and social platforms are constantly updating. Being able to keep the attention of an audience who is always looking for the next best thing and satiates easily, being adaptable and willing to learn is vital.
Not only will this help your business to stay relevant, but you can also become known as the go-to business for getting relevant, updated information. Lady Danbury is highly regarded as the go-to for all things in the ton (Lady Whistledown is, too!) and that is because she spends much of her time continuously learning and sharing her wisdom with those around her.
One thing I would recommend is to find your Lady Danbury. Find leading experts in your field that you trust and follow them. Invest in their programs and books, follow their social media and learn from them. I have a few people that I follow, and when they release something new, I buy it if it's relevant to me.
Lady Danbury never shies away from new challenges. Digital marketers must embody this spirit by continually adapting to new technologies and strategies. Whether it’s leveraging AI for personalized marketing, mastering new social media algorithms or adopting the latest SEO practices, the ability to pivot and embrace innovation is key.
Lady Danbury’s success lies in her proactive approach and willingness to evolve, serving as a powerful example for marketers to not only adapt but also to anticipate and lead industry changes, ensuring sustained relevance and impact.
4. The Bridgerton Family's Support System: Building a Team and Seeking Mentorship
The key to the Bridgerton family's continued success lies in the strong team they've built. They remain closely bonded as a family and seek each other's advice on matters. They genuinely like spending time with each other, and even though they are quite different in their personalities and talents, they keep that closeness consistently over time.
The Bridgerton family epitomizes the strength of a close-knit bond and the power of building a supportive team around them. United by love, respect and unwavering loyalty, the Bridgertons stand as a formidable force in Regency society. Each member brings their unique talents and perspectives, creating a harmonious blend of skills and personalities. From Anthony's steadfast leadership to Eloise's sharp intellect and Penelope's unwavering loyalty, the family complements each other effortlessly.
Like a well-oiled machine, they work together to navigate the complexities of high society and overcome challenges with resilience and unity. Their close bond serves as a beacon of inspiration, reminding us of the strength found in solidarity and the importance of surrounding ourselves with a trusted team who shares our vision and values.
How does this apply to digital marketing?
In the realm of digital marketing, the Bridgerton family serves as a poignant reminder of the significance of fostering a supportive team and seeking mentorship to navigate the ever-evolving landscape successfully. Much like Anthony's guidance as the family's patriarch, seasoned mentors in the digital marketing industry provide invaluable insights and direction for budding marketers.
Whether it's seeking advice from experienced professionals or collaborating with like-minded peers, the importance of mentorship cannot be overstated. Just as Eloise turns to Lady Danbury for wisdom, aspiring marketers can benefit from the guidance of industry leaders to navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
By surrounding yourself with a supportive team and seeking mentorship, you can cultivate an environment conducive to growth, innovation and success in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
Try these tips for building a reliable and skilled team:
Identify Individual Strengths: Like the Bridgerton family, who know and appreciate each family member's talents, recognize and leverage the unique strengths and talents of each team member. Seek out team members with specific skill sets.
Encourage Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment where team members can share ideas and work together seamlessly, akin to the Bridgertons' unity in overcoming challenges.
Provide Clear Communication: Ensure open and transparent communication channels to keep everyone aligned with goals and expectations, reflecting the Bridgertons' effective communication within the family and their ability to jump into action to support their other family members.
Offer Support and Mentorship: Provide mentorship opportunities and support for team members to grow and excel in their roles, drawing parallels to the mentorship dynamics within the Bridgerton family. Also, stay open to learning from your team members' specific skill sets.
Celebrate Successes Together: Celebrate achievements and milestones as a team, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared accomplishment, similar to the Bridgertons' joy in each other's triumphs.
The last two weeks, we've journeyed through the world of Bridgerton to learn more about starting and growing a digital marketing business. Just as the characters in Bridgerton navigated the complexities of Regency society, digital marketers face a competitive landscape filled with challenges and opportunities.
By embracing the lessons learned from Lady Whistledown's keen observations, the Featheringtons' bold approach, and the Bridgerton family's strong bond, we can stand out in a crowded market, forge strategic collaborations and build a resilient team. Moreover, the importance of continuous learning and adaptability, exemplified by Lady Danbury's guidance, ensures that we remain agile and innovative in an ever-changing digital landscape.
As we apply these principles to our own digital marketing endeavours, remember that success lies not only in individual efforts but also in the collective strength of collaboration, continuous improvement and unwavering support.
Growing your digital marketing business is all about your ability to step outside your comfort zone and explore options outside of your box.
