Start Your Digital Marketing Journey: Lessons From Bridgerton
Starting a digital marketing business can be as easy–or as difficult–as finding a spouse in the Regency era.
Picture this: the grand ballrooms of Regency-era London, where whispers of intrigue and scandal fill the air, and the fashionable elite vie for the spotlight. Got it in your head?
Now, imagine blending that charm and sophistication with the modern, fast-paced world of digital marketing. Intrigued?
Welcome to my whimsical guide, where Bridgerton meets the digital marketing realm! Just as Lady Whistledown captures society's hearts and minds with her sharp wit and keen insights, you, too, can captivate your audience and launch a successful digital marketing career.
So, don your finest attire, grab a cup of tea (pinkies out, of course), and let’s waltz through the essential lessons from Bridgerton that will help you navigate the digital marketing dance floor with grace and flair.
1. Embrace your inner Lady Whistledown: The Power of Content Creation
Lady Whistledown, our content creation machine. Girl is the boss at creating captivating content at a great speed. She knows what her audience likes and how to present her information in a way that keeps her audience desperate for her next issue.
She captivates high society with her sharp wit and real reports, unveiling the most tantalizing secrets and scandals through (the master of Faceless marketing!). Her keen observations and fearless commentary make her the talk of the ton. By shrouding her identity in mystery, she adds an irresistible allure to her words, ensuring that her insights are not only read but fervently discussed and dissected by the elite.
How does this apply to digital marketing?
Lady Whistledown is so successful in her endeavours because she knows what her audience wants, and she presents it in a compelling and engaging way. When you're creating your own content, this is the key.
You need to know what your audience wants and needs and present it to them in a way that is relevant to them. You need to create engaging images/videos that catch and keep their attention and write copy in a way that keeps your audience reading the whole piece of content and coming back for more.
Lady Whistledown has also honed her unique voice and style in her content. The way she writes is recognizable to her readers. This is important for your own digital marketing business. You need to have a distinct and unique voice when writing content. It's okay to take inspiration from others as long as it is adapted to your tastes and is aligned with your brand and message.
Finally, Lady Whistledown is consistent with her efforts and stays relevant to her readers. She regularly releases editions during the season, and she releases information quickly at the time it is relevant. Consistency in your content is key to building an engaged audience, who are interested in what you have to sell. Also, familiarizing yourself with the current trends and creating content that is on par with what people are currently interested in consuming will help your content get views. The more views you get, the more your next piece of content will be put in front of new eyes.
2. The Bridgerton Brother's Persona's: Building a Strong Brand Identity
We are constantly reminded in the show and books just how recognizable the Bridgerton's are, especially the older brothers. Visually, we know they all have the same brown hair, similar eyes, and facial features. What we also see is that the Bridgerton brothers each go through their own journeys to establish their unique identities and reputations.
Each, in their own way, navigates the challenges of high society to carve out distinct identities and reputations. Anthony, as the eldest, grapples with the responsibilities of the family title, striving to balance duty with personal desires. Benedict explores his artistic passions, seeking fulfillment beyond societal expectations. Meanwhile, Colin embarks on a journey of self-discovery and adventure, eager to prove himself. Together, they showcase the importance of forging one's path amidst the pressures of tradition and family legacy. While so similar, they each have a unique identity that is explored in various books/seasons.
How does this apply to digital marketing?
One of the most important parts of a successful digital marketing business is creating a strong and recognizable brand identity. For instance, the other day, one of my followers saw a Facebook Ad from Etsy. Now, Etsy will just show you the mockup without the description, name of the product or the name of the creator. But she saw the mockup and was like, "That's SKE's branding!" and she sent me a screenshot. It was a great moment and validation that I have created a recognizable brand.
To get started with creating a brand that is unique, aligned and recognizable, you need to start with really getting to know yourself and what you stand for. Dive deep into your personal and brand's mission, your overall vision for your business and your life, and your values. Knowing these will be your lighthouse for everything you create and all the decisions you make. We see the Bridgerton brothers constantly making choices based on the brand identities they have created. Anthony makes choices based on his role as head of household. We see him give up love opportunities, vet potential suitors for his sisters, defend his sister's virtue and ultimately, find himself a wife who can take over as viscountess. He is confident in his decisions because he knows what he stands for and what his role requires.
Finally, you need to create strategies for maintaining brand consistency across various platforms. Remember my Etsy example? Because I have a consistent brand on my website, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook, that follower was able to know that the Etsy mockup was mine. Every platform should use the same colours, fonts, graphics style and writing style. You want people to know you!
3. The Bridgerton Sisters Debut: Making a Grand Entrance with Social Media
Now, it just wouldn't be fair to discuss the Bridgerton bro's without also discussing the Bridgerton sisters because they are just as memorable. While each sister is unique, they also share many similarities. Their mother became a great coach/mentor to them, and each entered society with ease and confidence (well, maybe less so Eloise. She beats to her own drum).
They make their dazzling debuts into society with grace and charm, capturing the attention of London’s elite. Daphne, with her beauty and poise, quickly becomes the season's diamond, winning the favour of Queen Charlotte herself. Eloise, though initially resistant to societal norms, eventually navigates her entrance with her unique wit and intelligence, standing out in her own remarkable way. Francesca also enchants the Queen by being herself and becomes the seasons' diamond like her older sister. Each sister’s debut is a testament to their distinct personalities and the Bridgerton family's esteemed reputation, ensuring their places in the glittering world of Regency high society.
How does this apply to digital marketing?
When you debut your own digital marketing business on social media, your presence and presentation matter. People like well-organized and well-presented social media pages. Find an aesthetic you like and stick with it. While no one is looking for perfection (except maybe Queen Charlotte and the ton), a well laid out feed will help your customers form a more favourable impression of your business.
To ensure you have a beautiful feed and debut on social media, doing the work on your brand and voice ahead of time will be key.
You want your social media profile to be engaging and attractive. I recommend finding a course on social media marketing and branding to get you started and give you plenty of tips. But you can also try out a few of these.
Consistent Branding: As mentioned above, use consistent branding elements such as your logo, colour scheme and fonts across all your social media profiles. This helps create a cohesive and professional look that makes your brand instantly recognizable. Just like the Bridgerton sisters wearing similar dresses and headpieces for their presentation to the Queen.
Compelling Bio: Write a concise and engaging bio that clearly explains who you are and what you do. Use keywords related to your niche and include a call-to-action (CTA) or a link to your website or latest promotion. The Bridgerton sisters often had specific talking points to discuss to connect with potential suitors.
High-Quality Visuals: Invest in high-quality images and videos for your profile and posts (these can be either your own or stock photos. Stock photos are fine because branding photos can be fairly pricey for new businesses). Use eye-catching graphics, professional photography, and well-edited videos to capture your audience's attention and convey your brand’s personality.
Content Variety: Mix up your content to keep your audience engaged. Share a variety of posts, including informative articles, behind-the-scenes glimpses, user-generated content, interactive polls and engaging stories to cater to different interests and preferences. The Bridgerton sisters were seen in a variety of dresses to keep things interesting and to stand out from the crowd. They didn't wear the same dress to each ball, which would eventually fade into the crowd and be unnoticed.
Engage with Your Audience: Actively engage with your followers by responding to comments, messages and mentions. Show appreciation for user-generated content, participate in conversations and create interactive posts such as Q&As or polls to foster a sense of community and connection. The Bridgerton sisters would engage with potential suitors by creating pleasant conversations and enjoying dances when asked. This kept them at the top of suitors' minds and interests.
And, just as the Bridgerton sisters discovered, first impressions are important when attracting suitors (or, in your case, followers). Their presentation to the Queen had to be memorable, professional and beautiful. The first impression you present to new or potential followers matters. When non-followers see your content, they have the option to either swipe on or head to your profile and follow you. High-quality and valuable content (you'll discover what this is from market research, such as asking for input from others or researching competitors' pages) where you invite them to follow you is critical for this conversion.
4. Colin and Penelope's Friends To Lovers Story: Building Know-Like-Trust
As a nerdy wallflower myself, you had to know this was coming! Colin and Penelope's love story is the most unique we've seen on the show so far. They built their friendship up slowly. They consistently show loyalty, common interests and a genuine enjoyment of each other's company. Over time we see them cross over from "just friends" or more than friends.
Penelope started as Eloise's (Colin's younger sister) friend from childhood. This is how Colin and Pen would have met and become familiar with each other. Over time they slowly start a genuine friendship rooted in mutual respect and shared experiences. This is how they started liking each other (as friends). Their bond deepens as they confide in each other, with Penelope’s steadfast support and Colin’s kind-hearted nature creating a strong foundation. Despite their close connection, it takes time for them to recognize and act on their deeper feelings, gradually crossing the delicate line from friends to something more as they navigate personal growth and societal expectations together. This is a classic example of the "know-like-trust" cycle for leads.
How does this apply to digital marketing?
First, your clients need to become aware of you. They need to find you and know you. But chances are this is not the stage where they buy from you. Just like, this was not the stage where Colin and Pen realized their feelings.
Then, over time, with consistent action (creating content your audience loves and finds valuable and informative), they begin to like you. They might keep coming back to see what else you've got to say and what else they can learn. Just like when Colin and Pen seek each other out at social functions. They might have danced together, chatted, laughed, etc., but they still haven't yet crossed that line
Now, some people never cross that line and remain just friends. That's the same for your digital marketing business. Some people will only ever stay in the like phase. Many people will never buy from you. However, with more consistency and making sure people are aware of what you have to offer, some people will move to the trust stage. This is the stage where people buy from you. If they feel like they really know you and they trust that what you have will be worth their time and money, they will swipe that credit card and buy what you have. If they love you enough they'll even keep coming back for more.
Just like we saw in season 3, part 1. Colin and Pen kept coming back to each other, finding each other. They remained on each other's minds. Until..... SPOILER ALERT... Colin proposes at the end of the episode. Don't say I didn't warn you.
A valuable lesson we can learn about digital marketing from Bridgerton is the value of the process, planning and an unshakeable determination in yourself. Don't give up. Business isn't easy, but with consistency and perseverance, you can have success.
Bridgerton brings some great, concrete examples to help you navigate starting your digital marketing business. But it also has some great examples for growing your digital marketing business.
Come back next week for part 2 of this blog (yes, I'm pulling a Netflix here; don't hate me!), on how to grow your digital marketing business with lessons from Bridgerton.
