8 Taylor Swift Strategies Every Tech Leader Should Use in 2024

You don’t have to be a fan of Taylor Swift to admire her success in the music industry. Even a modest look at the 34-year-old pop icon’s career reveals a masterful sense of business processes and strategic planning – according to Bloomberg, she will have a total net worth of $1.1 billion as of October 2023.

I can understand why people might initially be hesitant to emulate the career of a pop star, but as someone who comes from the technology industry, believe me when I say that she is a true inspiration for entrepreneurs looking to break into a sector as competitive and ever-changing as the music industry.

Here are eight foolproof strategies from Taylor Swift that you can implement in your own work as a technology leader:

Stand firm for your fundamental values ​​and rights

Swift took a bold stance against both Spotify’s “freemium” model and Apple Music’s initial licensing policy, instead emphasizing artists’ rights. Tech executives can also celebrate and advance their core values ​​and rights, even if it means standing up to our own industry giants. Their actions could include advocating for fair practices, speaking and writing that emphasizes the importance of privacy, or ensuring fair compensation for creators on digital platforms. By doing so, you will not only strengthen your brand and its market integrity, but you can also create meaningful change.

Related: Taylor Swift is officially a billionaire – here’s how she did it and where her wealth comes from

Keep control of your innovations and maintain ownership of them

Swift famously re-recorded her first six albums to secure ownership of the new master recordings – a groundbreaking move. It’s equally important for people in the tech industry to emphasize control and ownership of intellectual property.

So secure those patents, keep control of your software’s source code, and then boldly move forward and evolve your product design. This level of ownership has obvious benefits in the long run, but when push comes to shove in a tricky situation, it also serves as a safeguard against potential takeovers or unfair practices.

Use multiple contact points

Swift excels in both streaming and physical sales, consistently striking a balance between digital presence and tangible products. Similarly, tech entrepreneurs shouldn’t put all their eggs in one basket, but aim for a presence on multiple platforms. You’ve developed a web app? Great, now create a mobile version too. You make physical products? Consider offering a digital product that works in parallel. And yes, that will require more time, money and resources, but it will also increase market reach and stability.

Related: Top CEO of 2023? Taylor Swift and Beyoncé – here’s why.

Own community engagement

Swift is simply a genius when it comes to engaging her fans. She uses social media and in-person interactions to build and maintain a community that seems to be constantly engaging with her in one form or another. And while I’m well aware that there are many variables at play here, tech entrepreneurs can also leverage social media, forums, and direct feedback channels to engage with users. If you haven’t already, join in discussions about how to further personalize the user experience to build a broader community – to encourage loyalty and improve brand sentiment and reputation.

Immerse yourself in experiential marketing

The 12-time Grammy winner has also set new standards in live music, as most recently demonstrated in the technology and production of the Eras Tour and the resulting concert film.

Tech entrepreneurs, especially those with a significant marketing budget, know all too well that experiential marketing can be a game-changer, so if possible, look for opportunities to offer interactive product demos or immersive virtual reality experiences. At the very least, host industry events like panels or mixers for memorable experiences that are relatively easy to pull off.

Related: How TikTok and YouTube changed the music industry forever

Work towards becoming a changemaker

Tickets for the Eras tour were supposed to be available only to verified Swift fans, but more than 14 million people ended up trying to get their hands on them – including an unknown number of bots, leading to a public dispute between the singer and Ticketmaster. The result was a major overhaul of concert ticketing that further cemented her reputation as a shaper of business practices.

Most tech entrepreneurs may prefer to work under the radar to promote improvements, but they may Lead reform – advocate for better internal policies, collaborate to create fairer rules/laws, and improve products to better address industry-wide problems.

Be flexible

Swift is known for seamlessly switching between music genres – an adaptability that makes her appealing to fans and newcomers alike. Just like the music industry’s adaptability, the technology industry is fast-paced and constantly evolving. As such, technology entrepreneurs should be similarly flexible and ready to respond to market trends and customers’ anticipated needs by, among other things, tirelessly adapting products for expanded user groups.

Related: The Benefits of Investing in Talent: How It Impacts the Music Industry and Beyond

Spice up your story

Swift’s fan base has closely followed the evolution of her brand through every album phase, from 2006 Nashville newcomer to today’s pop giant. From a marketing perspective, it’s simply a kiss from the chef. Tech entrepreneurs should also focus on their storytelling – fearlessly evolving their marketing to resonate with diverse audiences with dynamic visual branding and compelling content across numerous mediums.