What jazz teaches us about marketing

There are all types of music: classical, hard rock, rap, grunge and country. And then there is jazz—a unique music style born in New Orleans. During the Credit Union National Association’s Marketing Management School (held in New Orleans), Hattie Bryant opened the week with a session on “All That Jazz.”

“Jazz actually teaches us quite a bit about marketing,” she noted. “Jazz tells a story; it tells us how to feel. It’s the same with marketing: it tells a story and it’s about feelings.”

So what does jazz teach us about marketing? Consider the following:

  • Jazz is a musical conversation—In today’s social media world, marketing is no longer about sending marketing messages. It’s about having conversations. When it comes to marketing, are you just making noise that consumers are tuning out or you really taking time to have conversations? Just like you want to listen to jazz music, you want to listen to your target audiences.
  • Jazz is in the moment—If you have ever listened to jazz music, you know you can get wrapped up in the song you’re hearing. When was the last time your members or customers got wrapped up in your marketing? Look for ways to give your targets an experience they will share with others. Just like jazz is in the moment, you need to provide consumers a “wow” experience.
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