Taylor Swift is on top of the world right now and she isn’t pop music’s biggest superstar by accident.  Along with incredible talent, likability, and songwriting prowess, Ms. Swift is extremely business-savvy.  Here are a few tips you can learn from Swift and apply to your very own business strategy.

Engagement

A large part of why Swift has become such a megastar has to do with her likability.  Not only does she have a reputation of being “America’s Sweetheart” and a fantastic role model for younger girls, she’s also a pro at customer relationship management.  Taylor is constantly engaging with her fans, whether it’s on Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, or other social media outlets.

She makes her fans feel appreciated and important, and as a result, gains her fans loyalty.  Swift is relatable, down-to-earth, and despite her mind-boggling level of stardom, remains to come off as accessible to her fans.  Regardless of her popularity, Taylor Swift has remained self-aware.  She hasn’t allowed her ego to become over-inflated.  It’s because of that self-awareness that Swift continues to come off as genuinely thankful; she exudes gratitude and an understanding that out of all of the albums and tours they could’ve chosen, her fans have chosen hers.

In this sense, one thing is for sure: Swift holds customer satisfaction as a top priority.

This lesson can certainly be applied to your business.  Engaging with your customers and potential customers is the key to success.  Treat each customer as an individual and understand that out of all of your competitors, that customer chose you.  Always be polite, and adhere to the age-old adage that the customer is always right.  Show every customer that you appreciate their business and their feedback.  Do everything you can to ensure that their experience is an exceptional one; it’s as simple as following up with them about the product they purchased to ensure that they’re satisfied.

Reputation Management

Taylor Swift’s empire is a well-oiled machine.  In a world where the expectation for a star of this caliber is to lose it and shave her head during a momentary lapse of sanity or have a nude photo scandal, Swift has been able to hold it together.  She admittedly pays attention to what’s said about her in the media; if it’s something she doesn’t like, she’ll either respond to it herself via social media or have her legal team handle it.

Like Swift, you have power over your business’s reputation.  Keep a close eye on reviews about your business and be sure to reply to any negative ones.  Businesses come off as more respectable when they acknowledge criticism rather than ignore it.  Listen to each individual and do what you can to remedy the situation in a way that will satisfy the customer.  Never view customers as expendable; treat each customer as though he or she has the power to make or break your business.

Going Above and Beyond for Your Customers

In addition to playing a two-hour show (in very high heels) for sold-out arenas during each stop of the 1989 World Tour, Ms. Swift dedicates time before and after nearly every show to be with her fans.  Before the show, she holds meet and greets (free of charge!—something that’s unheard of in today’s world!) for about 150 fans.  The moment she exits the stage, she spends more time with a group of 30-40 fans specially selected from the audience (again, free of charge!).

Swift goes above and beyond to show her fans that she appreciates their dedication, and let’s face it: their business.  You can do the same for your business.  It’s as simple as sending a customer a thank you note after purchase, or calling to follow up to ensure that they’re satisfied with their purchase.  It’s also a great idea to offer perks to returning customers.  Any way that you can show that you appreciate your customers will go a long way.