Keeping Up With Pop Culture

You are more likely to be focused on business and technology than pop culture if you listen to this podcast.  However, there is a value in keeping up with such general knowledge areas.  One can argue that the time required to keep up with pop culture can be spent on better things.  I would have a hard time disagreeing but the good news is that we can keep up without spending much extra time.  Also, it can be a good way to get away from a problem and find a refreshing solution.

Pop Culture Knowledge Is Important For Business

The latest episode of Saturday Night Live or who won a movie of the year award will rarely cause your company to fail or succeed but there can be an impact.  We have noted before that people buy from those they know, like, and trust.  That means we need to build a relationship with our customers in order for them to become so. Pop culture references can often help break the ice and strike up conversations.  It is the stereotypical water cooler talk of the game last weekend or that episode that ran last night that can start a simple relationship.  Yes, it can be good to be "all business" with our customers but that can come off as stuffy or stand-offish.

Trends and Market Indicators

I think that pop culture does more to indicate market trends than it is given credit for.  This seems to be even more of the case these days.  We have the ability to turn off anything that does not interest us.  That all-important demographic of 25 to 45 year-olds still tend to be almost synonymous with pop culture.  If you want to talk to them, then that is the language to use.  Who knows, you might even get some product ideas while running a show or movie in the background.