The popular Netflix series Emily in Paris offers an entertaining glimpse into the world of marketing and PR agencies. The show follows a young American woman who moves to Paris to work at a PR agency — and of course, everything goes wonderfully wrong. Although it’s a fictional series that doesn’t necessarily provide a realistic portrayal of the marketing world, marketers can still draw valuable lessons from it.
Here are 11 insights you can take from the show to advance your marketing (and your career) successfully.
Networking, Networking, Networking
Emily quickly builds new connections thanks to her friendly and open nature. Her ability to build relationships with colleagues and clients not only helps her settle into her new environment but is also a crucial aspect of her success in Paris. In every episode, she networks, talks about her job, acquires new clients, or meets people who later become valuable (professionally). Lesson number one: relationships and networking are essential in marketing and when running a business.
Teamwork as a Key to Success
Emily works closely with her colleagues and business partners to achieve success. She knows she is more successful as part of a team than alone and doesn’t hesitate to ask others for help. Through teamwork, she regularly solves problems, generates new ideas, and achieves major goals on short notice. There’s a reason they say: Teamwork makes the dream work.
Flexibility Is Essential
Throughout the show, Emily faces many challenges and unexpected changes. Sometimes a major client suddenly wants to cancel, or she gets stood up on her way to a summer vacation. Emily experiences highs and lows but always remains flexible and creative enough to turn difficult situations to her advantage. When a client switches to another agency, she simply offers her expertise as a strategic consultant and doesn’t lose them entirely. Lesson learned: flexibility and the ability to respond quickly to changes are crucial for successful marketing.
Perseverance as a Success Factor
Emily experiences many setbacks in Paris but never gives up. Being successful in marketing also means bringing perseverance. Sometimes a campaign doesn’t go as planned, or it feels like nothing is happening, and your business isn’t moving forward. Especially because marketing often works through trial and error, resilience and perseverance are key to success.
Willingness to Take Risks as a Competitive Advantage
Emily is willing to take risks to achieve her goals. She isn’t afraid of unusual or unconventional ideas — which are often innovative and help her succeed. This shows how important it is to be willing to take risks to stand out from the competition and succeed in marketing.
Creativity and Changing Perspectives
Fresh perspectives and creative ideas help Emily stand out in her new job and succeed. In the marketing industry, it’s important to occasionally change your viewpoint, look at things from a new angle, and seek solutions creatively. Lesson number six: Think outside the box and stay open to new marketing ideas.
Go Social
In Emily in Paris, the protagonist actively uses social media and influencer marketing to promote her company and products. She doesn’t just post random content but actively builds a community, interacts with her audience, and thereby strengthens her expert status in the marketing world.
Tell a Story
Emily’s storytelling skills are crucial to her success. Her ability to tell a story and emotionally move her audience helps her sell products and services effectively. Storytelling can be used in marketing to build connections with customers and spark interest in a brand.
The Importance of Authenticity
In the series, Emily stays true to herself, owns her mistakes, and doesn’t try to pretend to be someone else to fit in. She never tries to portray herself as someone she is not to be accepted but remains authentic and shows her true self at all times. Through her authenticity, Emily is able to build trust and credibility, which is essential for her success. It’s crucial that your marketing feels authentic to truly resonate and succeed.
Understand Your Target Audience
Understanding cultural aspects and the target audience is critical when operating in a foreign market. In the show, Emily’s lack of understanding of French culture and customs leads to several mistakes in her work. She makes multiple faux pas and loses trust. This emphasizes the importance of knowing the market and audience you’re trying to enter. Such understanding allows marketers to tailor their strategies and tactics to the needs and expectations of their target audience. It also helps understand the language and communication styles needed to build connections. Without this understanding, marketing efforts may fail to achieve the desired effect and can even trigger negative reactions.
Know Your Value as a Marketer
Throughout the series, Emily learns to recognize her own value and skills and confidently uses them to achieve her goals. It’s important for marketers to know their strengths and weaknesses and use them to advance their marketing and career. Emily clearly and convincingly communicates her skills, which helps her succeed in her job and stand out from the competition.
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