I want to start this off with the disclaimer that I’m sort-of an Adele fanatic, if you will. I’ve chased pavements, set fire to the rain and am currently on my way to buy some more Kleenex after listening to “Hello” and the rest of her newest album “25” on repeat.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know Adele. You know her songs. You belt them out in the car. You sing them in the shower. You cry to them over a glass (or bottle) of wine while cursing your first love who broke your heart.
Regardless of whether you have or have not fallen victim to the “Adele spell,” we can all agree that Adele has a talent that drives fans all over the world to go out and actually pay for her music, which is a shocking fact in 2016’s days of music streaming. Here are three strategies that the public relations industry can learn from this British icon’s success and influence.
1. Stick to the Basics
Adele isn’t known for her songs’ sick beats or amazing light shows. She is known for her phenomenal voice that can bring you to tears and stadiums full of people to their feet. Because she doesn’t cover up her songs with a bunch of fluff, listeners can better hear and respect her talent. This same idea should go into the crafting of a message—keep it simple, relatable and understandable in order to be respected.
2. Smart Social Media
It might not be as well-known as other platforms, but MySpace is how Adele was discovered. Even though MySpace has come and gone with the times, Adele’s idea that success comes from shares, not cents, remains true, especially in the public relations world. Adele used audience engagement from her original posts and videos to inspire work that would later lead her to multiple Grammy Awards.
3. Be Authentic
Adele never tries to be someone she’s not (unless she’s pretending to be someone who is pretending to be her). Because she has not given in to the social pressures of changing her appearance, her speaking voice or even her music, she is just woman sharing her personal stories and unreal talent with the world. In a public relations sense, it is imperative to stick to your instincts because that authenticity and reliability are what will garner trust between you and your clients.
-by Morgan McKinney, PRSSA General Member