Marketing Lessons From American Idol

American Idol is one of my favorite realty shows. I'm always amazed at how much talent is out there, but I also see this too often; talented singers going home too soon. That tells you talent alone doesn't cut it but it's the whole package, and you need to play it the right way. I see some lessons we can learn from the show and that we can apply to our business.PresenceTo be a star, you need a strong presence. Last week, Alex Lambert was sent home because he didn't have this quality. He looked awkward and uncomfortable on the stage.In business, presence means leadership and exposure. If you don't know how to get exposure, you will need to learn how. If you are just starting out in the business, you may not be the true leader yet, and you need to first believe you can be. Knowledge and experience will never come if you do nothing. Start learning which will build your confidence, and act as if. Leaders connect with others, and are able to magnetize their followers.Alex had a great voice and a nice niche, but he failed to connect with his audience.Targeting and MaterialOn American Idol, you need to pick the right songs and sing them well, and I don't mean just a good vocal. Todrick Hall who also went home last week, had a great presence and vocal, but he did not pick the right songs to showcase his talent. Chris Daughtry from a few seasons ago who was considered a strong potential, did not adjust his material to the show's audience.You need to know what your audience wants and deliver the right material. In network marketing, our target is people who want to succeed in this industry, or to start their own business. Offer the information that will help them accomplish that.How many times do you hear Simon say "It was a karaoke performance", even though the singer had a great voice? Are you posting someone else's links and quotes on your Twitter and Facebook? Are you publishing borrowed articles on your blog? There's nothing wrong with any of this as long as you attach the author information, but make sure you have your original content too. A leader doesn't become a leader by always borrowing from others, they are resourceful on their own. When you write an article, don't just paraphrase another material, make it your own. Say it in your own words and put your own spin on it. A little personality and opinions wouldn't hurt either, when done properly.Remember when Taylor Hicks beat Katharine McPhee in the final? His own unique style was stronger than Katharine.LikabilityLast year, Kris Allen won over Adam Lambert because Kris was more likable.You want to have your own style, but you want a big enough market to be profitable. Don't alienate your audience and make them feel they can't relate to you. Do you notice that almost every website has a "bio" page? When people see your photos and videos and read your story, you become more real and your audience will get to know you. People who resonate with you will follow you, and you will build your own niche.Some say both Adam and Chris Daughtry were a bit cocky.Being humble goes a long way. You can be an expert, a leader and a super star and still be approachable and supportive to your people. No matter how successful you are, your business is still in serving them. You can be selective in who you work with, but be accountable, courteous and respectful.If you look at all the past American Idol winners, you'll see that they are the ones who more or less played all of these elements well, and it means they successfully promoted themselves. Do you think there's marketing value in that? To learn more about marketing and building your own business, continue reading below.