5 social media lessons from the Lollapalooza music festival

To some that may sound like hell, but because of the annual Chicago festival’s keen organizational sense and ability to cater to various crowds, even my occasionally prissy self didn’t mind getting a bit muddied up. And by “a bit” I mean I had to wash my flip-flops in the shower, and I plan to go to the dry cleaners later today.

Muddiness aside, social media lessons are everywhere. I found five at Lollapalooza (and I wasn’t even looking):

1. Something for everyone.

Lolla offered a variety of music styles—techno, rock, kids’ music, punk played by 40-something Irish men—paired with a variety of cuisines, everything from the city’s signature deep-dish pizza to seaweed salad.

The same breadth of offerings should be applied to your social media campaigns. If your company is a health-care communications company and you’ve only been catering to boomer health-care pros, why not try targeting millennials entering the field? Do some research, and find out whether there’s a group that’s interested in your business that you hadn’t considered reaching out to—if you don’t, your competition probably will.

2. Be a relatable rock star.