How Martha Stewart stays relevant at 82

Martha Stewart is my Mother Teresa.

I’m so serious.

If you want to know a thing or two about business, marketing, personal branding or staying relevant for 40 fkn years, take a look at basically anything she’s ever done.

The 82-year-old icon started as a model and later became a stockbroker on Wall Street. She became one of the most famous celebrity chefs in the business. Founded a media empire. Was America's first self-made female billionaire.

She’s been to PRISON. She’s friends with Snoop Dogg. Last year, she returned to modelling for Sports Illustrated Magazine as the oldest person to ever grace its cover.

And she does not appear to be slowing down. Recently, Martha has been the face of some quality campaigns, proving just how strong her personal brand still is.

So, how does one stay relevant, successful, and fabulous for four whole decades?

You evolve.

In Martha's own words, “If you don’t innovate and evolve, I think you are not going to make it.” And, over the years, Martha and her team have worked tirelessly to do both of those things.

A great example of her brand's evolution is when Martha Stewart Everyday Food Magazine went digital in 2011. Martha developed an app with several interactive features at the same time. This meant readers could further benefit from her recipes and tutorials.

Her app came at the perfect time in the crossover from print to digital. And it enabled her to stay on top of a changing marketplace.

“To me this is all about ensuring our experience exists across all platforms such as on TV, radio magazines, digital and mobile,” she said at the time.

In marketing (and business), understanding that we need to be everywhere is crucial. And if we cannot evolve in our ever-changing world, we simply aren’t going to survive.

You’re very intentional about connecting with your audience.

Another banger of a quote from Martha: “If you want to sustain your relevance, you have to really think about what is relevant to your audience today and tomorrow, and can you think of what might be relevant next week, or next month or next year?”

And what’s more culturally relevant than posting thirst traps and starring on an episode of the Kardashians?

But Martha didn't stop there. She's also a regular poster on TikTok, continuing to share her endless knowledge with her fans.

So, how can you as a marketer make sure you always know what your audience wants? By keeping an ear to the ground and actively participating in the world that surrounds your industry.

There's so much more we can learn from the empire Martha's built for herself (no, I’m not obsessed, you are).

But you'll have to wait until later in the week to find out...

-Sophie, Pop Culture Queen