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Madonna and Lady Gaga are two of today’s music icons.  They rake in millions of dollars through their music.  What can small business owners learn from how they handle their careers?  Rieva Lesonsky at OpenForum.com names seven valuable lessons from them.  Lesonsky says you have to nurture your loyal customer base.  As your business grows, do not abandon your customers.  Create an image unique to your business, a picture that will crop out of the public’s mind.  Keep your products and services current.  Stay up-to-date with the trends of the times.  Believe in your products and services.  Do not copy others.  Grow your business.  Develop products that addresses your customers’ needs. You and your team should work hard to gain the success you are aiming at.  More of these tips are discussed below.

Start small. Carefully cultivated, a niche customer base can grow into something big.

Takeaway: Don’t abandon your loyal customers as you grow.

Image matters. Madonna’s “boy toy” look set the style for legions of teenage girls, while Gaga’s outré outfits, from lobster hats to meat dresses, make her instantly memorable (and talked about) wherever she goes.

Takeaway: In today’s visual society your image has to stick in customers’ minds.

Reinvent yourself. Madonna gave up those rubber bracelets and belly shirts long ago to become a master of reinvention, with a new hair color, image and look for almost every album and tour.

Takeaway: Evolving your business keeps your customers interested, attracts new “fans,” keeps you current—and makes news.

Be true to yourself. Both Gaga and Madonna use sexual imagery, criticize religious intolerance and support potentially controversial causes.

Takeaway: Don’t shock for shock value alone–it has to come from the heart.

Get social. Having emerged during the age of social media, Gaga has built a huge fan base online—more than 25 million Twitter followers and 51 million Facebook fans. Gaga’s page is unmistakably filled with posts from the Lady herself.

Takeaway: Authenticity matters.

Diversify. Madonna moved into acting and directing early on and has since added a dizzying number of business ventures, including apparel, publishing and even a chain of health clubs. Gaga recently announced the launch of her first fragrance.

Takeaway: Diversification is key to expansion, but make sure you move into areas that make sense for you.

Work hard. Both Madonna and Gaga are known for their hard-driving, perfectionist ways. They hold their teams to the highest standards as well. Both artists do everything required to make their vision come true for their fans and deliver an experience the audience will never forget.

Takeaway: Expect nothing less than the best from yourself and your team. …

Photo by  lady718pimp