4 Things Marketers Can Learn From The Gilmore Girls

It's fall, you already know the apple spice candle is lit, Gilmore Girls reruns are playing in the background at all times, apple cider donuts are filling our cabinet, and we are running on PSL fumes.

While I was enjoying my annual binge of Gilmore Girls this year, I, of course, had my marketing cap on, and I realized there are actually a lot of marketing lessons we can take from this show. Honestly, business lessons in general, too. I mean, after all, it features a lot of local business owners - Lorelai, Sookie, Taylor, Jackson, Luke, and even Richard, too. While these are made-up businesses, I do think they capture some of the ups and downs we do go through as business owners and marketers.

Consistency = Loyalty

If you consistently produce a good product, like Luke and his high-quality coffee, people will take notice. In fact, you'll have your own Lorelai, Rory, Ms. Patty, and Kirk in your 'restuarant' every day, craving more because they know what to expect from you. Consistent brand presence, visuals, and feel create trust and keep your audience coming back! Do you remember the episode where Luke went fishing after the breakup, even though he's never closed before? Everyone in town didn't know what to do without their favorite breakfast place. It's a part of their routine because for years Luke consistently opened, fit his brand, and provided his high-quality product. What can we take from this? Show up for your customers. Let them know what to expect from you. Maybe that's a weekly email newsletter, or in-store, or maybe a series that you post on Instagram every Friday. This is what creates that deep loyalty to your brand.

Creating an Experience

Lorelai is such a great image of how to create an experience for your customers. The Dragonfly Inn is basically a love letter to her customers — every piece of the decor, every event, the details, and beyond is hand-picked by her and creates the high-quality experience her guests expect. She is constantly finding ways to solve problems and make sure the guest have a fun time on their stay with things to do. Same with Sookie, each dinner is crafted with the intention to fit the event and creates an experience for them in the dining sense, too. While I know it might sound like a stretch to relate this back to marketing, think about your event marketing. Influencer events, local farmer markets, or in-store experiences that you can plan, and how you can make sure every detail serves them. Marketing sells, experiences stick.

Community Is Everything

Stars Hollow may be quirky, but it's tight-knit. They have inside jokes, events, and shared community experiences. They really capture the small-town feel, because they make each other feel heard (town meetings), create relationships (at events), and show up for one another in ways that make the town feel like family. As marketers, that’s exactly what we should be striving for when building online communities. Our goal is to create spaces where people feel seen, involved, and connected. Whether it’s through interactive content, consistent engagement, or personal storytelling, fostering that sense of community makes fans feel like family and turns likes into leads.

Humor & Pop Culture References make Connections

Lorelai and Rory have witty references that make conversations relatable and fun. They can hold a conversation with anyone in town, at Yale, at the Dragonfly, and it's because they find connection points through humor and references. Your brand can do this, too! Think about what your audience watches, cares about, and knows because that can become part of your brand voice and help you connect with them on a personal level.

So, what was your favorite lesson you're keeping in your back pocket for your strategy for Q4 and beyond?