What small business can learn from The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Here's what I took away from watching just one episode:

1. How to take advantage of media: These six women are seriously skilled at captivating television audiences and as such have gained mass exposure for their own personal brands. They have not only captivated a television audience but also the general media and sponsors.

2. How to promote a product or service: All six women are walking, talking and, at times, screaming promotional machines. They are promoting well known brands every single second they are on our television screens. From Dior to diapers, they understand the power of word of mouth and these savvy business women have harnessed it to their power gaining sponsorship and freebies in the process.

3. How NOT to communicate: The way they talk to each other is a joke and is just one aspect of their persona they could refine. Sure it makes great television but, as their own personal brand, is worthy of some more thought. In business its is far harder to redefine a brand than it is to establish one. These brand associations will stick with these women and might become more detrimental in the future, particularly when Snuggies pass them up as brand embassador! 
 
4. How to make the most of what you have got: These women are not overly attractive, nor are they overly smart. Some have had far too much cosmetic surgery and if they weren't on this television show, they might be working at the local supermarket. We can learn to maximise every single PR opportunity from these women, leveraging every single second of their ten minutes of fame.

Good luck to them - I say! Small business owners can learn a thing or two just by watching this show and thinking about what they can do to promote their businesses, just like these women promote theirs.