Why The Traitors is the Best Marketing Lesson You’ll Watch This Year

If, like me, you’ve found yourself glued to The Traitors or the new Celebrity Traitors, you’re not alone. It’s the TV phenomenon that’s had us all gasping at betrayals, guessing alliances, and admiring Claudia Winkleman’s fringe in equal measure.

I'm proud to say that I'm a SUPERFAN 🤩

But beyond the cloaks, castles and dramatic round tables, The Traitors is a masterclass in something every marketer should pay attention to: storytelling, psychology, and content that keeps people hooked.

1. The Art of Suspense – Keep Them Coming Back

Each episode leaves viewers desperate for more. It’s perfectly structured content. There’s always a cliffhanger, a twist or a moment that sparks conversation.

Lesson: Your content should do the same. Leave people wanting more, whether that’s teasing what’s next in your series, asking a thought-provoking question at the end of a post, or building anticipation around a product or announcement. The best marketing campaigns don’t give everything away at once. They tell stories in chapters (or in this case, episodes).

2. Strong Visual Branding – From Cloaks to Castles

Everything about The Traitors is instantly recognisable: the music, the colours, the candles, the cloaks, Claudia. It’s immersive. It’s consistent. It’s brand perfection.

Lesson: Consistency builds connection. When your audience recognises your brand instantly through tone, visuals or atmosphere, they’re already invested. Whether you’re a small business or a global brand, your visuals and voice should work together to create that same level of recognition.

3. Characters and Human Connection

People connect to people, and The Traitors gets this so right. You don’t remember every challenge, but you remember the personalities, the alliances, the emotion.

Lesson: Marketing that focuses on humans always wins. Put your people, your clients, your stories at the centre. Let them be your Faithfuls and Traitors. Let your audience feel something.

4. The Power of Community and Conversation

The show doesn’t just happen on TV. It happens on social media, in WhatsApp chats and in the pub. Everyone has an opinion. That’s not by accident. The producers know that conversation is the real marketing.

Lesson: Great content isn’t a monologue. It sparks conversation, invites participation and encourages your audience to have their say. In marketing terms, that’s engagement gold.

5. Authenticity (Even When It’s Strategy)

The beauty of The Traitors is how real it feels. Every gasp, every tear, every over-dramatic betrayal – we buy into it because it feels genuine.

Lesson: People can spot fake faster than you can say “Round Table”. Whether you’re a business owner, creator or marketer, being real matters. Show up with honesty and personality. Audiences don’t want perfection, they want connection.

6. Celebrity Traitors – Proof That Familiar Faces Work

When the celebrity version launched, it wasn’t just smart TV, it was smart marketing. It combined an already successful format with recognisable faces and built-in fan bases.

Lesson: Collaboration and familiarity build reach. Think partnerships, influencers or clients as advocates. Sometimes the best marketing move is simply to align with people your audience already trusts.

I hope you're loving it as much as I am!!