Konichiwa.
We’re three quarters of the way through quadrennial oval ball fest and our men in black are doing pretty well in Japan.
After winning the first one in 1987 we had 24 years of failure before everyone’s favourite Fonterra promoting helicopter pilot Captain Richie hoisted the goods in 2011 and 2015.
After the demolition job against Ireland signs are promising for a three-peat but there’s still plenty of nuclear tainted water to flow under the Tokyo Bay bridge and many questions to be answered.
Will Aaron Smith’s bullet pass succeed in the land of bullet trains? Has Ardie Savea lost his goggles? And what role will the newly grown moustaches play?
Rugby like marketing is constantly evolving. Whether you’re trying to win a world cup or win new business in Tauranga you can’t be complacent and have to evolve with the times.
Here’s the top three Simontology Media and Marketing reasons that rugby and marketing are similar.
Make tactical and strategic changes
Always used radio and newspaper? Always played Barrett at 10? Don’t be afraid to make bold changes.
The media landscape moves quickly, much like Beauden Barrett. Steve Hansen saw a chance to make the most of that speed and give his team more opportunities to score by shifting Beaudy to fullback.
By shifting your radio and newspaper spend and investing it in video, blogs and targeted ads on Facebook, Instagram and Google you’ll not only save money be seen by more relevant people more often and increase your website traffic, store visits and sales.
Be willing to plan, innovate and adapt
Beginning with a drawn series against The Lions in 2017 and continuing with losses to Ireland in 2018 and Australia this year, the All Blacks have been constantly bamboozled by their opposition’s rush defence.
But come the big Japanese dance, the coaches unveiled a clever new strategy which has so far left their competition in the dust.
Could the same be said for your business? Do you feel outmuscled or overwhelmed by your opposition?
Then adapt and find wins elsewhere.
Have you tried Google display advertising? It’s really under utlilised in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.
What about YouTube? Everyone watches it so why not have a cost effective presence there.
How cool would your own library of local drone photography be to attract interest online?
There’s always a way.
Stay one step ahead, don’t fear change
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery but it’s also pretty annoying. The All Blacks know this and are constantly having to reinvent themselves and seek small edges to stay ahead of the game.
They were the first team to employ a mental skills coach, they broke ground with new strength and conditioning processes and Mike Cron the scrum doctor analysed ballet, sumo wrestling and cage fighting to find an edge.
I work with a local startup business who broke the mold in their industry with a new approach to video production and creative social media marketing. Now everyone is copying them.
When this happens it’s important to identify it, see it as positive affirmation of your work and then keep pushing.
Look for inspiration outside your industry. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Often there is a fine line between an amazing idea and a ridiculous idea and it’s up to you either be complacent or to push as close to that line as possible.
Back to the land of the rising sun and I wish the men in black with the silver fern crest on their chest all the best in their quest to progress and find success in the final test.
Are you a local business owner manager or decision maker? I’d much rather see you in the grand final than eliminated in pool play. Get in touch today to see how Simontology Media and Marketing can help you with video production, social media marketing, blogging, drone photography and increasing website traffic.