What Can Golf Teach You About Marketing?

I went golfing with a friend who had been taking lessons, and as he taught me a few tricks, I realized that two things he said at nearly every hole could also apply to marketing:

Don't forget to take a practice swing.

Choose the right club for each shot, that's why you brought them all along.

Don't forget to take a practice swing.

This is great advice when you are about to launch a new campaign. Have you conducted a test? Have you run your design, content and list options past others for review and critique? Often, we are finally ready, so we simply take the swing -- send out the campaign, news release, etc. It's only afterward that we stop to consider whether we might have been able to improve the shot/tactic.

Choose the right club for each shot, that's why you brought them all along.

There are an amazing amount and type of golf clubs that you can bring onto the course. Irons and wedges, drivers and woods. And then there are hybrids which really help a newbie like me stand a chance with more experienced players. Same thing holds true for marketing. There are many tactics and options that you can use -- all with the same goal of improving your score. Consider working with a coach -- a professional advisor -- who can help you plan your shots and choose the right tools for the game.