Whether you’re a chess enthusiast or the entirety of your knowledge comes from a casual viewing of Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, you won’t struggle to see the connection between marketing and chess.
The most obvious connection, of course, is that they are both strategic in nature. If you prefer to dwell in the world of chance, luck and coincidences, you won’t have the best results in either one of these. But for those who want to have a say in how a business or a game progresses, here are some of the similarities between chess and marketing:
Opening Moves: In chess, you’ve got to give your first few moves a lot of thought. The danger is that you could open yourself up to a few decisive maneuvers by your opponent and find that the game is quickly over.
In marketing, early decisions are critical. Before launching into a social media campaign, for instance, you need to know which platform you should use. Where are your potential customers hanging out and what do they tend to click on? Knowing these details is key to a strong start for your campaign.
You’ve Got to Keep Your Mind on the Long Game: Trying to win a game of chess too quickly often leaves you too short-sighted to see what your opponent is doing. You may have lost the game before you realize it’s really even getting started.
In marketing, you’ve got to take a long view, cultivating trust with your audience and building relationships with them. This is done through valuable, informative content, which can also help you fare better on search engines, leading to more organic traffic to your site. This highly coordinated approach to marketing takes time. Not days. Not weeks. Months, and more than just a couple.
Take a Responsive, Agile Approach: Nobody wins a game of chess if they aren’t paying attention to what their opponent is doing and making adjustments to their strategy.
You need to be responsive and agile in your marketing strategy. If you initially had a great idea for a promotion, but then your competitor runs a nearly identical one, it’s time to switch gears. If you find that your email newsletter is rarely even opened, it’s a good sign that you need to make some adjustments.
On the other hand, it’s a good idea not to be so responsive that you become a bit manic. Don’t change your strategy every time your competitor makes a new move. Be aware of their activity, but don’t let it become too strong of a voice over your marketing choices.
At SJC Marketing, we like a good game and we particularly love a solid strategy. If your marketing is looking a bit disorganized and short-sighted, we would love to chat with you about how to make all the right moves for growth. Contact us and let’s grab coffee!