Powerful Ways of Marketing Your
Business Through Golf
By Richard C Myers
Not
only is the game of golf big business, but it's big IN business
too. Millions of business transactions happen on the golf courses
of the world nearly every day of the year. From sales negotiations
to legal settlements, the golf club is as mighty as the pen when
it comes to getting business done.
It's
hard to separate the social from the business aspects of a workday
spent on the links, and perhaps its better that way. You see,
conducting business on the golf course is just as complicated as
conducting business in the boardroom. Only the environment and
clothing are different.
While nearly everyone can grasp the obvious benefits of playing
golf in business sales and negotiation situations, fewer people
understand how to find other ways to use golf in business to drum
up new customers.
While anyone who plays can invite a colleague, vendor, or
co-worker for a round of 18 holes, how can the lone golfer benefit
from the magic powers of golf in business?
It
seems that Portsmouth, N.H business woman Dianne Durkin has found
a unique approach. According to Durkin, she has snared a number of
new clients for her business consulting firm by simply approaching
the first tee alone and then getting matched up with others
players who need to round out a foursome. Sometime during the game
the talk always turns to business, and Durkin gets a chance to
make her low-key sales pitch. Now that's one smart golfer!
There are other ways to ride the golf in business success train
even if you've never touched a set of clubs yourself. One Long
Island business executive, who had no interest in the game
himself, hires salespeople who play and lets them entertain
prospective clients on the area's courses. The end result is more
sales, with a higher average dollar amount per sale, and another
example of a clever way to make money from playing golf in
business.
No
matter what size community your business is located in, there are
advertising, marketing and sponsoring opportunities tied to golf
in business as well. You can sponsor local golf tournaments or
even start a tournament yourself that carries your company's name.
If your business is oriented towards school-age children, donating
golf shirts to the high school golf club is a great way to reach
prospective customers and grab some golf in business publicity at
the same time.
Custom-printed golf towels, golf balls, golf hats, and other golf
accessories make fine golf in business gifts as well. There are
plenty of advertising specialty companies that can print these
golf in business items up in any quantity that you need.
The
key to leveraging golf in business is to think outside the box.
You don't have to be a player to reap the benefits. You just need
a golf in business strategy that's capable of getting your name on
to the links even if your body remains in the office.
