Are you ready for some football?
The National Football League’s biggest game of the season is here. The San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs are competing for the title of NFL champion. The halftime show features R&B legend Usher and, indirectly, the relationship between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, which could overshadow the game as it has been a topic of discussion throughout the season. Businesses that score big with their marketing will be the real winners, while the losing team and its fans will undoubtedly feel disappointed on Monday morning.
Although it may feel like it’s been around forever, the event formerly known as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game was first played on January 15, 1967, between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers. The game is watched by millions of people every year, and this year’s event will be no exception. Held at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, February 11, 2024, the game kicks off at 6:30 PM Eastern. The broadcast attracts the attention of approximately 1/3 of Americans, and this year’s viewership is expected to increase due to the excitement surrounding the game, now called the #TraylorBowl.
Businesses, big or small, can win their own championship every year through effective marketing efforts. While the prices for attending the big game range from $6,000 for lower-level seats to over $40,000 for the suite-level experience, and a 30-second commercial costs approximately $6.5 million, a successful marketing campaign can still make a significant impact. Businesses can use football lingo to help them make the most of this prime-time marketing opportunity.
Huddle
In football, the huddle is a moment when the team comes together to plan their next play. Similarly, your sales team needs to huddle before, during, and after each sales day to ensure they are on the same page and discuss how to maximize every sale as a team.
Touchdown
It’s time to celebrate! Your team has scored a touchdown by successfully bringing the football into the other team’s end zone. Similarly, a touchdown is scored in the business world when your sales representatives convert a prospective or current customer into a sale. This is definitely worth celebrating, perhaps with a dance or ringing a bell to mark the occasion!
Running the Clock
When a team is running the clock, they purposely wait for the game clock to run down, reducing the time left for the other team to score. Similarly, running the clock in your store can provide an excellent experience to your in-store customers. By allowing them to shop for a few extra minutes after the store has officially closed, you can give them the courtesy of finalizing their purchases even after regular business hours.
Hurry-Up Offense
The hurry-up offense is a tactic in football where the offense runs plays without huddling to move down the field faster and score a touchdown. In sales, the touchdown is equivalent to a big win when you successfully sell your product or service to a customer. When businesses apply the hurry-up offense, they strategically forgo unnecessary meetings and huddles, and instead, the team focuses on implementing the sales plan on the field to increase sales.
Blitz
During a game, it is called a blitz when the defense blocks a pass attempt by tackling the quarterback or causing them to hurry up and pass the ball. This can be an exciting moment for fans. Similarly, in business, sales representatives can use a blitz marketing strategy to offer customers incredible deals that are too good to resist. This helps to build trust and can lead to future sales.
Hail Mary
Football teams often try a Hail Mary pass when they are in a desperate situation. They throw the ball from a long distance, hoping to complete a pass and score a touchdown. Similarly, businesses can use a Hail Mary strategy to reconnect with customers they haven’t communicated with in a while or to expand their reach to a new target market outside of their usual range.
This weekend’s winners receive the cherished Lombardi Championship Trophy and rings. Similarly, a successful marketing campaign translates to increased sales, customer engagement, and brand visibility. In the words of the beloved coach in football history, Vince Lombardi, “Winning is a habit. Watch your thoughts; they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs; they become your words. Watch your words; they become your actions. Watch your actions; they become your habits. Watch your habits; they become your character.”
Business success is a win, and winning is a habit.