In baseball, relief pitchers are brought in for many reasons. The same can be true for marketing. Learn how a relief pitcher can help your marketing efforts in this video…
Let’s talk about relief pitchers — especially as they relate to refining your marketing strategy.
Imagine this…
An away game with the Rockies leading 2-0 at the bottom of the fifth, with two on and two outs. Top of the order at bat. The pitcher throws.
A curveball is hit and drops between first and right field, driving in a run, with runners now at first and third. The pitching coach and the catcher approach the mound. The starting pitcher is pulled, and a reliever is called from the bullpen to get the last out.
The purpose of a relief pitcher
Relief pitchers are sent in for lots of reasons into games that are already in progress. Sometimes the starter is fatigued. Sometimes there are special considerations for a batter that’s on a hitting streak. And sometimes the manager will bring in a closer when the game is on the line.
Overall, a great manager knows this — their bullpen needs depth for specialized skills, and enough relievers to cover all contingencies.
The same thing is true for your business’ marketing efforts. You need people on your team with specialized expertise to plan marketing strategy and execute on the deliverables. And you need enough relievers in your bullpen to keep your starters healthy and performing at their best.
“Business success isn’t a pick-up game in the sand lot. Consider the value of an independent partner whom you don’t have to put on your payroll or provide benefits for, who can come alongside temporarily or as needed to provide the depth so essential to meeting your business goals.”
The 4 most important characteristics of a good relief pitcher — and marketing partner
They train. A great relief pitcher works to perfect their pitches, learn new styles, study the competition, and be ready when the manager calls on them.
A great marketing partner is an also expert, having built skill through study and years of business experience. They also keep up to date on the newest marketing tools and use them to design approaches to fill the top of the sales funnel.
They’re specialized. Relief pitchers are necessary for particular situations where their skills are a fit.
A good marketing partner knows that your business is unique, and that marketing plans are not one size fits all. You need someone to listen to you, work with you, and use those specialized skills to strategize, meet your goals and objectives, and deliver exceptional results.
They’re ready to get in the game when needed. In order to be prepared when the team needs them, relief pitchers work out and participate in all the practices just like the starters. They warm up so they’re ready to take the mound when the manager says it’s time.
The same goes for great marketing partners — they should be ready to dive right in and help your business win the game.
They exhibit good sportsmanship. Relievers play to protect the win or to save the game — not their own egos. Good team players are more concerned with winning the game for the team than their own personal stats.
The same goes for marketing partners, agencies, and freelancers. Will they play nicely with the other members of your team? This includes your employees, as well as your other vendors.
“Overall, a great manager knows this — their bullpen needs depth for specialized skills, and enough relievers to cover all contingencies.”
Remember, you’re playing for a win. Business success isn’t a pick-up game in the sand lot. Getting to the point where you can afford to hire marketing depth takes awhile.
And yet… growth requires a well-thought-out and well-executed marketing strategy. Consider the value of an independent partner whom you don’t have to put on your payroll or provide benefits for, who can be part of your team temporarily, or as needed, to provide the depth so essential to meeting your business goals.
Business lessons from baseball
It turns out we can glean quite a bit of management wisdom from the dugout. That’s what Bianca Male did when she interviewed Jeff Angus, author of Management by Baseball, and Brian Goff, author of From the Ballfield to the Boardroom: Management Lessons from Sports. In her article for Business Insider, she shares ten tips. Here are three:
Hire for strengths and flexibility. When your team lacks either, a leader needs to be very intentional about looking outside for a player to round it out. According to Angus, “The most successful teams combine skills to meet most probable environments.”
Observe and measure results carefully. Analyze astutely. Adjust continually. In baseball as in business, says Angus, “the single most important decisions you make are: #1) Who you choose to hire and how you deploy them, and #2) How you learn to adjust how you use the players on your roster as the
game you’re playing changes, how your players evolve, and how your competitors mutate.” Passively letting things happen is never a good idea.
Invest in talent and training. The Yankees didn’t decide to save money by firing Babe Ruth and hiring the nearest sandlot hotshot. For the same reason, the Rockies spend a tidy sum on spring training every year because they know the ROI of a winning season will be well worth it.
Male’s article contains seven more business lessons from baseball. Give them a read and let us know what you find actionable.
Let’s play ball! ⚾
Is your business in the big leagues yet?
Do you want to be? When you’re ready for that metaphorical relief pitcher, we invite you to contact Lumen Marketing. Give us a ring at 720-722-2987, or click the blue button below to request a meeting with our team.
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