Over Labor Day weekend, I went to the Walla Walla Fair and Rodeo for the first time. In addition to seeing giant produce, prize-winning livestock and eating an order of French fries as big as my head, I picked up a couple of useful marketing lessons. Here are three you can use during your next campaign.
What can a rodeo teach you about marketing?
3 Marketing Lessons from the Walla Walla Fair and Rodeo
- Prepare for the Rain
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Even though we’ve been lucky enough to have beautiful Eastern Washington weather, the weekend of the rodeo was a downpour. With mud up to our knees, we soldiered on to watch the show; bringing the rain boots was a necessity.
Even though you may have fully mapped out your campaign and thought of every possible situation, it’s always best to be ready for the worst case scenario. Study up on your crisis communications skills just in case you have an unforeseen circumstance.
- Have a Backup Plan
During the show, one of the bulls (which weighed nearly 2,000 pounds!) refused to participate with the cowboys. After sitting on the ground for nearly 15 minutes, the men on horses were finally able to corral him and get him back to business. However, they didn’t let the show stop. Rodeo clowns kept the audience entertained and excited; they didn’t let the bull control the stage.
Have a backup plan in case your first attempts don’t pan out. If your pitch efforts land your message in the ‘junk’ folder, take to the wires and send out a press release or share your story on social media.
- Make a Personal Connection
One of the reasons we went to the fair and rodeo this weekend was to honor one of my husband’s relatives, who is a longtime participant in Walla Walla rodeo life. By traveling to see her at the show, we demonstrated our support, made a personal connection and it was worth the trip. Find something in common with your readers and reach out to them; social media is meant to be personal.
Being prepared for the worst, having a plan B and making a personal connection with your audience are all marketing lessons from the Walla Walla Fair and Rodeo. How would you use these tips in your next campaign?
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