Things are getting a little crazy in the Golf Industry right now. Golf as you and I knew it will be changing. How and what will change is uncertain, but it is a Fact golf will have to change.
How we play golf, when we play golf, how we purchase golf products and secure golf services will all change. What is known right now is Trust is going to play an even larger part of how golf commerce will be conducted. Who can you trust to be Real and who can you trust doing Real business with now plays into the game of business.
Business people who play golf will have an advantage to breaking through the veils of deception business people will be putting up to hide inherent problems to a business’ produce/service or its personal. The questions will still remain..
How do I cut through the crap that is being thrown out on the Internet to find the Real business people and real products/services needed to do business?
There is no need in me belaboring the fact that Tiger Woods has casted a shadow on the image of golf and all who work at and play the game. What needs to be done now is golfers need to start being part of the solution and not the problem. Business Golfers need to look to distancing themselves from golf’s image of frivolousness that is growing in the mainstream business sector.
One of the most effective methods to changing a person’s or business’ image is to adopt more effective use of social media and to focus on belonging to one, not dozens, online/offline business network that is focused on keeping the insanity of black hat internet marketing out.
Social Media for Golf
As history has shown, there are right ways and a whole lot of wrong ways to using social media as a marketing tool. The most proven way of marketing a business is through an effective use of social media. Being more personable and less ‘on point’ to selling a product works to a business’ advantage. If a person proves thru normal conversation they are honest and trustworthy to the people around them, then those people are going to gravitate to being more interested in what that person does for business..that is if the business they do is legit and noncontroversial.
Golf businesses have to adopt a more purer social media style since most people outside of golf do not understand the underlying values playing golf with someone can uncover. Golfers using Social Media tools like Twitter need to be a person first and a business person second.
The shouting has to stop. Blatant attempts during a online conversation, or comment on a blog, to weasel in a remark on a person’s new golf swing tool or investment opportunity not only kills the perpetrators efforts to gain a customer but drives away another person who is tiring of being spammed.
The Word Up is: Calm down, build trust and let the commerce come to you instead of you attempting to shove an unwanted product/service down someone’s neck. Most importantly..if there are stated rules to follow..follow them and do not break them.
Business Networking for Golf
The online golf community is scattered to all horizons. Where golfers are online depends on their interest and many do not know what their interest are until they come online. What is important now in Golf is supporting Golf and it’s infrastructures. In order to put a solid effort behind supporting golf, business people need to become more profitable. Helping the golf industry survive at its current level comes from the golf industry helping the consumers afford to play golf. Not just token discounts but drastic roll backs of pricing.
Business Networking for business golfers is now more important than ever. Golfers can come online and join a group that offers the thrills of golf, but eventually the affordability factor will play part of the amount of time a golfer will survive in that group. Business networking and groups that focus on developing connections in a non-spamming way will be where golfers will eventually gravitate.
Business networking in the golf arena will become even stronger long after the economy improves once Golf gets back to being a normal part of people’s lives. To get there, business needs to be performed while golf is played. This effort needs to be balanced. Too much business during a golf outing will draw in the mistrust that is growing in the current economy. Too much golf during a business gathering will promote the growing image of frivolity.
Choose your business arena or networking group carefully. If you are in the golf business or like to play golf recreationally, balance the golf and business equally. Keeping this focus will return golf to what it should be..a way of life.
Get ready for the change in golf..it has to take place to survive. Are you ready? Let me know how I can help.
