This weekend I played in an officially sanctioned Scrabble® tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina. I know what you’re thinking: What a word geek! Guilty as charged…
I won some spending money (any tips on how to spend it?), but more importantly, I discovered some useful marketing tips hidden in the tiles. Enjoy this, the first of 5 Marketing Tips I Learned by Playing Scrabble®:
Tip #1: Never Underestimate Your Competitor
On day two, I matched wits with Raymond Tackett, a warm, gray-haired gentleman from Calabash, NC. If you’re looking for genuine Southern hospitality, Raymond has it. Relaxed and neighborly, he seemed like the kind of man I could enjoy a cold beer with on a muggy Carolina night, not the kind of guy who evokes a cold sweat.
Raymond gave me fits. Only a lucky play late in the game (ZEBRA, double word score with the Z on the triple letter for 80 pts) saved my newly humble hide.
The lesson here is never to underestimate your competitor. You may think the firm across town offers sub-par products or services, but customers may like their low prices. A healthy respect for your competition keeps you on your toes and forces you to play your best game.
Stay tuned to Marketing Made Simple for the next of 5 Marketing Tips I Learned by Playing Scrabble®.