What a Supermodel and Pop Star Can Teach You about New Business Development

Usually the day after that last big football game – I think it’s a copyright infringement for me to actually name it – our office is abuzz discussing the TV ads that marketers spend millions of dollars producing.

This year our topic of conversation was all about the half-time show and the comments a certain quarterback’s wife made to the press immediately following the game.

We are living in a material world and I’m a material girl…

Like her music or not, Madonna is a solid performer.  I’m younger than Madonna and I know I can’t do cartwheels anymore.

Seriously, I just scraped my knees in an effort to verify that statement.  Ouch.

Thirty plus years into her career, Madonna can still get a crowd up on its feet and sell tickets, records, and other Material Girl items.

She’s built a career on being able to entertain.

As an agency, you need to be able to entertain your prospects to motivate them to purchase your skills and keep them coming back for more.

You need metaphorically speaking, to do cartwheels for your prospects.

Amaze them with something unexpected.  Just like Madonna, there are other younger, faster, better agencies out there who are just waiting for you to scrape your knees.

Don’t let them steal your halftime show.

Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful or because I dropped a pass …

One of the most controversial moments in the big game occurred after the game when supermodel Gisele Bundchen made some disparaging remarks about the New England receivers who dropped some passes.

Ms. Bundchen is married to New England quarterback Tom Brady.

Clearly, she was upset after the loss.

I would imagine she was trying to be a supportive wife and stick up for her husband.

But the lesson here is to make sure that your super power is in knowing your audience and developing appropriate messaging.

Something tells me Ms. Bundchen spent some time today exercising her apologizing super power to her husband’s team mates.

This sounds like simple advice but I’ve seen too many agencies reach out to prospects in one sector, say healthcare, with collateral materials highlighting their financial services work.

Make sure your messaging is as beautiful as one of Victoria’s Angels.

Follow this advice and maybe you can add a Lombardi trophy or a new client to your roster.