If you are like me, you’ve been lost in the land of true crime documentaries, way too many zombie shows, and, of course, reality television (shoutout to the Bravo fans out there!). In the endless binging of monotony, violence, and mindless content consumption, I have been craving some feel-good entertainment. Enter Ted Lasso!
Ted Lasso, arguably the most beloved fictional football coach of all time, has captured the hearts of millions with his optimistic outlook and unwavering belief in the power of teamwork. But what if I told you that Ted’s winning mindset could also be applied to the world of B2B marketing to help elevate your brand and help your whole team win? Yes, it’s true! In this blog post, I’m sharing four key lessons that Ted Lasso teaches us about building a winning brand in the B2B marketing space.
Lesson #1: Believe in Your Team
Ted Lasso shows us that having an unshakable belief in your team is crucial to success. As a marketer, you must believe in your team’s capabilities and work together to achieve your goals. You must rally your team around a common purpose and ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same objective. When everyone is on the same page, you’re more likely to see success in your marketing efforts. From brand consistency and buy-in to business goals and vision to sales and marketing alignment, the team (or teams) need to all be helping row in the same direction (or should I say run since we are talking football?).
Lesson #2: Embrace the Underdog Mentality
Ted Lasso started out as a coach for an underdog football team that no one gave a chance. But he didn’t let that discourage him. Instead, he embraced the underdog mentality and turned it into a rallying cry for his team. As a B2B marketer, you should adopt a similar mindset. If you are smaller brand, a global enterprise brand or if you are helping create a startup within a larger entity, there is an opportunity to bring in this growth mindset. For marketers, it’s important to recognize that your brand may not always be the most established or well-known in every industry or solution, but that doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. Use that as motivation to outwork and outsmart the competition.
Lesson #3: Be Authentic
Ted Lasso is unapologetically himself, and that’s what makes him so endearing. Similarly, your B2B brand needs to be authentic. TopRank Marketing has talked about this a lot and it is something that we are committed to within our brand and our work, but we all still need a gut-check throughout our days. Is this messaging/creative/campaign feeling genuine and truly authentic to my brand? Don’t try to be something you’re not or emulate your competitors. Instead, embrace the values that make your brand unique and showcase them in your marketing efforts. Authenticity builds trust and helps differentiate your brand from the competition.
To quote Cisco’s Luxy Thuraisingam who shared insights and inspiration on the most recent Elevate B2B Marketing Podcast episode,
It may sound too simple, but to create an authentic connection you have to be authentic.”
Lesson #4: Prioritize Your People
At the heart of Ted Lasso’s coaching philosophy is a deep care for his players. He takes a holistic approach to coaching, recognizing that his players are not just athletes, but people with personal lives and struggles outside of the game. We hear it all the time for our brand content, “People buy from people.” That humanization is important to bring into the brand messaging and culture. As a B2B marketer, you should prioritize your people as well. Your employees, customers, and partners are all integral to the success of your brand, and investing in them will pay dividends in the long run.
Postgame Wrap-Up:
Ted Lasso’s winning mindset is not just applicable to the world of sports (or streaming television). B2B marketers can learn valuable lessons from his optimistic coaching philosophy and apply them to their own B2B content marketing and strategy. By believing in your team, embracing the underdog mentality, being authentic, and prioritizing your people, you can set your brand up for success and create a winning culture.
So, let’s all channel our inner Ted Lasso. Let’s work together, lift each other higher and elevate our B2B brands to new heights so we all win at the B2B marketing game!
Ready to elevate your B2B brand?
About the author
Meet Katelyn, our Director of Agency Marketing, with over 15 years of invaluable experience. She has a diverse marketing background spanning the finance, education, franchising, and non-profit sectors, making her a versatile strategist well-versed in full-service marketing. Katelyn’s innovative thinking and expertise in experiential, lead generation, and digital marketing help us drive impactful campaigns that resonate. When she’s not captivating our team with her quick wit and infectious energy, Katelyn’s passion for industry knowledge-sharing and community-building can be spotted at industry events, as well as exploring her native Michigan with her family and rescue goldendoodle, Benny.