Golf Industry Central Summer 2017 | Page 18

GMA Conference Wrap PRESENTATIONS: DAY 1 EMBRACING THE FUTURE – HOW IS THE WORLD CHANGING AND WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES? First cab off the rank to present on the Tuesday morning was Tim Longhurst, a futurist at strategic consultancy, Key Message. Tim offered insight into what is happening in the increasing socialising world around us. During the session, three topics were explored in depth: the empowerment of people, our changing world, and finding better ways. The session explained how the human cyborg was born. With mobile phones attached to everyone’s hand nowadays technology plays an increasing role in our everyday lives. Three cyborg megatrends where life is transforming were identified: search, social, and mobile. The immediacy, information and learning from strangers and getting support on the go all provides a “physiological hit” which is creating emotional connections. Or as Tim put it - “amazing experiences with your pocket”. In closing, Tim encouraged self-care, designed to ensure inner balance is retained following these five ideas: 1. Journaling – get your thoughts on paper 2. Meditation – inner balance is healthy 3. Practice gratitude – consider 3 things a day you are grateful for 18 4. Exercise – physical health feeds mental health 5. Perform random acts of kindness BRIDGING THE STARTER GAP – HOW TO CONNECT WITH THE STARTER GOLFER AND INCREASE YOUR REVENUE Nienke Bloem, independent entrepreneur in Customer Experience, followed Tim’s presentation with sharing her starter golf experience with the delegates, proposing a fun, easy way to present the game to beginners, making it about the golfer – the person, not about golf – the game. Nienke went on to map out five key phases of how to successfully direct the new golfer’s journey: 1. Awareness – be aware that they see everything differently 2. Become familiar – ask what do they want from this? 3. Consideration – what is the physical process, are you making it hard or easy? Effective, Easy, 
Enjoyable = Loyalty 4. Decision – How do you execute? Consider the timing of start, appropriate benefits, and the form of 
communication. Invoice shouldn’t be first! 5. Engagement – How do you engage? Would you call and ask when are we playing? The Golf Marketing Professionals I www.golfindustrycentral.com.au