I’ve been watching Taskmaster lately. A lot. If you’re unfamiliar with the show, the premise is simple. Five comedians are given a series of tasks by Alex Horne, and then they are judged based on their performance by The Taskmaster, Greg Davies. The show has a huge following, but when you break it down (as I am wont to do with everything, in order to understand it better), there are a number of things that are applicable to marketing, as well as small businesses that may not have the resources for a full marketing team.
1. Your Budget Is Not A Hindrance
Taskmaster started as a web series, and even in its produced format on television, the budget is far from excessive. The reason the show resonates with audiences is that the tasks can be performed with everyday items, making it very accessible.
Additionally, you don’t need tons of equipment and fancy software to make great videos. Many of the segments could be produced for less than $200 (USD) – and I’m including a green screen, phone camera, and something like Filmora for editing in that dollar amount.
What can we take from this?
You don’t need a huge marketing budget to be successful. You need to be strategic in your thinking about what you can and can’t do. When money is a constraint, creativity takes the wheel, allowing you to do more with less.
2. Lateral Thinking Is Encouraged
Accomplishing the goal of each task in the show can be approached in multiple ways. The most straightforward method is to read the instructions on the task and follow them. This typically comes with a preset level of difficulty and time sink. The other way to accomplish the tasks involves lateral thinking, or, to use a phrase that I wish would go away, thinking outside of the box.
This is where contestants shine or stumble. Either way, it provides insight into how their minds work. Some find very innovative workarounds to accomplish tasks easily and ahead of the set time limits. Others make things harder for themselves with ideas that seem great conceptually, but turn to rubbish upon execution.
What can we learn from this?
There is a time and place for traditional marketing methods. On the other hand, some situations call for innovation and lateral thinking. Also, don’t worry too much about spectacular failures, because at the very least, they will be memorable.
3. Statistics Offer Remarketing Opportunities
Over on the Taskmaster YouTube channel, you will find tons of great videos. Some feature interviews with previous contestants, while others do a dive into statistics in hilarious ways. Want to know how many rubber duckies were used in the series? They have a montage. How many balloons met their untimely end? Appearances by Patatas (the cat)? The production team has extracted these instances to turn them into highly entertaining videos that appeal to existing fans, and also marketing to draw in new viewers.
4. The Process IS the Product
There’s a lot to be said about how Taskmaster has become such a huge success in the UK, as well as over here in the United States. People see these hilarious bits and not only talk about them, but think to themselves, “I can do that with people I know!”
I guess this is an extension on the first point, but many times in marketing, target audiences see the finished product – be it a short video, a blog post, an email campaign, etc. Taskmaster makes a product out of the process itself. The tasks are one thing, but how they are performed is what makes people laugh and gets them talking online and in the office.
5. Taking Fun Seriously, and Vice Versa
I could equate the time limits on the tasks in the show with deadlines in marketing, but that’s comparing apples to aardvarks. In marketing, we often lose sight of the creativity that goes into our daily tasks. Yes, everything we do generates metrics, and even weird divinations from those wizards who laud their abilities to decipher Google’s SEO/GEO algorithms.
While marketing can be strategic, the root of it all is creativity.
I’ve already mentioned the benefits of budget constraints, and how Taskmaster uses them to their advantage. However, while I’m certain the production side of the show can get very intense at times, the root of the whole show is creativity and fun.
When marketing folks – be they newbie copywriters, video creators, or strategic consultants – have the space to play with concepts, the end result is much better, and our clients are happier. Everyone benefits!
Taskmaster takes fun seriously, and finds the fun in even the most serious and mundane things.
If you ever wanted an example of how to bridge creativity with hard data (beyond SEO reports and lead gen), sit down with Taskmaster for a few (or all) episodes.
Through the laughter, you may find it fun, insightful, and even inspiring for your marketing team.
Note:
No matter your budget, Windsor Solutions can take your business to new levels. We marry creativity and a good sense of play with demonstrable results and quantifiable metrics. If you want to learn more about what we can do for your organization, reach out to us today!
