My husband asked me if I wanted to play a little “Orcs Must Die” (actually, OMD 2, but who’s counting…) I’d been working hard on the Scavenger Hunt all day, so I said sure.

Of course, I’d been working hard on the Scavenger Hunt all day, so as we played, I realized I could apply some of the things that related to the game to marketing. So, here’s what I learned:

• Don’t give up. If you don’t win “5 Skulls” the first time you try something, step back, rethink your strategy, and try again. For example, if you only have three responses when you ask for people to reply to a post, maybe offering them something as an incentive to respond (a coupon, a freebie, etc.) might get you more participation next time.

• The weapons (tools) that work in one situation may be totally useless in another situation. Barricades may be able to block the orcs in one level, but arrow walls may be needed in another. Or, in marketing terms, direct mail may be a great way to promote an event that you are involved with, but Facebook may be a better way to hold a contest. Choose the correct strategy for the desired results.

• Multi-player is more fun than doing it all yourself. If you need help, ask for it. You’d be surprised how often you can find the supplies/labor/information you need if you reach out to your network.

• When your hand hurts, stop for the night. Don’t overdo. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day — and neither was your marketing plan. Break it into chunks, so you don’t burn all your bridges or yourself out of the game. It’s a long time goal–and a grind of a game. Take it at a reasonable pace.

I can’t wait to put some of these lessons into practice. How about you? What lessons have you learned from your seemingly unrelated interests? Send me a tweet to @RieSheridanRose and I’ll share the best ones. 🙂