Comments on: Sports Debate: What Athletes Should Be Using Social Media?

By: ducks24

ducks24 — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:34:07 +0000

I'm "sort of" retired now, but in my life I worked in different fields-including time doing a bit of sports reporting. I toy with the idea of starting a blog, but with so many good ones out there, I am still deciding.

I'm still a big sports fan though. "Small-time" is not an accurate term. How about "less well known?" The less well known I think benefit more and will in the long run. From a fan's point of view, if a non superstar athlete builds a following, he or she can hope to pick up new fans and also send tweets to a larger percentage of their followers.

As the lame expression goes, it's a win-win for players and fans. Players get feedback on what the public thinks of them. (they can almost see a "Q rating" building.) For the fan, it's nice to have contact with the athletes. I also have contact with a few entertainers, and I know they seem to love the instant feedback on their work. Twitter and Facbook work well for this. I do prefer Twitter for the most part over Facebook and My Space.

By: gijsbregt

gijsbregt — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:12:02 +0000

A somewhat odd discussion. Why should we decide who should use Twitter? Isn’t the whole point of Twitter (and social media in general) that these are personal media?

Still, I like the idea that “over the hill” athletes take up Twitter for lengthening their careeers or starting off a new career (in business). I can think of 2 athletes here in Holland who fit this profile.

By: Will Simpson

Will Simpson — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:35:28 +0000

Hi guys,

Not much to say that hasn’t been said, other than that ALL athletes should be using social media. For such a small, simple input the potential output can be potentially unheard of in any form of branding and marketing as a whole.

I just can’t get my head around that more athletes aren’t taking advantage of this, especially outside North America such as here in the UK, but I guess this more down to ignorance than sloth.

By: Sharlene Sones

Sharlene Sones — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:12:49 +0000

I think ANY athlete that wants to engage and build a fan base and their personal brand should be using social media. There is no better way to invite fans to participate in your story. When (such as during games) and how (content focus) they engage is a different conversation. And what the athlete or agent does with the fan base is another. Social media participation does not automatically equate to sponsors beating down doors. It should be part of a total strategy for developing and leveraging the athlete’s brand story. I’d tell any athlete that having direct ways to reach your fans is a very valuable proposition!

By: Anita Lobo

Anita Lobo — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:15:08 +0000

Hi Ryan, Sam,

Athletes who don’t play the most popular sport of their country, benefit most from social media smarts.

I see this in emerging markets all the time. The Indian market is a case in point. Cricket dominates and then there’s everything else.

Athletes who are not cricketers are taking the lead, to creating a new and direct channel to reach fans, new and current. This also helps work around mainstream media who give them inadequate coverage.

Interestingly, the cricket establishment is now rapidly adopting social media, to deepen their reach and to put a ‘human’ face to this 800 pound gorilla!

Cheers,
Anita Lobo

By: Sean Callanan

Sean Callanan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:08:55 +0000

Small time athletes have the ability to be more “social” as they develop their network which gets them more social media credibility as they interact with their fans.

Big time athletes have terrific opportunity to use social media platforms in more of a broadcast media manner like Shaq with his Toys 4 Tots campaign.

As more athletes (and sports leagues & franchises) become more comfortable with social media more athletes will become players will use social media. Then fans will start deciding “What value do I get following [athlete]?” that’s when you start seeing the cream rise to the top. Athlete’s that provide value to their fans will become big players regardless of their on-field ability.

By: Sam Taggart

Sam Taggart — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:36:54 +0000

Alex, excellent contribution. How do you think “small time” athletes can best capitalize on social media without the large fan base a “big time” athlete has?

By: Alex Bernstein

Alex Bernstein — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:55:51 +0000

As a former NFL player (97-01) who clearly fell into the “small time” category, I constantly tell active players that there is a TON of long term value that an athlete can gain from growing their personal brand.. and social media is the lowest cost / highest impact way to make it happen.

No matter where an athlete is in their career, growing their circle of influence is a good thing.

By: Sam Taggart

Sam Taggart — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:29:28 +0000

Gregg, nice point. The college athlete debate is a good one. My only thought is that college kids may be more restricted (coaches, school regulations, etc) and they also cannot make a profit for playing their sport. Just have to be careful. In the end, we agree: all can benefit!

By: Ryan Stephens

Ryan Stephens — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:26:41 +0000

@Ross – You bring up something interesting in your discussion of the middle-tier athletes. And I agree, it’s all semantics. I’d personally have 4 tiers with uber stars (Peyton, Tiger, LeBron) and then to tier (Fitzgerald, Chris Johnson), middle tier (declining vets, up and comers, etc.), then role players, most rookies as the final tier.

Anyway… I like that you compare Chris Johnson and Fitz. Yes Chris Johnson could really use social media to connect with the the fans more; he is in fact a mystery. My question is do you think some athletes are discouraged from using social media because they’re not as articulate as others? While Fitz is more polished, Johnson could certainly benefit from a bit of media training.