Okay, so maybe it’s not quite time to put away the cold calling lists forever, but we might be getting close. Let’s explore the alternative.
Social media has a powerful way of putting a face to a name, a person behind a brand, and information from around the world at your fingertips. With the click of a Like, Follow, or making someone a 1st Connection, you’ve turned a cold lead into a warm one. Through the digital universe you are able to skip the company receptionist and have quick access to the communicator at the company of your choice.
In the sport business anyone can be a future client. There are those who like the sport personally, others who enjoy your entertainment for clients, or even those who help facilitate large group outings in a sport setting. If everyone you meet has the power of being your next client, how do you decide where it’s best to spend your time?
The information we need to find quality leads most often can’t be found on the front page of a company’s website. Facebook announced they have over 500 million users, Twitter claims over 190 million registered accounts, and LinkedIN rounds out its professional users to well over 50 million. This all sounds overwhelming to most, so where do you start?
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Kristen Sonsma has spent most of her sports career in ticket sales with experience in the AFL, MLS, and NHL. Connect with her on LinkedIn or on Twitter
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The explosion of social media has expanded our sphere of influence and connections to the farthest parts of the world. We’re able to do business with anyone in any country with the click of a button and a twist of the mouse. PayPal has made it possible to receive payment and pay our vendors within minutes.
Social media has allowed me to do business with pro athletes I would never have crossed paths with in a million years. Through LinkedIn and Facebook, I’ve been able to build rapport and long-lasting business relationships with my target market. Many are now clients and friends. But, how do you cross the border from a first contact via social media into relationship building and marketing? After all, it takes more than just a few emails to garner the ‘know, like, and trust’ dynamic that brings business your way.
Here are five easy steps that will move you beyond making that initial contact and into a solid relationship with your potential clients: [click to continue…]
Michelle Hill, the Strong Copy Quarterback for Winning Proof, is a sports and fitness copywriter. My mission is to help pro athletes, coaches, and sports agents increase their success score in their entrepreneurial endeavors with my writing expertise and creative turn of mind.I write website content, client letters, media pitch letters, sponsorship proposals, and brochures for sports-related companies. www.winningproof.com
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(This is a guest post by Daniel McLaren)
This is another side to Social Media that is often overlooked, when organisations plan their online approach yet can be as important, if not more so than having a Facebook/Twitter page.
A old approach that has taken on a new meaning and been opened up by social media is creating brand advocates and generating positive ‘Word of Mouth’. This is important because you as a brand can only generate a certain amount of trust in what you say to people. [click to continue…]
Tyler Johnson has written a number of articles for us over the last year including the Top 100 Ways to use Social Media in Sports and the influence of LinkedIn Groups. We wanted to take a deeper look at how Tyler personally uses social media and how it pertains to the sports industry on a daily basis.
1. How did you effectively utilize social media in your work with the White Sox?
While with the White Sox I mostly utilized Twitter and LinkedIn in relation to my work. I changed my signature in my e-mail to direct people to my social media accounts. In less than a year, I noticed some direct sales driven through LinkedIn. However, the most significant value that became of these tools was the rapport I developed with my clients and potential customers.
Once customers could see a quick snap shot of what I was about, a more solid relationship quickly followed. At the same time, using LinkedIn I was able to learn more about what they did, the companies they work for, and the things they enjoyed most outside of their 9 to 5 job.
I also used twitter to send out updates in regards to group outings, discounted ticket opportunities and other general PR material. I let our official MLB Twitter account drive the bulk of our traffic and Twitter brand, as I had other purposes in its use. [click to continue…]
Back by popular request, Sports Networker returns to the international stage one again this fall as it teams up with the UK Sports Network for an exciting sports professionals networking event at the Sports Bar & Grill in London.
When: August 10th from 6pm-9pm
Where: Marylebone Station, Melcombe Place, London NW1 6JJ, United Kingdom
The UK Sports Network is a group founded by Daniel McClaren that strives to share its expertise on sports social media and the industry’s latest trends with sports professionals. Since its inception in November 2009, nearly 1,000 sports professionals now seek the insight and creativity that the UK Sports Network offers.
All sports professionals are welcome to attend this event and learn from the experts on social media and the latest developments in the sports industry. Admission is £10 GBP if you sign up now, and £15 GBP at the door. Stay posted for updates about the event by registering for the event on LinkedIn HERE.
To receive early bird pricing and ensure your spot at this event (as there is limited spacing) register below and we look forward to seeing you at the event! Make sure to add your company name when you check out as this will be included on your name tag.
The year is 2010 and the economy is not only a burden for those searching for jobs but also those searching for internships. The process of finding an internship has never been considered easy, but currently it is unbelievable the amount of people fighting for work experience and those normally of which go unpaid.
Over the past 10 years the target audience of prospective interns has seen a dramatic shift. Interns used to predominantly consist of college students, normally juniors or seniors, who either through the design of their college program or through there own good will, were looking to gain experience in their field before taking off for the work force. Surely that same concept still holds true with collegiate students, but now not only are they competing against one another, but it is not uncommon for a slightly older generation to be competing against them as well. With the unemployment rate in the United States currently at staggering heights, whether a college student or a college student’s parents, everyone is looking for a way to get his or her foot in the door.
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Matt Clark is currently an intern for Sports Networker, studying sport management and public relations at York College of Pennsylvania. He has an extreme passion for learning about new trends in social media and technology and how it is revolutionizing sports. He has contributed as sports editor for the York College newspaper, been an event manager for collegiate sporting events, intramural supervisor, contributor to the sports information department, and executive board member on the Sport Management Student Association. Matt is heading into his third season as part of the game-day entertainment with the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees. Connect with him on Twitter @mattgclark
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The Sports Executives Association (SEA) is excited to host its first live networking event June 24th in New York City. This inaugural, members only, event will be hosted by PlayBeautiful, an interactive, community-driven pop-up venue is celebrating the 2010 FIFA World Cup for 30 days in NYC.
They will be featuring match viewing parties, player appearances, demonstrations and private events including our SEA networking meet-up. PlayBeautiful’s main location at Openhouse Gallery will feature an indoor mini-stadium modeled after Soccer City in Johnannesberg, South Africa.
Be there, Thursday, June 24th from 6-9 p.m. for the chance to network with other SEA members in person. There will be appetizers, cash bar and exciting opportunities to connect in this unique World Cup venue.
If you are not yet a member of the SEA but would like to attend, just sign up here and gain free access. Please RSVP on LinkedIn to let us know if we’ll see you there. You must be a paid member of the SEA or will not be admitted at the door. We hope you’ll join us for this exclusive event.
(This is a guest article by Cabe Flesher)
As the old saying goes, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” and this can’t ring more true than in the wide world of sports, specifically sponsorships sales. We are out there everyday trying to get in the door somehow and we have all heard the phrase, “Oh, I know someone I can call or email”.
Well, speaking from the trenches, it’s best to build on that network as much as possible. Networking now isn’t always about hitting the latest local networking event, which we all know is filled with the same sales people trying to sell each other and vying for the for real buyers in the room. It’s more about reaching out to our peers on a national level trying to develop a bond there that will someday pay off. Let’s face it we got into sponsorships because we want to get paid. So however you can achieve that should be your goal.
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Fact: blue chip brands receive thousands of sponsorship proposals every year. Estimate: there are some 300,000 properties seeking sponsorship (depending on the way you define it).
How do you break through the relentless clutter to get the ear and sincere consideration of a sponsorship decision maker? A well researched and tailored proposal may increase your chances, but these days there are a lot of other properties spending a lot of time doing the exact same thing on the sponsor you’re targeting.
Fact is, when you’re submitting a proposal to a blue chip brand that gets flooded by proposals (especially when you’re submitting through a proposal management system), it’s a stretch to think that every proposal will get an in depth review on the merit of its own ideas. Actually some systems rate your proposal against a scorecard for the sponsor so that they don’t even have to read the proposal or see your “vision,” only the nuts and bolts. This may be deflating considering many properties spend 1-2+ hours on each tailored proposal. Keep reading to find out how you may be able to make it out of the pile.
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Kris Mathis is the Founder/CEO of SponsorPitch.com, a New York City-based sponsorship networking start-up. Kris started his career in sponsorship representing Fortune 500 clients at Edelman PR's sponsorship consulting division prior to jumping to a brand management position at Paris-based mobile gaming startup, Gameloft. In between, Kris attended graduate school in Nashville (Music City!), Tennessee. In his spare time, Kris enjoys eating, running, the beach, UFC and Bryant Park. Follow Kris on Twitter @Sponsorpitch!
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Last May I was kicking back with Lewis Howes at a Chicago Cubs game, not knowing in two weeks time I would be doing the same thing with another colleague, Jude LaRose. Still digesting the LinkedIn knowledge Lewis dropped on me, Jude and I ended up not paying much attention to the play on the field and instead spent most of the time hatching a plan.
In working with LinkedIn, I have started to see the value in being a part of different groups and organizations that can benefit my career. With a desire to become more actively involved, we decided to start a group in Chicago for sports professionals working in the area.
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Tyler Johnson is an innovative thinker inspired by the likes of Bill Veeck, Jon Spoelstra, Pat Williams & Brooks Boyer. Currently working for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment as a Group Sales Account Executive for the Denver Nuggets. Prior he worked as the New Business Development Executive with the Chicago White Sox. Tyler has also worked directly with the inventor and creator of Arena football and also for Mike Ditka’s former Chicago AFL franchise. As a former collegiate athlete and business sensed individual Tyler ventured to combine his passions to get into the business side of sports.
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