sports businesses

Networking in Business Beyond Social Media

by |December 22nd, 2010

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…]

About Michelle Hill

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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Top Sports Business Resources of 2010

by |December 17th, 2010

Earlier this week, we had a vote for the top sports social media professional of 2010, and it garnered over 2000 votes. As voting wraps up today, we’ve decided to another one for the top sports business online resources of 2010. We’ve narrowed it down to these links, but if there’s one we’ve missed, let us know in the comments below, and if it attracts enough traction, we’ll gladly add it to the list. Read more about each nominee below the fold.

  • Sports Biz with Darren Rovell (38%, 73 Votes)
  • Sports Agent Blog (30%, 57 Votes)
  • Partnership Activation (11%, 20 Votes)
  • Sports Business Journal (10%, 19 Votes)
  • The Business of Sports (4%, 7 Votes)
  • Blog Maverick (3%, 5 Votes)
  • Sports Marketing 2.0 (2%, 3 Votes)
  • Sports Business Digest (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Sports Jobs Blog (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Sports Law (1%, 2 Votes)
  • Sports Biz News (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 190

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About Lewis Howes

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The Ultimate Sports Business Resources

by |September 8th, 2010

At Sports Networker, we pride ourselves on being one of the leading resources for covering the latest cutting edge topics in sports business, sponsorship, PR, and social media.

However, this post is not about us, but rather other resources that we have personally found to be useful and informational, in hopes of creating a great list of the ultimate sports business resources. We’re bound to have missed a few, so please let us know your favorites if they aren’t on the list! [click to continue…]

About Lewis Howes

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Sports Industry Statistics And Survey Results

by |August 18th, 2010

A while back we created the Sports Business Survey in hopes of creating a better understanding of the top sports industry executives.  More than 1,000 people completed the survey and we were amazed with the feedback.

We realized that the sports industry was seeing a shift (and is still shifting) in many different ways.

With all of the new ways to connect directly with industry decision makers through social media, or create a name for yourself in the industry from by creating a powerful website, we wanted to know what challenges sports professionals were facing, what they wanted to learn about, and how we could help them achieve their goals.

The sports industry survey results were first released as exclusive content for the Sports Executive Association, but it was so useful we decided to share it to our faithful readers here as well.

Here are some of the questions that were answered inside the survey:

  • What is the biggest challenge you face in the sports industry?
  • What would help you achieve your sports business goals?
  • What is one reason why you work in the sports industry?
  • What type of sports specific education training would help you get to the next level?
  • And more…

You download the survey for free here.

If you want more in depth training and networking, then become a member of the SEA for exclusive content, including e-books, audios and live video seminars from the best in the business (plus a lot more).

At SportsNetworker, we’re looking at these results very seriously in hopes of continuing to bring you the best content to help you and your team become perpetual winners.

What do you think about the survey results?  Are you shocked about the statistics or think they are spot on?  How will you use this information in your sports organization or career from here on out?  You thoughts and comments are welcome and please take a moment to share this on Facebook and Retweet it on Twitter.

About Lewis Howes

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Sports Business Weekly Buzz

by |July 30th, 2010

Euroleague Basketball signs first-ever title sponsor

Europe’s main club basketball competition is going to be renamed Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball after a ground-breaking sponsorship agreement signed by the airline and the league.

Tim Tebow Gets Chance To Take On Michael Jordan

  • Jockey announced the signing of Tim Tebow to a multi-year endorsement deal to endorse its line of products, including what it calls its new “Staycool” collection, which will hit stores in the spring of next year.
  • It’s the brand’s biggest sports endorser since the company signed Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer to start posing in briefs exactly 30 years ago.

TaylorMade-Adidas Pits Two to Twitter Way Into a Job

How far would you go for a job? Would you eat a bug or wash an elephant? Both those challenges were presented to two contenders for the title of social-media catalyst at golf juggernaut TaylorMade-Adidas. To test the social-media mettle of its two finalists, the company dispensed with round-robin interviews and luncheons and dispatched them on the ultimate job tryout: a 50-day, nine-country golfing trip chronicled on Facebook, Twitter and other sites. Along the way, the contenders must respond to interactive challenges that include everything from creating a viral commercial to participating in user-generated contests — such as eating a bug or washing an elephant on their most recent stop in Thailand.

Want to Score in Sports? Create a Connection

And few people are more qualified to make sense of this turbulent and fascinating year than Michael Levine, co-head of CAA Sports since 2007. Mr. Levine leads a unit that not only represents more than 500 of the world’s most famous athletes, but is also active in the areas of corporate marketing, broadcast rights and sports-property sponsorship sales. Ad Age recently caught up with Mr. Levine for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of the sports world.

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About Ben Sturner

Ben Sturner is the Founder and CEO of Leverage Agency, one of the most respected, innovative, resourceful and ambitious sports and entertainment branding sponsorship agencies on Madison Avenue. Sturner has taken his multi-million dollar business from a small start-up in his New York City apartment to a premiere agency that has secured deals for clients including: Jimmy Kimmel Live, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball, KFC, Gillette, Progressive Insurance, Southwest Airlines, Reebok, Comcast, Anheuser Busch, Fremantle Media, Mark Burnett Productions and NBC’s Prime Time Celebrity Apprentice, Reveille, Radical Media, as well as other top-tier brands. Ben has been named NYC Entrepreneur of the month in TrueNYC.com and has been interviewed and featured on ESPN, NBC, CNBC, USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL as an expert in sports and entertainment sponsorship.

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Sports Business Weekly Buzz

by |July 26th, 2010

The Elliptical For The Rich, Tai Chi For The Poor

*         Every year, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association releases its state of sports participation in America study. The 64-page document is filled with interesting tidbits that will make you smarter at the office water cooler.

*         Of all the fitness machines, the elliptical motion trainer has the highest percentage of participants whose annual household income exceeds $100,000 a year. Forty percent of those who use the elliptical make over $100,000.

Internal Watchdog Criticizes ESPN for Ethical Missteps on LeBron James Coverage

*         ESPN’s internal journalism watchdog sharply criticized the cable-sports network for what he said were ethical missteps in its recent broadcast of a TV program devoted to basketball star LeBron James.

*         The Walt Disney Co. network two weeks ago aired a one-hour special about James, who used the program to announce that he signed with a new team, the Miami Heat. In an unusual arrangement, James’s sports-marketing company suggested the program to ESPN and brokered an arrangement whereby the show’s advertisers donated money to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a charity James supports.

EA Sports Campaign Taps Football Stars, Fans

To launch the 11th iteration of its NCAA Football game, EA Sports is taking both a national and regional approach with its advertising campaign. A national television commercial features fans and football luminaries (such as Ronnie Lott, Tim Tebow, John Elway and Desmond Howard) talking about their college football fanaticism by completing the phrase “Where I come from …” with a team-specific comment. [click to continue…]

About Ben Sturner

Ben Sturner is the Founder and CEO of Leverage Agency, one of the most respected, innovative, resourceful and ambitious sports and entertainment branding sponsorship agencies on Madison Avenue. Sturner has taken his multi-million dollar business from a small start-up in his New York City apartment to a premiere agency that has secured deals for clients including: Jimmy Kimmel Live, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball, KFC, Gillette, Progressive Insurance, Southwest Airlines, Reebok, Comcast, Anheuser Busch, Fremantle Media, Mark Burnett Productions and NBC’s Prime Time Celebrity Apprentice, Reveille, Radical Media, as well as other top-tier brands. Ben has been named NYC Entrepreneur of the month in TrueNYC.com and has been interviewed and featured on ESPN, NBC, CNBC, USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL as an expert in sports and entertainment sponsorship.

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Sports Business Weekly Buzz

by |July 9th, 2010

LeBron Can Make More With Heat Than Cavs

  • But if you match up what James’ salary would be for the first five years in Cleveland and the five years in Miami, you find that the Cavaliers are only offering him $4 million more.

Tebow Leading League In Jersey Sales

  • It has been three months, and Tim Tebow still hasn’t taken a single (real) snap under center for the Denver Broncos, yet he’s leading the league in jersey sales.

Gillette, Not the Best Ads a Man Can Get

  • Cynicism runs amok among our hallowed list this week. And the biggest culprit of that kind of audience distrust is none other than Gillette. The razor maker owns the top spot with last week’s debut video, “Perfect Length,” as well as this week’s No. 5 slot, newcomer “Young Guns,” which drew over 3.7 million views combined.

Petal Advertising

  • To create a sense of unique opulence, flower designers Blue and Blooms were bought in. This company was the first in the U.K. to use organic media in the form of flowers to promote brands. The innovative approach to printing on fresh flowers creates a creative marketing tool for companies looking to use branded flowers that turn heads and create attention.

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About Ben Sturner

Ben Sturner is the Founder and CEO of Leverage Agency, one of the most respected, innovative, resourceful and ambitious sports and entertainment branding sponsorship agencies on Madison Avenue. Sturner has taken his multi-million dollar business from a small start-up in his New York City apartment to a premiere agency that has secured deals for clients including: Jimmy Kimmel Live, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball, KFC, Gillette, Progressive Insurance, Southwest Airlines, Reebok, Comcast, Anheuser Busch, Fremantle Media, Mark Burnett Productions and NBC’s Prime Time Celebrity Apprentice, Reveille, Radical Media, as well as other top-tier brands. Ben has been named NYC Entrepreneur of the month in TrueNYC.com and has been interviewed and featured on ESPN, NBC, CNBC, USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL as an expert in sports and entertainment sponsorship.

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Top 10 Resources for Sports Management Students

by |May 17th, 2010

You are a Sports Management student. You picked out the best school and you have been studying hard to work toward your graduation day.  But when the day comes when you are thrust in the real world, will you have the tools you need to make it in the sports industry?  How well do you know the industry?  Who do you know in the industry?  Who knows you?  What type of experience do you have?  The following is a list of the top 10 resources that every sports management student should utilize to help answer these important questions and launch a career in sports.

1. Sports Business Journal
Largely considered “the Bible of sports business,” Sports Business Journal is a must read for anyone in the sports industry, and anyone looking to break into the sports industry.  The Sports Business Journal covers all areas of sports, from Marketing and Sponsorship to Media, from Labor and Agents to Facilities.  Regardless of your area of interest, you’ll have all the latest industry information at your fingertips.  While this is not a free resource, Sports Business Journal does offer generous student discounts.

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About Paul Thompson

Paul Thompson is currently a student at The Ohio State University majoring in Sport and Leisure Studies with a minor in Business. Paul is an intern for Sports Networker and also works full-time for JP Morgan Chase. He enjoys meeting and learning about new people. He is an avid reader and loves learning as much as he can, whenever he can. Connect with Paul on Twitter Pthompson913

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Join The Sports Executives Association

by |May 4th, 2010

The highly anticipated Sports Executives Association is live.  Join in on the excitement today at www.SportsExec.net.

I  started to receive an a lot of emails from people who wanted introductions to other executives in my network. They also were asking for tips, advanced training on various sports industry topics, and wanted to find partners to help during their career and in their sports business.

These weekly email requests were becoming overwhelming, and that’s when the idea of the SEA came to me.  I realized there was a huge void in the online world for helping sports professionals receive ongoing education, connect with other top executives, and find a way to generate more opportunities.

SportsNetworker has assembled a platform, with the key sports executives involved that we are very excited about.

Make sure you read through all of the content, networking, and bonuses you will get access to right when you sign up.

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About Lewis Howes

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Geolocation is a Game-Changer for Sports Business

by |April 21st, 2010

Imagine this for a second: You head out in the morning to shoot some hoops at your local basketball courts and you decide to “check in” using either Gowalla or Foursquare or any of the new geolocation platforms. Boom! You’re rewarded with free tickets to an NBA game. Later in the day, you head to Foot Locker, and when you check in, you get a special discount on  any pair of Nike running sneakers. That night, when you head to your favorite sports bar and check in to let your friends know where you are, you’re gifted with an invitation to an exclusive VIP Playoffs party. The possibilities are endless.

Pretty soon, you won’t have to “imagine” any of this. In fact, as of last week, the first scenario (free tickets to an NBA game) is now a reality. On April 12th, VaynerMedia (the company I work for) helped facilitate a social campaign between the NBA’s New Jersey Nets and geolocation platform Gowalla. The campaign utilized Gowalla’s virtual item platform to distribute 250 pairs of virtual tickets in targeted locations (sports bars, outdoor parks, gyms) for April 12th’s New Jersey Nets v. Charlotte Bobcats basketball game. Users that found these virtual tickets were able to redeem the item for real tickets.

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About Sam Taggart

Sam is a Creative Strategist for VaynerMedia, a social media agency based in New York City. Sam previously worked as an Account Executive for the New York Jets as well as the New Jersey Nets and spent time working with former NBA player Jalen Rose as well as NFL safety Kerry Rhodes. He now focuses on creative strategy across VaynerMedia's portfolio. You can follow Sam at http://twitter.com/gosam & visit VaynerMedia at http://www.vaynermedia.com.

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