A couple of months ago, NYC-based social media agency Carrot Creative challenged the agency I work for, VaynerMedia to a game of basketball. “Hey @vaynermedia,” they tweeted, “Since our comps are the 2 best Sports Social Media Shops It is time to battle it out on the Basketball court! #challenge.” Of course, we accepted the challenge and played the game. VaynerMedia won, 61-41.

The Website

Carrot created a fantastic microsite for the game, called SocialMediaBasketball.com. They included both teams’ starting rosters, complete with names, nicknames, and the ability to follow all of us on Twitter. Even cooler? Visitors had the ability to “like” the team they were rooting for / thought would win. Finally, a live feed featured anyone who tweeted about the game with the hashtag #CCvsVM.

The Game

We played the game at the Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex, on the lower west side of Manhattan. Both teams arrived, warmed up briefly, and we got started. We hoped to show the game live on Ustream. We even invited a friend, Internet personality Owen JJ Stone, to emcee the event. Unfortunately, the wi-fi connection at the facility was not fast enough to stream, so we instead live tweeted the whole thing.

Carrot jumped out to a 5-0 lead right away, but we quickly responded to go up 22-7, and then 43-19 at halftime. The second half was back and fourth, but VaynerMedia ultimately prevailed by 20 points. Susan Shan, a sports blogger, came to cover the event and put together a great video recap.

What’s Next?

In the end, the game was about friendly competition and having fun. However, it served many other purposes. After the game, the two companies went out for a couple of drinks. We networked. We got to know each other on and off the court, in a much different sense than we would have at a more traditional event. Only a few of us had ever crossed paths before the game, but after the game, we had a new-found camaraderie and friendship that will benefit us both down the line. We also got some press out of the game, which was completely an added value.

I’d like to see more of this. Forget conferences or meetings or networking events. If you’re reading this article on this site, you probably like to compete. Get together with other entrepreneurs or companies in your area and make it a good time!

Since our win, we’ve talked with Carrot about having a rematch, maybe in another sport, and we have received challenges from a number of other companies and entrepreneurs. If you hadn’t noticed already, VaynerMedia is quite the competitive company. Our founder, Gary Vaynerchuk, insisted we would beat any company on Twitter, including Facebook & Digg. It’s possible he forgot about @NBA…

What do you think about the game? What could we do next time to  make it a better experience (keeping in mind that we planned to stream the event but could not)?

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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Note: If you don’t use Twitter, you can still follow along! Twitter has announced the ability to “fast follow” any account by simply texting “follow @____” to 40404. Their tweets will automatically be sent to your phone. So, if you’re a football fan, no reason not to read this article and keep up with the best NFL sources this season!

The 2010 NFL season is quickly approaching. The preseason is already under way, and the regular season begins on Thursday, September 9th, with the Minnesota Vikings visiting the New Orleans Saints in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game. I love baseball and I’m a huge basketball fan as well. In fact, I really enjoy watching most sports. But there’s nothing like sitting on your couch on a Sunday afternoon with a couple of buddies, and a table full of junk food and beer, and watching nine straight hours of hard-hitting football.

So, why am I writing this article? Why a Twitter Guide? Twitter has become the best platform for up-to-the minute news and analysis in most arenas. If you want to stay on top of… anything you care about, Twitter is the place to do it (especially with “fast follow”). I’ll list a number of my favorite NFL-related accounts with a brief reason as to why they’re worth following. Enjoy!

Note: I did not include any team-specific accounts or fantasy football-related accounts.

First, definitely head to nfl.com/twitter. This is a great official Twitter resource for NFL fans that will lead you to a lot of fantastic content.

The NFL [@NFL]

The league’s official account, so you can expect a wide variety of content. The league does not interact with fans too much, so the account essentially serves as a news feed.

Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner [@NFLCOMMISH]

The account serves as a play-by-play of the commissioner’s activities. Kind of like, “I did this” and then “I did that.” While a little dry and robotic (not sure if he does his own tweeting), still interesting to see the day-to-day activities of the NFL’s main man.

Chris Mortensen, ESPN Senior NFL Analyst [@mortreport]

Mort, as they call him, is pretty much ESPN’s go-to-guy when it comes to the NFL, so definitely worth it to follow him. Expect a lot breaking news to go through him first.

Peter King, Sports Illustrated Senior NFL Writer [@SI_PeterKing]

Similar to Chris Mortensen, he’s a trusted source on the NFL and a senior writer at one of the most powerful sports publications in the world. Expect a lot of good content and breaking news to come from this account.

Rich Eisen, NFL Network Host [@RichEisen]

Eisen has been around for a long time. He’s a former SportsCenter anchor and was the first on-air talent hired by the NFL Network. Eisen is funny, and tweets a lot!

Bob Glauber, NFL Columnist for Newsday [@BobGlauber]

Love following Bob Glauber. He tweets all the time and he often retweets other league and player accounts. He covers the NFL as a whole, and does a very nice job.

Brian McCarthy, NFL PR [@NFLprguy]

Maybe the best account if you want an overview of significant events, positive & negative, from around the league on a daily basis.

Greg Aiello, NFL PR [@gregaiello]

Greg and Brian McCarthy work essentially in conjunction to provide NFL public relation updates. Definitely worth the follow.

Adam Schefter, ESPN NFL Insider [@Adam_Schefter]

Schefter tweets consistently about the NFL. Being that he is an insider, Schefter is often one of the first to break news from around the league. He’s currently tweeting about his trip around the nation to visit NFL training camps. Great stuff!

Trey Wingo, ESPN NFL Live Host [@wingoz]

The host of ESPN’s primary NFL television program, Trey is well-informed and a great tweeter. He @replies people who talk to him and updates regularly.

Pro Football Talk, NFL Resource [@profootballtalk]

Just a stream (no interaction), but super consistent tweets that link to great articles. No brainer follow for any football fan!

Some of my favorite players.

These guys tweet often and serve up high-quality content. Most of them do a nice job of interacting with fans (although, I don’t think anyone can beat my man Kerry), and deserve special recognition.

Chad Ochocinco [@OGOchoCinco]

Nick Mangold [@NickMangold]

Nick Barnett [@NickBarnett]

Terrell Owens [@terrellowens]

Kerry Rhodes [@KerryRhodes]

Ricky Williams [@RickyWilliams]

While I think this is a great start, I know I missed some great NFL accounts. What are some of your favorites? Try to be objective. I’m thinking about accounts that any football fan would want to follow and interact with, not just an Indianapolis Colts fan or a Seattle Seahawks fan. Please share some of the ones I missed in the comments below. Oh, and one last question: Are you ready for some football?

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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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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.

2. Do you think certain platforms/tools work best in sports? Does it depend on the user?

I think Facebook and Twitter seem to dominate the landscape for fans and professionals alike.  In my opinion, Facebook more quickly generates more measurable interactivity between teams, athletes and/or fans.  Twitter though, carries a larger PR value; redirecting people to sites, articles, box scores, etc. It is more complicated to track the fan behavior right off the bat.

I think the user surely drives how teams can best put their messages out there through these platforms.  What the fans want is ultimately what the teams will want to provide.  As teams and leagues dig a little deeper into the batter’s box, we’ll begin to see even more features that will draw us in and feel part of the team.

Professionally I am still a huge fan of LinkedIn and what it provides.

3. What are your goals or plans for incorporating social media into your work for 2010?

This year I really want to incorporate more interactive mediums.  I’d like to upload more video and connect better through photos as well.  Both of these can be easily done and increasingly effective in sharing ideas with others.  Keep an eye out for some great new interviews and tours to come.

4. Has there been one instance or a particular success story you can share where social media has really helped you out?

Unfortunately at this point I can’t say I’ve closed a million dollar deal due to Twitter or LinkedIn or Facebook, but I’ve have plenty of jolts of success along the way.  I would say the rapport and how well I was able to connect with potential customers and clients was the greatest value Social Media served.  Locally,  it has significantly helped brand me as a professional.  In my office, I was the go to guy when a co-worker had a question about their Twitter or LinkedIn account.  Just like real networking, the more I put in, the more I got out!

5.  Are there any tricks or advice you would share with someone trying to incorporate more new media into their sports team, business or overall brand?

I can’t say I have any magical tricks.  My best advice would be to be consistent with the brand message you want out there and express it as genuinely as you can.  Keep a careful eye on trends to help get noticed and interact with those whom you enjoy, admire or want your brand associated with.

6. What is your favorite part about working in the sports industry?

My favorite part about working in the sports industry is that my work is my passion and my passion has been my work. I can’t say I really have felt liked I’ve worked a day, since I’ve enjoyed just about every moment.  Being able to learn what I have at a young age and the experiences and people I’ve met will forever live on with me longer than any career. It’s what makes working in sports worth it.

It was great to get a chance to talk to Tyler. Take a look at his other posts here.

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About Lewis Howes

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Last week we posted a job description looking for a new community manager for our sites. The response was overwhelming and we received many amazing resumes and applications. The top 10 were invited to participate in the next stage of the search by submitting video posts explaining why they wanted the job. The videos showed clearly why these candidates made the top 10 cut to begin with. They are dedicated and passionate, something we value a lot for our company.

Some candidates really stood out and impressed us. They did crazy things like submit their application an hour after we requested it, created a website, sent multiple video posts and recorded themselves from a Sonic Drive-Through to illustrate their 24/7 hustle.

If you want to stand out you have to be willing to think creatively and show that you have that drive. We had people submit resumes that were far more qualified with impressive work experience, but that’s really not what was most important to us. In the end we wanted someone who would out hustle the rest and be hungry to learn every day.

Unfortunately not all of the applicants were such rock stars. There were some obvious job no-no’s we ran across when reviewing submissions. I came up with a list of tips on things to avoid when applying for jobs that might be useful to current job seekers.

Don’t send links to dead social networking accounts. If you have a Twitter account but don’t follow anyone and have never tweeted from it, I probably don’t need to see it. I wouldn’t call attention to the fact that you don’t use this tool when this job involves social  networking and being familiar with this platform. It’s calling attention to your weakness, so leaving it out is probably best.

Telling me about your social media expertise and then linking to your Twitter account with less than 100 followers is probably not a good idea either. Don’t try to build up your qualifications or exaggerate, especially when your potential employer obviously knows a thing or two about social media. It looks bad on your part.

One of the weirdest applications had very little information and a few links. Then the applicant stated that they had many qualifications for the job but too many to list. I’m not sure if that’s laziness or ignorance but please, DO tell me why you are qualified for the job.

We are a pretty casual crew but swearing in your cover letter or typing “LOL” might be pushing it. I know a lot of employers who wouldn’t consider those applications.

I’m not sharing this information to embarrass or make fun of anyone. I’m sharing it in the hope that it helps job seekers and those who are looking to work in sports or any industry. If you’ve made similar mistakes in the past, don’t worry. Be positive, sharpen your game and keep working toward your goals.

About Lewis Howes

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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.

TripAdvisor launches travel creative challenge

• In an effort to show the effectiveness of display advertising, TripAdvisor is challenging travel brands and advertising agencies to create an ad campaign which will run on the travel website.
• The campaigns will be judged by a panel of TripAdvisor sales and marketing experts, the winning campaign will receive around $314,500 in equivalent CPM advertising media value on TripAdvisor.

Cold Stone Looks to Drive Store Traffic With Facebook E-Gifts

• Cold Stone Creamery is the latest brand to embrace social media applications on Facebook. Starting this week, the ice cream chain will allow consumers to send tangible gifts to friends via the social network.
• Using the e-gift app, developed by e-commerce firm First Data Corp., consumers can select one or more friends to send gifts to, either by adding them from Facebook or entering their e-mail address. Unlike virtual gifts on Facebook, however, the Cold Stone app sends a code for a physical product that can be redeemed at any of the chain’s 1,300 locations.

Jack Johnson And FilterForGood Join Forces To Promote Bottled Water-free Initiatives

• When Jack Johnson heads out on a 35-date North American tour this month in support of his new album, To the Sea, the singer, songwriter, surfer and environmental advocate will leave an even lighter footprint with help from Brita.
• Johnson is inviting Brita to join his tour to help expand his already unparalleled greening efforts. Brita’s FilterForGood movement, which has been working since 2007 to reduce bottled water waste, will be embedded on the tour to provide Brita-filtered water to the band, crew and fans and encourage concert-goers to make other simple environmentally friendly choices that are better for the Earth and our oceans.

Children’s Food Marketing Guidelines Delayed

• A working group made up of officials from several federal agencies proposed the voluntary restrictions in December limiting the marketing to children of foods and beverages that contain significant amounts of sugar, sodium and saturated fat. The standards were then expected to be made available for public comment before being delivered to Congress this month. Instead, they have yet to be publicized.

European Plane Maker Submits Bid for U.S. Tankers

• The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company submitted an 8,800-page bid on Thursday for a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract amid tensions over whether European subsidies would give it a cost advantage over Boeing.

Opening a Big Store in China, Apple Remains a Market Underdog

• The company, which has been slow to cultivate the Chinese market, has relatively few sales outlets in the country and only one Apple Store — a modest branch in Beijing.
• But with Apple set to open a flagship showroom on Saturday in Shanghai — one of its largest stores in Asia — the company is making a new push to tap into the world’s biggest mobile phone market and grab a bigger share of China’s fast-growing consumer electronics business.

A Sharp Focus on Design When the Package Is Part of the Product

• SALES of facial tissue during the cold and flu season are, appropriately enough, feverish, but not so during the summer. In the four weeks that ended July 12, 2009, for example, revenue for the products totaled $57.8 million, compared with $92.4 million in the four weeks ending Jan. 24, 2010, a difference of nearly 60 percent, according to SymphonyIRI Group, a market research company whose data does not include Wal-Mart sales.
• Now Kleenex, the brand that invented facial tissues 86 years ago, is hoping to bolster summer sales with packages that resemble wedges of fruit and look more at home on a picnic table than a bedside table. The A-frame packages, featuring fruits like watermelon, orange and lime, were available only at Target last summer, and are being sold at all major retailers this summer.

G.E. Has a ‘Capital’ Idea

• G.E. will start to find that out as it rolls out ads for its GE Capital unit, which was battered by the financial crisis because of its exposure in areas like commercial real estate and consumer credit card debt.
• The campaign features actual companies with which GE Capital works. The first is Taylor Guitars, founded in 1974, and others will include Kalitta Air, JetBlue Airways and Triumph Motorcycles.

RIM Needs a Lift with BlackBerry 6

• Research In Motion (RIMM) presented Queen Elizabeth II with a white BlackBerry during a royal visit to the Canadian company’s headquarters on July 5. Her Royal Highness is an apt representative of RIM’s customer base: established, traditional, and likelier to use a phone to e-mail instructions to staff than download Lady Gaga videos. In short, not the audience co-Chief Executive Officer Jim Balsillie has to woo as RIM loses ground to Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone and handsets running Google’s (GOOG) Android operating system.

Cisco Wants Flip In On NBC’s Olympic 2012 Plans

• Cisco provided NBC with Flip video cameras to allow U.S. athletes, bloggers, reporters and analysts to record the behind-the-scenes stories in Vancouver and share the videos on NBCOlympics.com. It’s not clear whether NBC will enter into a similar agreement with the company for the upcoming Olympic games that begin July 27, 2012, although Cisco will support the advanced infrastructure for the London 2012 games.

Boro offers monthly shirt sponsorship packages

• Middlesbrough has launched “front of shirt” sponsorship packages on a monthly basis after season-long offers failed to meet the English Championship club expectations.

Multi-million pound boost for Tottenham Hotspur

• The deal, with Autonomy Corporation PLC, a global leader in infrastructure software, will run for two years and only covers Premier League matches. Financial details were not released, but the deal is known to be worth more than the £8.5 million (US$12.9 million) annual sum Spurs were receiving from Mansion. The Autonomy partnership is believed to be closer to £10 million (US$15 million) per season, while Spurs will sign another shirt sponsor for cup games, including the Uefa Champions League.

Toyota plans to use customer accolades in campaign

• Toyota is to highlight user experiences and industry accolades in its latest marketing push in an attempt to reassure consumers following a spate of recalls and faults.
• The company wants to extend the theme of its “Your Toyota is My Toyota” pan-European advertising campaign, and says it is focused on “overcoming prejudices”.

Skip the Scotch, Just Have a Swig of Mellowberry

• “Relaxation shots” like Snoozeberry and iChill and soporific beverages with names like Unwind, Dream Water, Koma Unwind Chillaxation and Drank are aiming to take away the very buzz their caffeinated predecessors were designed to deliver. There are already more than 350 kinds of relaxation drinks on the market, according to Agata Kaczanowska, an analyst with the research company IBISWorld. Instead of slogans like Jolt’s “All the sugar and twice the caffeine,” these new drinks proffer serenity with maxims like Unwind’s “Tired of being wired?” and Drank’s “Slow your roll.”

Panasonic in biggest ever Lumix campaign

• The campaign, created by The Campaign Palace, features three 30-second TV spots, which will run across free-to-air and pay TV.
• The creative focuses on the theme “You don’t have to be a great photographer to take great photos”, and is backed by targeted magazine and online advertising, as well as outdoor and point-of-sale activity.
• The print and online advertising will be highly targeted. For instance, ads relating to the DMC-TZ10 Lumix model will focus on travel media, whereas ads relating to the DMC FT2 model will target niche surfing, skating and snowboarding media.

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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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(This is a guest article by Anthony Alsop)

As of November 2008, India had a reported 81,000,000 users on the internet, which was an 100% increase from 2007, and they generated 4.54% of all internet traffic for 2008. With over 1.1 billion people, that’s only a mere 7% penetration level of the general population on the internet, and one can only imagine how many new users have started since then.

Not only is the country generating new users at a rapid, but there is a reported 350,000,000 mobile devices currently being used by Indian people as well. The country has long been a hot bed for technology development, but is one of the fastest growing general telecom markets in the world too.

How does sports play into this? Sachin Tendulkar is India’s greatest batsman in the game of cricket. He has scored the most runs in cricket history and is arguably one of the games greatest ever. In India, where cricket is considered a religion, he is the ultimate celebrity. Imagine if we combined the star power of athletes like Chris Johnson and Reggie Bush, then imagine that was just one man. Sachin Tendulkar is that man.

There have been plenty of fake Twitter accounts involving Sachin since Twitter was created, last week however Tendulkar officially arrived on Twitter with this tweet.

In a country of over one billion people, it wouldn’t be long before his fans found him. That first tweet came on 11:21am on May 4th, which was nearly 6 days ago as of this writing. Since that tweet, Sachin now has over 245,000 followers and growing. He already has more Twitter followers than Chris Johnson and Reggie Bush combined.

If we break it down that is an average of:

• 44,545 new followers per day
• 1856 new followers per hour
• 30.9 new followers per minute

In other words he gets a new follower every two seconds, lets hope he turned his email alerts off. The following Twitpic is what accompanied the first tweet, and that has had 155,000 views on its own. Indian people, just like the rest of the world, are starting to embrace Twitter as part of everyday life.

It may not be the most glamorous of photos, but that didn’t matter. His fans wanted verification that it was Sachin and they got it. Within 72 hours Twitter had also given him the verified tick of approval, the fastest tick that this author has ever heard of.

With YouTube recently debuting it’s near-live streaming site for the Indian Premier League, cricket is starting to go mainstream in social media too. The IPL Youtube channel has over 54,000,000 channel views and over 92,000 subscribers. The IPL’s recent championship match has had over 117,000 views in 13 days, and that broadcast lasted over 4 hours. Not to mention it’s Facebook fan page which has nearly 300,000 fans and the league’s Commissioner, who has over 144,000 followers on Twitter.

India has the number behind it, amazing numbers, and those numbers will soon turn to dollars for international sports teams. The NBA knows about it, having recently set up NBA India. If you’re figuring out where your next marketing opportunity may come from for sports, think of India.

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Anthony Alsop is a blogger, consultant and founder of sportspiel.com.au. He has worked previously in both the IT and sport sectors, so focusing on the niche of social media and sport was a natural fit. Anthony is from Melbourne, Australia which was recently named the sporting capital of the world and has consulted with sporting organisations both in Australia and in the United States. He is also running Australia’s premier sport and social media event, the Digital Sport Summit. You can find him on Twitter @anthonyalsop or via email

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About Lewis Howes

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(This is a guest article by Michael Coco)

We all know that technology plays a major role in sports. If it weren’t for new inventions and innovative ideas half the sports we know of wouldn’t exists. If it weren’t for technology we wouldn’t have the instant replay, the headset for coaches to throw, or even the wireless microphone for our referees to mix up their words on. However, technology has come a long way since those early discoveries.

There is no longer a need for instant replay with the new RFID tags (Radio Frequency Identification Technology) that European Rugby teams are experimenting with. This micro location technology can transmit the exact coordinates of the ball and players at an astounding 2000 times per second. It can also be used to calculate movement, speed, accuracy, and even force of impact. If this technology was implemented in the US it could do away with any type of bad call in relation to ball location and it would essentially eliminate the guess work from officiating. Not only that, but the type of data we could receive before, during, and after every play would be nothing shy of amazing.

The European Rugby League is not the only organization that sees the value in technology; The NHL recently held its first broadcast in 3D and from the sound of things it was a huge success. There are other leagues exploring this technology, in fact there are enough of them out there for ESPN to launch the first ever 3 dimensional network. Certain European Hockey Teams are already implementing 3D dashboard signage. Once the craze catches on the opportunities to monopolize on this type of technology will be endless.

Many athletes are taking advantage of the latest and greatest trends in technology as well. Competitive Ice Skaters like Clint Johnson and Steve Bradbury are taking their experience on the ice to the design table. They have developed a new way to make skates using a process called rapid prototyping. This process allows athletes to get a custom pair of boots made in record time and be on the ice with them faster than ever before. Even better than that, is a prototype that researchers in the Netherlands are working on which will allow athletes to coach themselves. It’s not a video or instructional pamphlet; it’s a state of the art apparel line that can sense your every move and let you know which areas you need to improve. This clothing line, which is known as the Haptic Sports Garment, uses vibrations to help improve posture, target key muscle groups and even help maintain optimal speeds.

With the onslaught of social media, there are also many technological advances taking place away from the field. We all know that athletes are using social sites like Twitter, Facebook and USTREAM to connect with fans and build their personal brand, but did you know that they can now make money directly from doing it? iPhone applications like the Chad OchoCinco Experience are earning athletes money from both point of sale and ad revenue; and, websites like fanwave.com allow athletes, coaches, and teams alike to capitalize on every tweet they send. There are also third party applications like Venuing and Twackle that allow fans to become more involved with their respective teams and players than ever thought possible.

It’s almost impossible to try and imagine where technology will take us next. Will there one day be tiny live cameras and microphones inserted into basketballs, footballs, and baseballs that allow fans to get an even closer view of the action? Will we all one day be playing video games with holographic players on a life size field? Will advertising one day be controlled using our brain waves? It may all sound far-fetched but the technology is there, and it may be on the the market sooner than you think.

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Michael Coco is an Event Coordinator at Octagon Sports Marketing who has been working in sports nearly all his life. Getting his start with a well established sports publication entitled South Louisiana Sports Scene, Michael steadily has built upon his passion and knowledge of the industry. Michael, aka Coco, specializes in marketing and event planning and has done work with various organizations including, the New Orleans Zephyrs as a marketing and community relations Associate. He currently resides in the Chicagoland area but is a Southern boy at heart and is always up for a good conversation. If you feel obliged to reach out, you can connect with him on Twitter @michaelcoco or LinkedIn

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About Lewis Howes

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Mark Titus is a former walk-on basketball player for The Ohio State University.  On the court he was fairly unremarkable, playing 47 minutes and scoring 9 points in his collegiate career. However, off the court is where Titus shines.

In November 2008 he started his blog, Club Trillion. The trillion part of the name comes from basketball box scores, when a bench player comes in and plays one minute without registering a single other statistic they will have a one followed by zeroes in 12 categories, which comes out as a trillion.

His blog now has over 2.8 million views and has lead to Titus becoming one of the most popular players on the Ohio State team. Club Trillion is also a great example of how an athlete can build up a following through social media; the blog has nearly 10,000 fans on Facebook and over 15,000 followers on Twitter. Titus is also a hit on YouTube, his video Mr. Rainmaker has nearly 300,000 views.

Why does Titus win with social media?

People can identify with him. In sports there are very few stars and few who make it into the pros,  but every team has bench players. Almost everyone that plays sports has at some point has been a bench warmer, and people can relate to that.

He’s different, Titus summed it up well when he said, “Everyone hears about the guy that scores 20 points each night, but no one talks about the guy at the end of the bench. I can tell people about the game from a perspective they haven’t heard before.”

As fans we want the insider info and not the PR talk we get we generally get from athletes in interviews and in the press. Titus does just that, he takes us inside the locker room and gives us a transparent view of the team.

He doesn’t use his blog to tell us how hard to team are working and how focused they are on winning – we already know that and can read about that in other places.  He focuses on the more quirky and fun side of the team which allows us to get to know the personalities of the players as well as him.

How can other athletes apply this?

Superstar athletes like Kobe and LeBron, or Rooney and Beckham will get publicity, fans and sponsorship dollars because they are the best at what they do.

For athletes who aren’t superstars getting visibility can be hard, but in a world where anyone can tell their story and an Ohio State bench player can build up a substantial fan base, there are endless possibilities for athletes of all levels.

Whilst every athlete may not be as articulate or humorous as Titus, here’s a few things athletes of all levels looking to utilize social media can learn from him:

Show humility. As a sports fan I want feel like I know my favourite athletes, and what are they like away from the court. Social media can be a great way to show fans you are just like us, show your strengths and flaws, and importantly show fans that you have personality.

Be “remarkable.” Focus on what makes you different to other athletes and let that shine through. For Titus it’s his humor that makes him different, he’s willing to make a joke about himself. But, every athlete is different, it’s about showing fans that.

Be authentic. As I mentioned above fans don’t want to read watered down PR on your blog, Twitter or Facebook page, use social media to show the real you and importantly update your accounts yourself.

What are the best examples of athlete bloggers you’ve seen? What would be your top tips for athletes using social media?

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About Ash Read

Ash is the co-founder of FundSport.com a grassroots sports community providing sports clubs and athletes from around the world with professional, easy-to-understand advice and articles on all aspects of grassroots sport including sponsorship, fundraising, the Internet, social media, club management, PR and marketing. As well as being passionate about the development of grassroots sport Ash also has a keen involvement in the sports social media industry. You can follow Ash on Twitter at @ashread14

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Q: Can Minor League Teams Build Social Media Followings?

Recently, Sports Networker reader Todd E. Jones wrote in with a great question. He asked, “Do you think it is possible to use social media to build or grow a fan base for a minor league sports team? A few hundred or even a couple thousand fans on Facebook is good, but if a team needs several thousands, is it possible?” Todd brings up a good point. We talk a lot about how established sports organizations (leagues and teams) and players, with large and passionate fan bases, can utilize and capitalize on social media. But what about teams and players in the minor leagues?

Current Success in Minor League Baseball

According to an article by Josh Leventhal on BaseballAmerica.com, “social media have become the perfomance-enhancers of teams’ marketing campaigns, except instead of being frowned upon, social networking is becoming accepted as the best and fastest way to get a message to your fans.” Leventhal continues, “Direct mailing campaigns are being replaced by Facebook and Twitter pages, where fans can actually interact with the team. Streaming video gives fans more access than a basic Website or message board ever did.”

Matt DeMargel, who markets the Durham Bulls (AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays), says that while using Twitter, Facebook, and (now) Ustream hasn’t yet resulted in a direct monetary profit, the team is seeing some great results. The Bulls have nearly 2,000 Twitter Followers, and over 4,000 Facebook fans. They are utilizing social media to inform and gain followers, and enhance the experience for their fans. For the Bulls, it’s about building a community now, and hopefully monetizing down the line.

How The NBA D-League Has Benefited

One minor league that has done a great job is the National Basketball Association’s Development League. Granted, the NBA has been a social media powerhouse, but they are finding ways to make their minor league relevant. On Twitter, the D-League has 146,981 followers. On Facebook, they have 87,762 fans.

The D-League has 17 teams. Each of them has a Twitter account, and most have Facebook fan pages. Of the 17 teams on Twitter, 6 have more than 1,000 followers. And of the teams on Facebook, two have more than 1,000 fans (Reno Bighorns – 2,397 and Maine Red Claws – 4,296). Through consistent updates to fans, interaction, and campaigns, these minor league teams have found ways to engage current fans and earn new ones.

Getting Back to the Question

Todd asked, “Is it possible to build or grow a fan base for a minor league sports team?” The answer is yes! Obviously, the minor leagues, their teams, and players are all at a disadvantage (compared to the major leagues) because of their underwhelming existing fan bases. However, think about it this way: compared to the “Average Joe,” they have a massive head start!

While the fan base for your typical minor league team is probably low, you would assume that these teams have thousands, if not tens of thousands of built-in fans. In 2009, the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Class A Advanced California League received a season-long attendance of over 235,000 people (throughout 68 games). That means, they averaged nearly 3,500 fans per game! I have zero clue what the Storm are doing in terms of social media, but do you see the potential there? Here’s a thought: Set up a couple of computers throughout the stadium, and have people sign up to become fans or followers of the team, in exchange for free tickets to a future game!

Social media doesn’t cost a dime, but for a minor league team (in any sport), it can be a tremendous asset. For players, it’s a bit harder, since they have a hard time attaining visibility. However, in a world where a wine guy can generate 850,000 followers on Twitter, a professional-caliber athlete should have no trouble gaining a following should he (or she) put his (or her) mind to it.

The bottom line is that every brand (league, team, or player) has a story to tell. And social media gives all of us that ability to tell our own stories. Between the built-in fan bases, the talented athletes, and the exciting stories, there is no doubt in my mind that minor leagues, teams, and players all have a great opportunity to build sizable social media followings.

How have you seen minor leagues, teams, and players utilizing social media? Do you agree or disagree with what I’ve said in this post? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments section!

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Image by SeeMidTN.com (aka Brent)

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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As some of you may know I’m a huge basketball fan and I live in the UK. A few years ago this meant following the NBA could be difficult at times. It often resulted in struggling to stay awake at work or school after staying up until 4 a.m. the previous night to watch a game.

The explosion of social media has made it so much easier to keep up with what’s going on not just in the NBA but across the world of sports. It has also given fans unparalleled access to their favorite teams and athletes. Personally, I feel there has never been a better time to be a sports fan. Here are some of my best reasons why:

• Behind the scenes access: At no time in the past have fans had such insight into what goes on behind the scenes. This was really highlighted at the recent NBA All-Star weekend where many players were sharing behind the scenes videos and images on their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The NBA also did a great job of sharing content and engaging fans in the All-Star weekend, an event that for many people has lost its shine. You can check out some of the video content shared by the NBA during All-Star weekend on the leagues TwitVid account.

• Interaction: Social media has opened up the opportunity to interact and engage with teams, athletes. A few years ago if you wanted to speak to your favorite athlete you could send fan mail and wait a long time for a response. Now you can speak directly to them and you might even get an instant reply.

Many athletes use social media to show us what they are like away from sports. It gives an insight into their personal lives, allowing us to feel closer to our favorite athletes when they show their true personalities.

• Everyone has a voice: In the past only a select few journalists, writers and reporters were able to share their views about the world of sports. Now social media has opened up the doors for all sports fans to write about their teams and share their views.

Whether they are writing a blog and sharing views or sparking discussion on Twitter and Facebook, there is space online for everyone. It has become a lot easier for fans to make themselves heard.

• Multimedia content: I’ll always have to stay up until 4 a.m. to catch an NBA game live in the UK, but the fact that I can now catch highlights online any time saves a few sleepless nights.

Multimedia content and video on demand services allow fans to keep up with their team at a time which is convenient for them. Fans love multimedia content and from an organization/team viewpoint, this content generates the most responses from fans. It can add great value to their social media profiles.

Sure there may have been times when your team was doing better and winning more games, and here in the UK at the moment many of our football clubs are in deep financial trouble (which could be a counter to this argument). However, I feel it’s an exciting time, and the best time EVER to be a sports fan. Thanks to new technology in the coming months and years it’s only going to get better.

What are your best experiences of sports and social media? Has social media changed the way you follow sports?

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Image by Mr. Wright

About Ash Read

Ash is the co-founder of FundSport.com a grassroots sports community providing sports clubs and athletes from around the world with professional, easy-to-understand advice and articles on all aspects of grassroots sport including sponsorship, fundraising, the Internet, social media, club management, PR and marketing. As well as being passionate about the development of grassroots sport Ash also has a keen involvement in the sports social media industry. You can follow Ash on Twitter at @ashread14

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