The best tips for sports marketing include creating strategic partnerships, listening to fans, using the athlete's social networks and incorporating mobile marketing. Marketers should be flexible with their sports marketing plans, constantly monitoring feedback from campaigns and making necessary changes. Sports marketing campaigns should take advantage of all types of available technologies and resources, such as social websites and mobile marketing, in order to better connect to fans.
Creating strategic partnerships in sports marketing can help marketers appeal to a target demographic that it otherwise might have difficulties reaching. For instance, developing a game for tablets and smartphones can help reach younger demographics in a fun and engaging way. Not all types of partnerships, however, require such a significant investment, such as those with restaurants and websites. In order to create a competitive advantage, the sports marketer should research which businesses his target market frequents and find a way to create a partnership that is mutually advantageous for both companies.
Listening to fans is the best way to determine if a sports marketing campaign is on the right track or if adjustments need to be made. While surveys and focus groups were useful in the past, social media websites today allow sports marketers to open constant lines of communication in real-time. Marketers can gain insight into their needs, wants and expectations. They will be able to know immediately if fans did not react as intended to the most recent marketing campaign and make quick adjustments without having to wait until it ends.
Utilizing the athlete's fan base can create an advantage for any sports marketing effort. When signing on an athlete to promote a product, it's a good idea to research to see how devoted and active his social media fan base is on his personal webpages. If his fan base is energized and active, the fans will be more likely to be responsive to the product the athlete is promoting. The sports marketer also should be sure to include a statement in the contract requiring him to promote the product through his social media networks.
Incorporating mobile marketing into a sports marketing plan can help marketers reach their younger, tech-savvy demographic. This type of marketing can be used for such things as giving fans what they want when they want it, such as scores and play statistics, through SMS messaging. Mobile apps can also be created to add a higher level of interaction with fans by including engaging content, personalized commercials and special contests. When used successfully, mobile marketing provides marketers with the ability to continuously connect with fans on a personal level.