Social media in sport sponsorship and media

Robin McConnell has asked me to give a talk to his Sport Sponsorship and Media class, on social media. He's offered a list of questions to guide the talk, listed below. Before attempting a response to these, I will see if we can first establish an understanding on what social media is, as I see it that is, socially constructed media. This is different to just platforms that support social networking, which don't necessarily speak to the media side of the equation.

Below are my responses and links to that list of questions from Robin:

How could a sport organisation use social media get their message, brand across more people?

1. Social media can be an extension to broadcast, but it is not only broadcast
2. Social media can be used to communicate a message straight to audience without mediation by editors and journalists. Useful for press releases
3. If done well, social media can be used to build engagement, loyalty and other elements of social capital

What could a sport organisation suggest to a sponsor?

1. Brand visibility in the traditional form of logos and advertising embedded in the media
2. Product placement strategies in the broadcast, and in the responses
3. Direct links to point of sale by way of Amazon, Paypal and other online transaction methods

What sponsors would be interested in a social media?

1. Providers of social media platforms (Facebook, Youtube, possibly local charters of the Wikimedia Foundation)
2. Other internet service and mobile Providers 
3. Startups

How do present sites use sponsors or get used by sponsors?

1. NRL by Telstra
2. Facebook and Google adds

What is being done to increase fan allegiance and how could this be used to get sponsor recognition across?

See UCNISS researcher, Laura Hale at ozziesport.com where she is researching sport fandom online, developing a range of case studies to test her methods and support her recomendations.

How can a logo be featured in social media communications?

1. Backdrops, clothing and equipment featured in videos made in house
2. In campaigns that tap user generated content

Which mode of social media should a sport organisation first consider to get greater sponsor awareness by the public?

1. First understand where target audiences frequent online, and study the culture and dynamics of those spaces
2. Find out what skills and levels of participation already exist in the organisation
3. Develop a strategy that ensures communications is regular, responsive, appreciative and non confrontational, and present.

What are the major social media sites/modes, their primary features/functions and how are they used by sport?

1. Facebook - Fan pages, club pages, groups, athlete user accounts, campaigns
2. Youtube - Mostly video broadcast, sometimes two way dialog, playlist creation
3. Wikipedia - Ensure club, code and athlete pages are accurate, up to date, comprehensive and linked. Do this within Wikipedia policy, and fully disclose interests before making contributions. Don't be defensive.

See also

1. Social Media In Sports: The Athlete
2. Fan Engagement: Sports Social Media Done Right
3. 5 Big Brands That Are Rocking the Social Media Space
4. Digital Sport Summit | June 2011 | Melbourne, Australia
5. The Cluetrain Manifesto
6. These notes in a wiki

Conclusion

Listen, inquire, respond quickly and positively. Social media is not broadcast media, listen to the conversations. Individual publishers have potentially just as much to contribute, probably more, than your club or organisation. Always be present and respond quickly to direct questions or comments. Respond selectively and strategically to wider coverage.

Useful information - a good way to sell

This video gives a lot of useful insights about the use of social media in a PR sense. The short and sharp sell line was in the back, with the info up front. This method works, especially in the social media sphere, where most people are actively engaged in looking for information and entertainment. But don't forget the 2 way. Anyone could leave a video response, or make a sharp critique of your work, and there it will be sitting right along side you. So be authentic, and give lots.



The smart thing about this ad, is not only is it on Youtube where it gets linked to all the other videos about Social Media, but that it has identified a story that relates to its product and produced a genuinely informative video. The sell is not too up front, although I would have put it even further back, ie.. not in the video where it to easily gets dismissed as just another push.

Imagine you're in the tourism business, lets say a heliskiing business.. Find a story that you know all your most likely customers will want to know about.. like, what's the best way to find the cheapest air ticket to NZ.. there's probably a better example, but that's just off the top of my head. Make an informative video about that, and see how many views it gets. It doesn't have to have top quality production values, especially if there isn't any other videos to compete with.. it just has to be there, ready to answer the search query, and ready to relate to other videos remotely like it.

You could make a video on how to powder ski, but then yours would be one of a thousand, and is probably getting viewed mostly by people who aren't even considering heliskiing in NZ.