John Carcione

Once you've identified your sports segments, reaching them is like having a playbook for every fan - Social media advertising lets you target by age, location, or even more granularly. There are company that allow you to segment fans by who they watch, or their favorite athletes. Website cookies and app data can also help retargeting efforts when a fan is checking out specific merch. Social media is such a strong tool - you can find new fans using your existing base. Combining a bunch of these tactics allows brands to build a more powerful targeting strategy that delivers tailored messaging to each unique fan.

In a stadium full of people, everyone is unique. That's why segmentation and targeting are so important in sports marketing. Segmentation helps us to identify different fan groups - who is the die-hard fan? Who is the family cheering for their hometown hero? Who is the casual spouse tagging along to make their partner happy? By understanding their desires, we can craft messages that resonate with each one. It's no longer a generic one size fits all - it is focused on making the marketing dollar stretch further.

Sports fans in the digital age are a moving target - To stay ahead you need to combine your existing marketing and adaptability. Be data-driven – understand fan preferences through analytics. Embrace experimentation – test new platforms, VR experiences, even if some ideas don't play out how you were expecting and/or hoping. Don't be afraid to be a trendsetter – don't wait for others to innovate, be the first to engage fans on the cutting edge tech. This adaptability keeps you relevant, responsive, and at the forefront of the ever-changing digital game.

Emerging sports markets are a hotbed - passionate new fans, booming mobile use, and room for brand growth. Navigating them requires a multi-channel approach, data for strategy shifts, and sometimes creativity with limited resources. The good news is that social media savvy fans are really heroes for brand building. The challenge - Staying reactive in a fast-changing game. We've seen VR/AR, new platforms, and the transformation events, especially since things shifted in 2020. Embrace data, agility, and long-term partnerships, but IMO the most important thing to make sure you win in this ever-evolving landscape is adaptability

Utilize LinkedIn! Identify the correct decision-maker, like the Director of Sponsorships or VP of Sales & Marketing - Do a deep dive on the brand and possible projects this person has worked on. Tailor your proposal to align with the company's goals and brand values. Keep the pitch under 5 minutes, focusing on compelling visuals and key metrics such as audience reach and media exposure, etc, pending on the brand/industry/and their possible goals. Highlight unique benefits like exclusive events and co-branded marketing. Show enthusiasm and your passion, but remain professional

Sports fans are passionate, and criticism comes with the territory. As a marketer, acknowledge negative social media feedback but keep it professional. Listen to fan perspective and offer solutions if/where possible. Even if you can't please everyone, this shows you value their opinion and are open to learning for future improvements - the passion for sports transcends boundaries, so meet that passion with respect, acknowledge frustrations and propose solutions where we can. Mirror emotions while offering a path forward - shared passion is the foundation of any great game.