Evan Marshall’s Post

I've spent the last 12+ years helping mega sports brands build and grow fans. But this last year has reinforced one key thing... This past year has taken me from working with just sports teams and leagues to businesses of all kinds. From working with hospitality service companies, logistics and supply chain tech companies, CPG brands, even restaurants... At its core, fandom is about people serving people. If you boil it down to core first principles... You can apply the knowledge to any business in any industry.

How I got promoted 2x in 1 year: 1. Hit 150% of my half quota 2. Expanded my brand internally 3. Expressed my interest in moving upmarket 4. Shared insights on how I was winning deals with my team If you’ve gotten promoted, how’d you get there?

Unlocking Global Success: Lessons from Red Bull Did you know that Austrian company Red Bull has mastered the art of global marketing so well that many Americans assume it's a local brand? 🤯 Let's delve into their winning strategy! 🌍 Global Events: Have you ever wondered how Red Bull manages to create such a buzz worldwide? It's all about their epic global events! From high-flying air races to adrenaline-pumping soapbox races, they've mastered the art of captivating audiences everywhere. 🎁 Iconic Packaging: Did you know that Red Bull's packaging has remained unchanged for over three decades? That's the power of consistency! Their iconic cans have become synonymous with energy and adventure, contributing to their global brand recognition. 📈 Market Domination: Red Bull isn't just a drink—it's a lifestyle. By staying true to their brand and innovating in marketing, they've risen to the top of the energy drink market, dominating the competition. How Can You, As Small Brands, Do It Too? As smaller brands, we can learn a lot from Red Bull's playbook. By offering standout products with consistent packaging and embracing virtual events, we can expand our reach and make a mark on the global stage. Let's take inspiration from Red Bull and unleash our brand's full potential!💥 #BrandStrategy #GlobalReach #MarketingInspiration #SmallBusinessTips #InnovationGoals #BrandConsistency #EventMarketing #PackagingDesign #MarketLeadership #MarketingStrategy #GlobalBrand #InnovationLeadership

COOL STUFF 2.0 from CANNES LIONS: As we are living in a time of unprecedented change and opportunity, here are some key take aways - part #2 from a stunning 1 week at Cannes Lions 2023:   4. GO4GROWTH:   🎉 Drive impact by exploring new techniques, frameworks and models that work for your brand. 💜 Creative impact may rely on evergreen components: a consistent brand platform or positioning, cultural relevance, and unique advertising models. But the methods and structures for creating ideas that deliver business value are evolving. 🌈 Find the right way to make your brand thrive. Experiment with new models, innovate within partnerships and embed participation into your work.   5. SEIZE THE FUTURE: 🟢 While rising prices in many markets may tempt you towards discounting, resist making it all about price. ☀️ Don't press pause on using ethical considerations in your creative strategy. Reframe your competitors as partners on the bigger issues you all address in your industry sector. 🚀 Create opportunities to collaborate, as well as sharing knowledge and expertise. Start local. Assess what your brand can do in one market. Learn, iterate, then scale up. And don't let perfectionist tendencies get in the way of your creativity. 🎈 Think beyond the campaign to work out how tech can help your work leave a legacy for the community and the audience you are serving. With za squad - Corina Ilie, Rovana Munteanu & Mirela Tanase, we had a blast at this awesome creativity fest and it was a time snap of true gratitude for me having these hard working, awe-inspiring ladies alongside ☀️. #peopleofexploratist #employeeexperience #brandexperience #exploratist

I believe people are most influenced by other people, but that doesn’t count out marketing. It just requires a different strategic vision and approach to ignite and convert those spheres of influence. 💥   It's more than a belief - I've seen it first-hand as a leader scaling global DTC brands, where powerful storytelling -> ignites fandom -> fuels new audiences -> growing commercial success.    Double down on that strategy if Gen Z is your core focus! Nicole McCormack's piece on the evolution of fandom in sports nails it.    And Tim Ellis, CMO of the National Football League (NFL), reminds us that early influence matters - "There's no strategy for bringing in a 35-year-old fan for the first time. You have to make them a fan by the time they are 18, or you'll lose them forever." We can all take a page from the fan playbook (obvi paired with the right media mix, content, social & creator strategy) to harness the power of people to help shape & grow our brands! 😊 📣 🚀

Reminder - Do some COOL SH*T in your business. Like this 😎: Footy-heads, you'll know this man - The infamous JJ! My previous company had the opportunity to sponsor the Nigerian International team at the 2017 Star Sixes Competition. A competition where former international superstars compete, entertain and chase glory! WE WENT AHEAD. And It was f*cking FUN! Especially being a massive footy-head. ↪️ It meant not only sponsoring the team and having our company name plastered over the shirts. ↪️ But also VIP tickets. ↪️ And Backstage access to chill and talk to the Nigerian football team after their game. Was it more an ego-trip than anything practical for the business? 😂 Maybe. But.. Oh my, what it did for the team was insane. ✨ Everyone was buzzing ✨ Everyone was proud ✨ Everyone was inspired But why is this important? ✅ It got us together and bonded us on another level as a team I learnt a big lesson. For building a strong brand, a strong team culture and building massive excitement around your business, it's actually a great strategy to do some... Cool Sh*t 😎 Sometimes it's not always about the numerical ROI. Sometimes you have to look beyond that. Imagine the fire this put up my bum to show everyone else what my company was doing here! And then the fire it put up my bum for more experiences like this. Now imagine your teams bums on fire. 😁 If you want your company to be BIG and BOLD, the standout on the market, you have to show it. Incorporate this into your strategy. What cool sh*t have you done/plan to do with your business? -- #business #founder #ceo #strategy I help SME's build IMPACTFUL brands, by formulating a clear, actionable brand strategy, through my flagship Brand Strategy Takeoff 🚀 program Follow me to stay in the loop with brand building content, workshops and events 👉🏽 Kiki Bhaur - The FUN Brand Strategist 😎

Why is it important to to be the ‘best and only’? 👉People don’t have a lot of time and don’t want to take a lot of risk. 👉With limited time or opportunity to experiment, we always narrow our choices to the top. As a result, the rewards for being first are enormous. 📈It’s a steep curve, not a linear progression. Also, because there’s limited space at the top, those that are there stand out more, and enjoy the lions share of the spoils. ❓So how do you become the best and only? 🚀 Stay away from red ocean mass markets, and find a micro-niche that you excel at. Not sure how? 👇🏼 #brandmarketer #onlinemarketing #positioning #thesmartconnector

Creative positioning is born from acute understanding of audiences’ pain-points. > Dollar Shave Club, > JetBlue > Chipotle These inspirational brands are great examples. With an acute understanding dialled in… Unique solutions and competitive differentiation becomes infinitely more achievable. Are you following the clues of success across different markets? #brandposition #brandpositioning #differentiationstrategy

📊 Data-driven decision-making is critical for successful brand partnerships. If you couldn't make our Brandweek panel today, here are 4 takeaways, you don't want to miss! -Clear Objectives are Key: In large partnerships, clarity in objectives is crucial for both sides. Transparent goal-setting is essential for measuring success effectively. -Data Drives Partnerships: Data and measurement depth are vital for brands entering marquee partnerships. The example of BMO's excitement to work with Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) due to data showcases this. -Leverage IP: Marquee sports partnerships go beyond stadium signage. Brands should maximize the use of Intellectual Property (IP) for maximum impact. 🥊 -Conversion from Awareness to Consideration: Generating billions of impressions is one thing, but the real focus should be on converting even a small percentage of those impressions into brand recall and consideration, as discussed by Katrina Palanca & Katie Keating from Spurs Sports & Entertainment & Frost Data can be overwhelming. Learn more about defining your partnership objectives before diving into data intelligence here. >>https://bit.ly/3AhbQh0