The Winter 2014 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome back to Partnership Activation! 

I'm excited to share this quarter's newsletter, an industry-leading resource showcasing sports marketing and sponsorship trends, insights, and best practices from across the world. 

Click here to purchase the Winter 2014 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99. 

Love the newsletter? Please take a moment to share it with your friends and colleagues via email and social media using this shortened URL: http://bit.ly/1d0h8sl

Also, please feel free to connect with me via Twitter (@BrianGainor), as I'd love to build an ongoing relationship.

Thanks, and enjoy! 

Brian

The Winter 2014 Partnership Activation Newsletter features a collection of topics, including:

• Jersey Sponsorships (Inside)
• 10+ Tips for Maximizing Your Productivity in 2014
• Beacon Technology
• Maximizing the Value of Social Media 
• Using Humor in Promotions
• Delivering 360 Degree Viewpoints
• BMW - Winning Customers Over One Challenge at a Time
• New Balance - Creating True Value for Loyalists
• Mario Balotelli Making Headlines with Innovative Apparel Marketing
• LED Retail Displays
• Manchester City's Annual Santa Stroll Event
• The Heineken Baseline After Party
• PwC's Sports Outlook
• The January 2014 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• The Golden State Warriors' #DubNation Night
• Carlsberg's Activation Efforts
• A Close Look at the 2014 NHL Winter Classic
• 5 #SportsBiz Handles You Must Follow
• 20+ C-Store Activation Ideas

Score Your Dream Job as the Voice of XFINITY Sports

Sports business professionals interested in a career in sports and social media should take a close look at XFINITY's Ultimate Sports Social Media Job.

XFINITY is looking for the next amazing individual to take over the reigns as the XFINITY Sports Guy / Gal and take fans behind-the-scenes of the biggest stories in sports and social media in 2013. The winner will inherit the @XFINITYSports Twitter handle (with 13,000 followers) and deliver unique access / vantage points to fans from the biggest sporting events nationwide.

As Your Home for the Most Live Sports, XFINITY is giving you a true shot at social media stardom. 

Check out the contest here and apply now:

XFINITY Offers a Chance to Win the Ultimate Sports Social Media Job

XFINITY recently launched a contest to hire an individual who will serve as the brand's voice in the sports social media space and go behind-the-scenes at some of the biggest nationwide sporting events in 2012, sharing exclusive insights and updates with fans. 

The contest, entitled “XFINITY Presents: The Ultimate Sports Social Media Job,” runs from January 11 through March 25 in search of the next sports social media star.

The winner will receive a one-year salary and will be responsible for tweeting from the @XFINITYSports Twitter handle on continual basis,  reporting live from premier sporting events throughout 2012, and educating and engaging avid sports fans in social media communities. In addition to live event access, the winner will also receive all the electronics for the ultimate sports pad, including televisions, home audio/video equipment, etc.

VIDEO SUBMISSION PERIOD

From January 13 - February 6, interested participants can submit a :30-2:00 video that demonstrates why they should win the Ultimate Sports Social Media Job based on their sports knowledge, social media expertise, personality, and passion for XFINITY products and services.

FAN VOTING PERIOD

From February 9 - February 19, the top video submissions will be featured on the contest tab located on the official XFINITY Facebook page for fans to vote on. The video entrants that receive the Top 5 votes will advance to a finalist round where they will have an opportunity to travel to a live sports event and showcase their skills on-site.

FINALIST AUDITIONS

Five (5) finalists will each travel to one (1) of (5) premier sports events the weekend of March 8-11 and will be asked to chronicle their live experiences behind-the-scenes via tweets, Facebook posts, video uploads, etc. A panel of judges will evaluate each of the performances - looking for which finalist does the best job showcasing his/her skills on-site! A winner will be selected by March 25th and will truly win the Ultimate Sports Social Media Job!

The contest will present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one (1) lucky consumer looking for a way to officially launch their career in sports and social media. Check it out by clicking the image below and enter a video submission for a chance to win!

 In full disclosure, the writer (Brian Gainor) worked directly with the XFINITY team to launch the XFINITY Presents: The Ultimate Sports Social Media Job contest. For contest rules and more information, head to the official XFINITY Facebook page here.

December 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the December 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter! Thank you for your continued interest and support for Partnership Activation and the monthly newsletter.

Click here to purchase the December 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/tg9WZ3

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

• 20 Non-Traditional Bowl Game Sponsors in 2011-12
• 2012 - GMR Marketing's Social Media Channels
• Ohio University Center for Sports Administration
• 2012 National Sports Forum
• Navigate Research Industry Spotlight
• Barclays 20,000th Goal Celebration
• Sevilla Sells Space on Team Jerseys to Fans
• Adidas Launches an Augmented Reality Initiative in Scotland
• Audi Gives a Nod to the Barcelona-Real Madrid Rivalry in a Commercial
• Oregon Athletics Play Up the Civil War Rivalry
• All Blacks Fans Experience Rugby in a New Way
• The Manhattan Sports Business Academy
• Creativity In the Sports Marketplace
• December 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• The Old Spice Classic's Social Media Efforts
• A Close Look at the 2011 Grey Cup
• 5 #SportsBiz Handles You Must Follow on Twitter
• 50 of the Most Creative Ideas in Sports Business in 2011
• Zlaty Bazant Beer Encourages Fans to Drink Responsibly
• Baylor IMG Gives Fans a Suite Seat for the Game
• The Western Bulldogs' Capture Their Brand Story
• The New BC Place Showcases the Future of Stadium Lighting
• Red Bull Soars Over Moses Mahiba Stadium
• Four (4) Creative Ways to Engage Fans with Interactive Walls
• Idea Box

Click here to purchase the December 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

September 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter

Welcome to the September 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter! Thank you for your continued interest and support for Partnership Activation and the monthly newsletter.

Click here to purchase the September 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

The coolest thing in this month's newsletter is the Nike Film Room... I HIGHLY recommend you check it out!

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/opnJZs

 This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

• A List of 10+ College Rivalry Sponsors
• LSU's new Microbrew - Bandit Blonde
• Best Practices from Formula 1
• The State Farm Territorial Cup Series
• Chelsea FC TV
• Heineken's OOH Billboard Displays
• ESPN UK's Billboard Twitter Engagement
• Major League Soccer's Fathers Day Twitter Contest
• Vitaminwater's "Are You Nash Enough?" Campaign
• Sport Teams and Social Impact
• Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
• September 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• Using Foursquare to Support the Local Community
• "Going Big" With Your Activation
• A Close Look at the 2011 Rugby World Cup
• 5 #SportsBiz Twitter Handles You Must Follow
• Create Ways to Generate Awareness in Tennis
• The Nike Film Room
• The Denver Broncos' Corporate Partner Pick 'Em Challenge
• Adidas Calls on Dwight Howard to Dunk on a Giraffe
• Red Bull Gives Surfing a New Viewpoint with Flares
• Five Non-Traditional Ways to Leverage QR Codes in Sports

Click here to purchase the September 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

July 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Welcome to the July 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter! I really appreciate your continued interest and support and think that you are going to really enjoy this month's newsletter.

Click here to purchase the July 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

The coolest thing in this month's newsletter is the Red Bull Hare Scramble video... I HIGHLY recommend you check it out!

After reviewing the newsletter, please take a moment to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other platforms and modes of communication. Here is a shortened URL that you can use to include in tweets, etc: http://bit.ly/on6seF

 This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

• Gila River Casino's KaChingKo
• 10 Building Blocks To Help You Become Everything You Can Be
• Eyes on the Industry: Australian Football League
• Navigate Marketing Spotlight: 5 Questions With Mark Friederich
• Using Augmented Reality to Engage Fans
• Drive Merchandise with Virtual Stores
• Leverage Airspace on Gameday to Engage Fans
• LG Uses a Unique Rugby Branding Play to Wash Away the Competition
• Continental Tire Displays The Cage
• IBM Uses Sponsorship Technology to Engage Airport Travelers
• The Sport Industry Daily
• Creativity In the Sports Marketplace
• July 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• NACMA Spotlight
• A Close Look at Creative Marketing in Major League Baseball
• Creative Tactics From the 2011 College World Series
• The Cincinnati Reds' Dusty Days
• Showtime Delivers a Unique Foursquare Vending Experience
• Idea Box

Click here to purchase the July 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Think Out-of-the-Box to Drive Your Team's Facebook Following

Sports marketers looking for new ways to drive their team/brand's Facebook following should consider thinking of some out-of-the-box ideas to engage consumers and drive awareness on game day. While content on team Facebook pages and online messaging/advertising are effective means to drive masses of new followers, here are a few additional ideas to consider:

Team Viral Designed to Drive Facebook "Likes"

Sports organizations can release a humorous viral where players, team personnel, legends, and fans sport giant Facebook "like" hands - as featured in the Andy Murray/Head viral below. Teams can feature players shooting/throwing/catching/making saves using the giant "like" fingers and/or giving thumbs ups, etc. 

Facebook "Like" Stations Throughout the Concourse

Teams can set up 10-15 designated kiosks throughout the stadium concourse (with a "like sign" overhead) where fans can easily follow the team and their favorite players on Facebook. Teams can reward all fans who sign up by creating a "Facebook Fans HOF" that encompasses photos of all fans who sign up to follow all of the players on Facebook. Check out how Hyundai executed a similar initiative at a recent car show:

Guest Editorial: How Connecting Online Can Produce Real Business Value

Jonathan Norman is a sports sponsorship strategist for GMR Marketing, a major U.S. sports and event marketing firm. Jonathan has been in sports marketing and media for more than 10 years, and has worked on several major corporate branding campaigns around sports. His expertise resides in how brands reach consumers through sponsorship and activation of sports properties. Follow Jonathan on Twitter at @Jonathan_Norman and his official blog here.

The main ballroom at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square was filled last month with the best and the brightest from sports, as executives from the leagues, teams, networks, brands and agencies gathered for the annual Sports Business Awards. Outside the ballroom, there was a familiar scene. Colleagues and friends shared updates and insights that could lead to the next great idea in sports, and introductions were made that could lead to new partnerships that alter the sports landscape.

Networking is critical for our industry, and as many of you know, it’s expanded online significantly in the last five years. Portals such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other industry-specific social communication sites have changed the way we do business. With nearly 750 million accounts between the three major sites, the impact continues to grow.

Twitter has certainly found popularity among the sports industry in particular, as 42 percent of those surveyed in the 2010 SBJ/SBD Reader Survey are using the service, up six percentage points from the previous year. Assuming that our industry has a universe of 50,000 individuals domestically and internationally (a very round estimate), that would mean that at least 21,000 of us could be connecting on an hourly, daily or weekly basis on Twitter.

If we were to look at those Twitter users within the sports business community, we could likely classify them in three ways. I’ll call them “no-shows,” “lurkers” and “connectors.” No-shows are industry members who are not using Twitter. Lurkers are those who have a Twitter account, but use it only for keeping up with the news and conversation, rarely or never contributing. The connectors are those who are plugged in, both receiving and sharing information, all in a highly targeted way.

Each of these groups plays a role in sports business online, but all three have the opportunity to continue to build the community. For no-shows, it’s about getting onto the site, creating a handle and surveying the landscape — listening in. For lurkers, it’s about joining the conversation and interacting with the community — being engaged. If you’re a connector, you’ll want to continue to advocate for using Twitter and engage others to also connect — doing more. That’s where each of these will experience real value. If we look specifically at that value, it’s primarily fourfold. For ease, I’ll just call it the four C’s:

Connection: Twitter provides connection points with colleagues in real time, paired with the ability to network with individuals we don’t normally come across on a daily basis. There’s real value here: Tangible business relationships are formed every day through the medium.

Collaboration: Through these relationships and subsequent conversation on Twitter, we’re able to dissect important issues of the day as a group, each providing our own insights and opinions for the group to consider. While we all represent our own organizations and areas of business, we find opportunities to share valuable thoughts and ideas in an open forum.

Consideration: Through connection and collaboration, we have the opportunity to consider new ways of thinking from other areas of sport. While some may criticize Twitter as a means to erupt with short-sighted musings, it is also a way to read others’ opinions as they unfold, and possibly reconsider your own positions.

Current events: Twitter is increasingly becoming the go-to site for breaking news, whether it’s SportsBusiness Journal reporting a Pac-10 media deal or updates on the latest free agent signing. By simply following one of the many lists of sports business reporters, you can help eliminate the dreaded daily onslaught of Google Alerts.

Over the last three years, our industry has developed a subset of executives that actively participate on Twitter, primarily through the hashtag of #sportsbiz, which is a means of identifying conversations. About 800 users consistently use this identifier to stay up to date on news, share insights, connect with fellow professionals and become more engaged in our industry. This community has become one of the critical components of the ongoing education of sports business executives across the globe. The value of this group, and others built around the sports industry, is evidenced through their rapid growths.

Let it be said that the sports business forum on Twitter will never replace the value of working the ballroom and hallways at industry conferences. We need the face-to-face interactions that are the backbone of our industry. And to be fair, some of the criticisms of Twitter are rooted in the truth. While some of the early perceptions of the medium are well-founded (i.e., sharing what you had for lunch), Twitter has evolved and will continue to do so as business professionals embrace the channel. There’s little downside to joining the community.

By engaging through Twitter, we all share in the ability to be more informed and in tune with the sports business industry. It allows us to serve our clients and sponsor partners better and, in the end, further develop our own ability to collaborate and connect.

For smart sports professionals, I believe the choice is easy: We all have to develop an online networking game plan and execute it. Whether you’re a no-show, lurker or connector, commit to the plan and you’ll find rewarding interactions that have real business value.

50 Ways Sports Teams Fans Can Engage Fans on Facebook

Sports leagues and organizations are turning to Facebook to offer fans more content, access, and interactivity than ever before. As sports entities begin to fully understand the value of social media, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have become critical channels in the marketing mix to promote messaging, drive participation and interest, and engage fans on a 24/7, 365 basis.

Teams can no longer rely on Wall posts, photos, and shareable videos to drive consumers to frequently visit their Facebook pages and stay for awhile. As a result, it's important that teams identify and share best practices in the social media space both internally and externally.  

Here are 50 creative ways that teams are engaging fans on Facebook outside the traditional elements:  

1. Fans Map - FC Barcelona (Find FC Barcelona fans across the world)

2. Real Madrid Avatars - Real Madrid (Fans can create their own virtual avatar)

3. Arsenal "Like the Players" - Arsenal FC (Fans can easily like all the players on the team)

4. Spread the Word - Manchester United (Fans can easily invite their friends to join the Manchester United Facebook Page  

5. Fountain Tire Shootout - Vancouver Canucks (Fans can play a virtual hockey game to win prizes and coupon vouchers)

6. 3-Point Play - Boston Celtics (Fans can compete in an interactive stats-related game to earn points)

7. Summer Salute - Team Lowe's Racing (Fans can post a military salute or message to troops overseas)

8. Polls / Quizzes - NASCAR (Fans can test their NASCAR IQ via a number of quizzes and polls)

9. NBA Ball of Fame - NBA (Fans can click on basketballs to relive famous moments from the NBA Finals)

10. NBA Turnstile - NBA (Fans can "check-in" to NBA games on Facebook to chat with fans, win tickets and merchandise, and earn badges)

11. Support Your Team on Facebook! - NFL (Fans can scroll through an interactive tab to see where their favorite team ranks in popularity and intensity amongst all teams and within conference/division).

12. Shopping - Liverpool FC (Fans can quickly scroll through ultimate shopping ideas and can get easy access to the team's mobile application) 

13. JetBlue FaceOff - Boston Bruins (Fans can access game information, play games, win prizes, and more)

14. Mavs Spirit Photo Upload - Dallas Mavericks (Fans can submit their best photo wearing Mavericks gear for the chance to have it featured on the team's Facebook page)

15. Fan Zone - New England Patriots (Fans can interact with polls, listen to live broadcasts, post comments, share virtual gifts, play trivia, and more)

16. Share Your Story - San Francisco 49ers (Fans can share why they are a Faithful Fan for the chance to be featured on 2011 season tickets or in a team commercial)

17. Tickets & Promotions - Philadelphia 76ers (Fans can closely follow current ticket specials and promotions using a tab integrated into the team Facebook page)

18. A Date with SFC - Seattle Sounders (Fans can watch video dating profiles of different players on Seattle Sounders FC and partake in a date auction via Ebay.

19. Guess the Kit - Tottenham Hotspur (Fans have to correctly guess what the team's new kit (uniform) will look like)

20. Broadcast Schedule - Portland Timbers (Fans can easily see which networks will be carrying the team's upcoming soccer matches)

21. Locker Room - Los Angeles Lakers (Fans can take a virtual tour of the Lakers locker room)

22. Flickr - Milwaukee Bucks (Fans can scroll through photos of the Bucks' gameday experience posted on their Official Flickr page)

23. U-Stream - Golden State Warriors (Fans can watch a live webcast with a Warriors player each day during Training Camp

24. Trailblazers.tv - Portland Trail Blazers (Fans can watch exclusive interviews, shows, highlights, pre- and post-game shows, and more)

25. AC Milan Jersey - A.C. Milan (Fans can create their own virtual A.C. Milan Jersey (with a custom name and number) and share it on their Facebook wall)

26. Fantasy Manager - A.C. Milan (Fans can create and manage a virtual team of players and compete against friends for the chance to win team prizes)

27. Ice Dancers - Florida Panthers (Fans could vote on their favorite Ice Dancers in a bracket competition that gave away a free cruise!)

28. Stars Text Alerts - Dallas Stars (Fans can easily sign up to receive basic text alerts or student rush text alerts)

29. Leafs on YouTube - Toronto Maple Leafs (Fans can watch a series of YouTube clips directly within a tab on the team's Facebook page

30. Photo Pick-Up - Phoenix Suns (Fans can have their picture taken by Suns personnel at a game and retrieve it for free on the team's Facebook page)

31. Match of the Week - Sporting KC (Fans can receive in-depth information about a premier MLS game each week)

32. Meet the Team - Denver Nuggets (Fans can vote for their favorite players on the Nuggets by "liking" them on the interactive Facebook tab)

33. Letter to Fans - Buffalo Sabres (Fans can read a letter sent from the team's owner Terrence M. Pegula thanking them for their support)

34. Which Cap Are You Like? - Washington Capitals (Fans can take a quiz to see what Washington Capitals player they are the most like and win an autographed jersey)

35. Foursquare – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Fans can view the team’s Foursquare profile and access tips and insights on whose checked-in at Raymond James Stadium)

36. Draft Party Sweepstakes - Charlotte Bobcats (Fans can sign up on Facebook to win a VIP experience at the Bobcats Draft Party courtesy of Donatos Pizza)

37. Fan Forum – Dallas Cowboys (Fans can participate in an interactive forum where they can participate in a live discussion board)

38. Showcase – Sacramento Kings (Fans can scroll through to see all of the Kings’ hottest merchandise in their online team store up close)

39. Host UpClose Contest – Indianapolis Colts (Fans can upload a video of themselves hosting a sports segment for the chance to fly to Indianapolis and host a segment on Colts UpClose)

40. Scarf Yourself! – New York Red Bulls (Fans can add an official New York Red Bulls scarf to their profile picture and feature it on the team Facebook page)

41. Support – Atlanta Falcons (Fans can post questions/ideas/problems that they have and a Falcons customer representative addresses them for all fans to see on a live discussion board)

42. Give Your All – All Blacks (Fans can watch a series of vignettes where the All Blacks players talk about giving everything they’ve got when they enter the pitch)

43. Fan of the Week – Chicago Bears (Fans can submit a message/photo detailing why they are the biggest fan for the chance to be featured online)

44. A’s Kids Club – Oakland A’s (Fans can sign up for an Oakland A’s Kids Club Membership directly through the team’s Facebook page)

45. WTA Extra – WTA (Fans can easily scroll through high-res images of the top WTA players and also see information about their world ranking and Twitter feed)

46. Giving – Tampa Bay Rays (Fans can read about the Rays Baseball Foundation and make a donation)

47. Fanographies – Cleveland Browns (Fans can submit their Browns story for the chance to win 2011 season tickets)

48. Bulldog Club – University of Georgia Athletics (Fans can read about the Bulldog Club, make donations, invest in educational opportunities, and more)

49. Charity – PGA (Fans can read about the PGA’s new partnership with Darius Rucker and download a song which benefits PGA Tour Charities, Inc.)

50. UStream Live – Colorado Avalanche (Fans can watch broadcasts throughout the season and sign up to receive email alerts every time they take place)

May 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Thank you for your continued interest in Partnership Activation.

Click here to purchase the May 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

After reviewing the newsletter, we would really appreciate it if you would be willing to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other channels of communication. To keep things simple, here is a shortened URL that you can use: http://is.gd/UssJ3S

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

• Fan-Centric Signage
• The Top Sports Advertisers of 2010
• Creative Sports Business Tactics from Major League Soccer
• Navigate Marketing Spotlight: Five Questions with Matt Balvanz
• Three Things You Need to See
• The Carrier Classic
• The Heineken Star Player
• Miami Heat - Kumho Tires Partnership
• #SBChat
• Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
• May 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• Manchester City FC's 'His and Hers' Suites
• Standley Systems OSU/OU Licensed Copiers
• Vineyard Vines' Activation at the Kentucky Derby
• A Close Look at the Carolina Panthers 2011 NFL Draft Party
• 5 People You Must Follow In #SportsBiz
• Creative Tactics to Leverage a Tecate Partnership
• AC Milan Uses Jersey Launch to Showcase New Technology
• The Minnesota Twins Feature Twins O-Grams
• Sports ... Like You've Never Seen It Before
• Idea Box

Click here to purchase the May 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Guest Editorial - LinkedIn: How #SportsBiz Approaches the Channel

Jonathan Norman is a sports sponsorship strategist for GMR Marketing, a major U.S. sports and event marketing firm. Jonathan has been in sports marketing and media for more than 10 years, and has worked on several major corporate branding campaigns around sports. His expertise resides in how brands reach consumers through sponsorship and activation of sports properties. Follow Jonathan on Twitter at @Jonathan_Norman and his official blog here.

I’m going to start today’s blog post with a little trivia. How many LinkedIn users list the key term “sports” on their profile? Any guesses? Would you say nearly 1,000,000 of us? 924,329 to be exact (well, as of this moment). This is roughly 2% of the estimated 50,000,000 users globally.

With nearly 1MM users mentioning sports in their profile, it got me thinking. I think it’s funny just how many @sportsbiz folks I’m not linked to on the LinkedIn platform. Does it seem like a larger commitment than just a follow on Twitter? I think so. When we connect on LinkedIn, we’re looking to establish a deeper (if that can even be said) relationship with a colleague, sharing more personal information. I think that the LinkedIn search has even replaced the Google search for those we’re looking to learn more about. I know I certainly do.

The interesting thing to me about #sportsbiz on LinkedIn is just how disjointed we seem without the organizing concept of hashtags. It’s like we’re lost sheep continually looking for a shepherd! The sheer number of groups related to sports marketing is astounding. Take that key word alone, and we’re looking at 247 groups just in that universe. Expand the term to sports alone, and it’s almost 4,500. I know we’re talking in hyperbole here, but it begs the question: how do we use LinkedIn as an industry?

For me it’s all about making new connections and maximizing existing ones, all in the hopes of creating opportunities by driving value out of the relationship. Yes, that’s a mouthful, but really … it’s what it’s all about. How can what I do on a daily basis, help you and your needs, and can we find a reason to work together? The concept doesn’t seem all that much different than Twitter, and LinkedIn has taken a major step forward in the status and following additions on the site.

But I would challenge #sportsbiz to think about how we can connect on LinkedIn. How can we work together to create opportunities, bridge challenges, and build solutions? I would guess that this is a rhetorical question, but I do think there’s real application there. Here’s five ways I think we can maximize the value of our network:

1. Learn more about each other. Get to know your connections’ backgrounds. See where there are commonalities that might be able to help drive value.

2. Take advantage of longer interaction. We have more than 140 characters to communicate with each other. We need to lever this opportunity and maximize it.

3. Don’t just join a group; contribute to a community. I believe this is one of the major opportunities for us. We all have 20 to 30, perhaps even more, groups we’re a part of. Pick one or two that are particularly a good fit and make your communication useful

4. Think about the mentoring opportunities. I still believe that one of the biggest issues we have in @sportsbiz today is the development and cultivation of solid, young talent. We need to commit to doing more to develop it.

5. Lead by example. There many be other ideas you have on how to maximize your value on LinkedIn. Tell us, and then show us. It’s all about sharing and creating best practices.

One last thing. Are we connected? If not, let's get connected:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathandnorman

April 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Thank you for your continued interest in Partnership Activation.

Click here to purchase the April 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

After reviewing the newsletter, we would really appreciate it if you would be willing to share it with friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, personal blogs, and other channels of communication. To keep things simple, here is a shortened URL that you can use: http://bit.ly/hY1cGj

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

• Virtual Advertising
• Brands with a Presence at Bracket Town in 2011
• Creative Sports Business Tactics from the Barclays Premier League
• Activation Tactic of the Month: Hooters' Spring Training Activation
• Conxeo / PropertyPort
• Great Sports Marketing Tactics in the News
• SportsPro Magazine
• Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
• April 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• Ticketing Watch - St. Louis Cardinals
• Social Media Watch - Cleveland Indians
• The 2011 Powerade Jam Fest
• 5 #SportsBiz Professionals You Must Follow on Twitter
• Activation and Branding from the 2011 Final Four
• The 2011 Cricket World Cup... At a Glance
• Technology That May Soon Save You Money On Staffing Expenses
• Major League Soccer... Like You've Never Seen It Before
• Idea Box

Click here to purchase the April 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter, connect with other readers in the official Partnership Activation LinkedIn Group, and follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Knicks Fans "Like" What They See with Splash Page on Knicks.com

As the New York Knicks head into the 2011 NBA Playoffs, the team is featuring a terrific splash page on its official website, http://www.nba.com/knicks (ala Knicks.com), that encourages fans to "like" their official Facebook page. The creative digital marketing tactic serves as an effective way to drive interest and awareness for the team's social media initatives amongst 200,000 unique site visitors per day (per Compete.com, the Knicks' website attracted 6.2MM unique visitors in February 2011).

To drive fan participation in their social media efforts, the Knicks are offering a variety of incentives, including access to an exclusive pre-sale for all playoff tickets, a chance to win a pair of free tickets to see the Knicks take on the Chicago Bulls on April 12th, and a chance to win a $50 gift card that is redeemable via the Knicks' official online team store.

Once fans click through the splash page, the Knicks are providing a call-to-action via interactive digital inventory on the team's official website. Since the Splash page was posted on March 12, "likes on the New York Knicks' Facebook page were up 27% (130K total) and their Monthly Active Users spiked 18%... pretty remarkable success.

Check out some visualizations of the campaign below. Hats off to the Knicks on executing such a terrific campaign!

A special thanks to Lowell Berg of Ohio University for his insights and contributions to this column!

 

 

Engage Fans in New Ways on Facebook

Over the past few months, Manchester City FC has done a brilliant job engaging fans on their Official Facebook Page. The team posts traditional content on a regular basis (match previews, press conferences, team virals, articles, etc.) but does a really nice job complementing that content with unique, fun features.

Check out some of the team's recent posts below and consider new ways that you can make your team's social media efforts more engaging:

Fun Social Media Facts

Celebrity Interviews (About Their Experiences Attending Games)

 Behind-the-Scenes Pictures from the Team Training Room

Unique Fan Experiences / Stories

Unique Performances by The Team's Front Office Personnel

The Simple Twitter Guide for Sports Business Professionals

Twitter is an extremely simple communication platform but there are many misconceptions out there about how it can effectively be used, etc. With many individuals of all ages getting on Twitter and asking their business associates for assistance, etc. we wanted to provide a guide to effectively use Twitter as a communications platform in the sports business space. 

Here are a list of tips that can enhance your communication efforts on Twitter:

Tweets

1. While 140 characters are available for use in a tweet, the basic rule of thumb is to use a maximum of 120 characters, leaving 20 available for others to retweet your message

2. With a significant number of users monitoring Twitter via their mobile phone, it's best to keep tweets as short as possible so they can easily retweet without hassle

3. In an effort to minimize the length of tweets (and include valuable content) consider using URL-shorteners like Bit.ly and is.gd.

• To simply use these URL shorteners, copy the URL of the site/content you want to drive traffic to, paste it into the URL shortener, click "Shorten!" and then copy and paste that URL into your Tweet

Content

1. Content is key on Twitter - the more original, insightful, enriching, interactive and unique the better...

2. Terrific platforms to acquire unique content to share with others include: YouTube, Flickr, Google Alerts, Quotes, Publications that Report Statistics, and Blogs

3. The best time of day to tweet (and have your tweets noticed) by working professionals is between 8-11am EST, when most people are beginning their day in all time zones across the U.S. and are checking their emails, social media, and communication platforms

4. People love viewing pictures and video - so don't be shy to call those items out in your tweet

Profile

1. It is important to fill out your complete profile with a photo, short bio, URL (whether that's for your business, personal blog, LinkedIn profile, etc.), and location - people like knowing who they are communicating with... this is incredibly important

2. Create a captivating background for your profile. While you may not have the most artistic/creative abilities, someone in your company or personal network likely can assist you with developing a background for your profile. Elements to consider including are: QR codes, contact information, corporate partner logos, professional imagery, stylish designs

3. Get a professional headshot taken (you will need it at some point in your career; start now) and use it as the photo of your profile

Communication Efforts

1. Twitter is a communication portal, not a press release. Therefore, it is important that you interact on Twitter with two-way communication. If you do not feel comfortable responding to individuals openly (via RT's), send them a Direct Message thanking them for following you, retweeting you, and/or communicating with you

2. Take time out of your day to monitor the Twitter feed to see what others in your industry/network are Tweeting about and RT content that you feel would be valuable for others

3. Twitter is a terrific tool for networking purposes. Seek out others in your industry/extended network and converse with them... Active users love opening their Twitter platform to find that people are reaching out and communicating with them directly

4. If you use your Twitter platform for business purposes, consider linking it to your LinkedIn profile so you can stay active on both platforms. Within your profile on LinkedIn, there are areas to post your Twitter profile and also embed your Twitter feed ... so it will show up in your communication feed. But only do this if you use Twitter as a communication platform for business/networking purposes

Twitter Platforms

1. While some Twitter users prefer to use the general Twitter platform (www.Twitter.com), most choose to use other platforms that enable them to follow lists and post tweets from multiple accounts more easily

2. Commonly used (free) Twitter platforms include HootSuite and Tweetdeck. From a mobile standpoint, there are a range of options to choose from (ranging from free to a few dollars) which you can access by going to the app store on your phone, typing in Twitter, and downloading the most highly recommended applications   

Using Twitter for Networking / Biz Dev Purposes

1. Twitter serves as an effective means to directly connect with professionals working in your industry. Seek out these individuals by:

•  Monitoring who your friends/colleagues follow - scroll through the lists of individuals your friends/colleagues follow (or have following them) and follow individuals who appear to have similar backgrounds/industry interests as yourself
• Search for other sports business professionals on Google. Simply search, "Individual's name" "Twitter" and you will usually find a direct link to that person's Twitter handle in the Top 5 search results if they are using the platform
• Search for industry keywords like "sports" "sports business" "sports marketing" "sponsorship" "ticket sales", etc. on We Follow to see a full list of other sports business professionals
• Search your friends/colleagues' Lists (which are usually segmented by topics like "College Athletics" "Sports Marketing" "Sports Business" "Athletic Directors")
• Search on Google for list topics, including "Insert Topic" (i.e. Sports Marketing) "Twitter" "List"

2. Turn Twitter connections into personal connections by setting a goal to meet X individuals in person throughout the year at conferences, networking event, lunches, happy hours, etc.

3. Partake in live educational chats. A current group of individuals, led by Lou Imbriano and JW Cannon, lead a weekly sports business industry chat using the hashtag #sbchat

Lists

1. Lists on Twitter serve as a great way to manage all of the different segments of individuals you choose to follow on the platform.

2. Use Lists effectively to segment those you follow (especially if it's a number exceeding 500) into categories like "Global Sports" "Sports Marketing" "College Marketers" "Brands" "Sports Properties" "Athletic Directors", etc.

3. While it takes a little while to segment those you follow into groups, Twitter Lists can serve as an effective means to follow a wide range of individuals and topics, especially when using HootSuite or TweetDeck, where you can monitor multiple lists at once 

HashTags

1. People use hashtags, which are commonly used terms (e.g. sponsorship) or relevant topic matter (MarchMadness) with a number sign in front (e.g. #sponsorship, #MarchMadness) to communicate directly with others interested in the topic. When using Hootsuite/TweetDeck, you can set up specific columns to follow hashtags and/or you can use the Twitter search button to search for hashtags (e.g. relevant topics) the same way that you would search for other Twitter users

2. Begin following #SportsBiz, #sponsorship, #sbachat, and #MarchMadness to get a feel for the best way you can use hashtags

February 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter

Thank you for your continued interest in Partnership Activation.

Click here to purchase the Fall 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter for $7.99.

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

• Innovative Recycling Kiosks
• Creative Promotional Tactics From Across the NBA
• Navigate Marketing Industry Spotlight: Camera-Visible Signage
• Three Things You Need to See: Reality Touchscreens, Interactive Architectural Mapping, Helmet Cams
• Engaging Fans Via Facebook Fan Night Promotions and Social Media Days
• Kia Leverages Media Buys with Augmented Reality
• Nouveau Jour Activates Orange's Sponsorship of the RBS 6 Nations Rugby Tournament
• The Deloitte Football Money League Report
• Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
• February 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• Visa Canada's Hockey Love Hurts Campaign
• The Charlotte Bobcats' Social Network Challenge
• A Close Look at the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend
• Five (5) People You Must Follow on #SportsBiz
• Creative Tactics From Super Bowl XLV
• Creative Messaging Campaigns
• Puma's After Hours Athlete Campaign
• Leveraging Pet Partnerships With "Pup Rallies"

Click here to purchase the February 2011 Partnership Activation Newsletter and be sure to follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing.

Guest Editorial - Evolve the 140: How #SportsBiz Can Lead on Twitter

Jonathan Norman is a sports sponsorship strategist for GMR Marketing, a major U.S. sports and event marketing firm. Jonathan has been in sports marketing and media for more than 10 years, and has worked on several major corporate branding campaigns around sports. His expertise resides in how brands reach consumers through sponsorship and activation of sports properties. Follow Jonathan on Twitter at @Jonathan_Norman and his official blog here.

Twitter has become a core communications channel among those in the sports business (err, #sportsbiz) community.  We have gathered around the electronic campfire, so to speak, to share our experiences, insights and even stories (sometimes, true ... sometimes, not so true) among our closest virtual contacts.

It has made our world smaller, more accessible.  We're in contact with people we likely would not have known before, all through Twitter, Linked In and other like creatures.  The information cycle has shrunk to near zero.  We are more in front of issues, and more on top of news.  We know what's going on almost before it happens.  We're smarter ... or so we think.

While we have more access to information, it's provided mixed results.  We lose critical components of messaging through translation.  We make mistakes because of our inability to tolerate detail that easily accessed information allows us to pass by.  Sometimes, I truly believe that information has made us smarter than we need to be -- information does that.  There's a statement that I've heard several times in my career that I absolutely believe is true: "paralysis by analysis."  But I digress.

Our ability to quickly and concisely communicate has come at a price.  I find that sometimes, we're wont to not pick up the phone, make the meeting or go the extra mile because communication has become so effortless.  Such is the case with Twitter.  It's the easiest form of communications we have in our community.  But we have to move past the ease of the medium, and move towards collaboration without a loss of communication.

When I first started tweeting, I didn't really have a focus on each of my tweets.  Now, I find that I spend considerable time planning out that line of text in Tweet Deck.  I'm careful to make sure that, like a writer on a fine manuscript, I want the message to be perfect.  I want to assure that my message is not misconstrued.  I need to consistently think about thought and intent.

Bottom line: We have to commit ourselves to a simple task -- "evolve the 140."  Through, being the operative term, as I believe we are capable of using Twitter in a much more thoughtful way.

Let's consider thought and intent.  Thought is more about clarity than design.  Is what I'm saying relevant?  Does it make sense to the reader?  Is it appropriately placed within the conversation?  Intent is about targeting the message to the appropriate audience.  It's not, "Am I saying the right thing?"  It's "Am I talking to the right people?"

Now, you're probably asking yourself, "How does this apply to #sportsbiz"?  Well, honestly, if we can evolve ... we can lead.

By my count, there's probably 500 or so Twitter users that are worthy of a follow.  Some because they're captains of industry.  Some because they're thoughtful and insight-rich.  Others because they're downright funny.  But if I apply the lenses of thought and intent, how many of us make the grade?

What does "evolve the 140" mean?  If I were to humbly set out a list of rules for #sportsbiz to demonstrate leadership on Twitter, I’d lay out the following 5 commitments:

1. We commit to thought leadership. We provide our expertise where warranted, and we use this knowledge to improve the greater community.
2. We commit to relevancy. We’re always on point with the #sportsbiz thematic, and not what we had for dinner tonight. We find content that is relevant to our audience and we share
3. We commit to timeliness. We always make sure that what we’re talking about is “in-the-now” or looking forward.
4. We commit to the audience. In choosing the subject of our tweets, we always make sure that it’s of benefit to the readership at large, not for our own personal self-worth.
5. We commit to clarity. Nothing is worse than a ill-constructed tweet. We’ll take the time to build something worth sharing – clearly and concisely.

In closing, I'm hopeful that the evolution of the #sportsbiz community will continue, and perhaps this blog post will cause just one person to take pause and think of the implications of a stronger group of sports marketing professionals.  I know we're one of the smartest, savviest, most forward-thinking groups on Twitter.  It's just up to us to show it.

January 2011 Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter

Thank you for coming to check out the January 2011 Issue of the Partnership Activation 2.0 Newsletter. After checking out the newsletter/site, I hope you have some time available to spend with family and friends, for that is the most important thing in life.

Let's make 2011 a great year! Thank you again for your interest in Partnership Activation and I look forward to having the opportunity to connect with you in the near future!

This month's newsletter features a collection of insights, including:

• Marquette Athletics - BIGNOGGINS
• Creative Promotional Tactics From Across College Athletics
• Creating Concessions/Merchandise Apps that Benchmark the Carl's Jr. Happy Star Rewards
• Synergy Events' Activation on Behalf of Reebok at the NHL Winter Classic
• Hot Off the Press: Networking is a Contact Sport
• Creativity in the Sports Marketplace
• January 2011 Partnership Activation Rising Stars
• Social Media Watch: Preseason/Post-Season SM Inventory
• Brand Activation at the 2010 China Open
• The Ashes Cricket Series
• Three Things You Need to See: Word Lens, Interactive Digital Signage, and Multiple Dance Cams
• Five #SportsBiz People You Must Follow on Twitter
• Activation and Branding from the NHL Winter Classic
• Creativity From the Idea Box

Click here to check out the January 2011 Newsletter and be sure to follow Brian Gainor on Twitter for additional sponsorship/marketing tactics throughout the month!

If you are interested in signing up for the newsletter, please send an email with "Subscribe" in the subject line to newsletter@partnershipactivation.com. In the body of the email, please include your name, company affiliation, and contact information when subscribing. 

Thank You! - Runner-Up, Sports Social Media Professional of 2010

In mid-December, Lewis Howes and the SportsNetworker.com held a poll to gauge who was the Top Sports Social Media Professional of 2010. I was honored to be included among a number of noteworthy nominees (see below) and just wanted to say a quick thank you to all those of you who voted for me and have helped spread the word about the site.

The final results were announced late last week and CNBC's Darren Rovell was named the winner but I am honored to say that I finished as the runner-up with 370+ votes. There are so many terrific individuals doing amazing things in the sports social media/sports business space and I really do appreciate everyone's continued support for Partnership Activation. I had the honor of guest blogging for Darren Rovell on CNBC.com in 2008 and really consider it a privilege to be considered in the same class as him.

I wanted to send a quick note of congratulations to all of the other nominees that were considered for Top Sports Social Media Professional of 2010, including: Jim Bankoff (SB Nation), Matthew Higgins (NY Jets), Amy Martin (Digital Royalty), Darren Heitner (Sports Agent Blog/Dynasty), Russell Scibetti (The Business of Sports), Ben Sturner (Leverage Agency), Daniel McLaren (UK Sports Network), Jason Peck (JasonFPeck.com), Scott Phelps (Pittsburgh Steelers), Ash Read (FundSport.com), Sam Taggart (Vaynermedia), and Stephanie Bagley (Vaynermedia).

... And a special thanks to Lewis Howes for putting the promotional poll together to recognize a number of individuals doing great things in the space! Check out a great interview Lewis did with Darren Rovell by clicking the image below:

2011 Sports and Social Media Predictions

Jason Peck recently teamed up with a number of sports and social media industry thought leaders to create an insightful ebook that details Sports and Social Media Predictions for 2011.

I highly encourage you to take a few minutes to read through the free piece, as I am sure you will gain some valuable nuggets of information that you can share with clients, colleagues, and friends. The 2011 Sports and Social Predictions document features opinions, thoughts, and predictions from 17 industry professionals.

Check out Jason Peck's site, Take a Peck, as well, which serves as a tremendous industry resoure for all professionals working in sports and social media. Hats off to Jason, Ash Read, and all the thought leaders who contributed to create yet another terrific industry resource!