Three Questions to Ask Yourself

We have expectations for our athletes, our volunteers, our employees and our assistants. We give them advice and coax them along. But who is coaching you? Do you have a mentor? I find that by stepping back, if just for a few minutes, and evaluating myself that I can be my own mentor (in addition to my real mentors). This is always the most valuable time that I spend all day. I save myself time and make more money because of it.
This time of year we talk about renewal and see the opportunity in front of us in the year ahead. I urge you to stop and sit for a few moments with a blank sheet of paper in front of you. Ask yourself 3 questions:

1. Where did I succeed in 2010?
2. Where did I miss the mark?
3. How will I implement those lessons in 2011?

Put pen to paper and start writing unedited. You'll see a flow of thoughts, ideas and action-plans begin to unfold in front of you.

Do this for yourself.
Do this for your community.

Good luck!
Let me know how it goes!

Happy New Year!

Jim Harshaw
Riot Marketing
More fans.  More media.  More money.  Less work.
www.riotsportsmarketing.com
(434) 409-0257

How Important are Your Fans*?

If your answer is "not important" then stop wasting your time reading this and do something more important, like picking your nose.
If your answer is "very important" then my next question is "how often do you touch them?" How often are you feeding them what they want? They are your pack. Your herd. Your tribe. And you are their leader. If there is no leader, there is no pack. If you're not feeding them what they crave, they will drift to another pack.
Your options are varied.

• Text message alerts
• Hand-written notes
• Facebook Page updates
• Twitter updates
• Direct mail
• Email newsletters
• Events that support events (like a social after a competition)

Riot clients understand the value of their fans. Do you?
*Remember, businesses have "fans" too. At least the good ones do. VW, Mac, Build-a-Bear, Grateful Dead

You and Maslow

 

 Ever wonder what makes a fan a fan? I mean, why would someone support a team of people that, often times, does not even know that you the fan are there? Maslow's hierarchy of needs tells us all that we need to know. People need to belong and they need to have love and companionship. "Misery loves company," they say and that's true of happiness and every emotion in between. 

 So think of that when you are wondering how to grow your fan base (yes, businesses have fans too. Think Mac, Greatful Dead and VW), think about how you can serve your fans and give them what they want. No. Think about how you can give them what they need.

Host events. Give them insider information. Give them a "shout out". Show them you care. If you have to, do it one-by-one.

The Best Coaches Don't Coach

While presenting last weekend in New York, I had the opportunity to connect with Rob Koll, the head wrestling coach at #1 ranked Cornell University this past weekend. I am relatively well acquainted with his program through various people and avenues and have long heard how he runs his program as if he were the CEO rather than just a coach. During his talk, he stressed the importance of his marketing ("marketing, marketing, marketing" he said). More often than not, marketing will give you (my words, not his) the things that you need to move your organization forward. Community support, increased attendance, parental involvement, alumni engagement, student-body support, participation and, most importantly, money. Because without these things you will have a hard time fulfilling your mission... teaching life lessons, building character and winning titles all require facilities, gear, travel etc... and those cost money.
So step back, look at the big picture, dream a little... no, dream big... and figure out how you can get there.
There is a way.

Un-marketing

I discovered a new term (and an interesting person in the process) the other day. Un-marketing. I'm not sure if Scott Stratten coined it or not but the term sums up what you need to do. If you want to drive ticket sales, get more members, maximize fundraising or increase attendance then you have to stop marketing and start engaging. That is possible now more than ever with the new communication channels available today.

Be interesting.
Write something I want to read.
Make my life easier.
Do something cool.
Exist where I already am.
And... talk to me.

Then I might buy, sign-up, donate or show up.

When Nothing is Better Than Something

Remember when you got your website? You built it yourself or you had "a guy" who built it for you. It was gong to be great! You added pages for your roster, schedule, team info, fundraising, alumni, links, results, fun facts, contact us, about us, news, coaches, history, pics, video, rankings, JV, site map...
Unfortunately, you haven't updated most of this since last December so when visitors land on your site, they think it, and your organization, is dead. They never return. No website is better than a dead website.
All you really need, most likely, is a news blog to let me know whats going on. A one-page website with news posted chronologically from top to bottom. If you need more, create a Facebook Page. I can find your videos and pics there in addition to your news. Or better yet, they find me.
The real key is to get me then keep me. You do that by creating multiple avenues of communication through which you can "keep" someone. Facebook, Twitter, email newsletters, blog and RSS feeds (notice I didn't say website).
Keep it simple and build as your resources allow. Baby steps.