Over this past semester I learned a lot about blogging. I learned about the many advantages it has as well as some of the helpful things like feed reader.

What I noticed most upon reflecting on my topics is how much social media is incorporated into all of them. Social media is becoming such an important role in the sports business. It's important in branding, marketing, sponsorship, getting attendance, and getting fan interaction. It's one of the key elements in any successful sports business now.

As far as blogging goes, I learned the benefits about that too. Before this class I just thought blogging was for people who really like to give their opinion. But I've learned that it is much more than that. You can get some legitimate information about almost any topic you want. A lot of these bloggers are experts in their field who have really built up a brand for themselves. They have thousands of followers and are making money from it. They make a living by just writing about what they love. It's a pretty amazing thing if you think about it.

After blogging for almost a semester I can see why people like it. Writing about the topics that interest you is easy and fun. If I could find a niche topic to blog about I would probably continue doing it. It'd be great to make a living from writing about topics I like.

I've learned a lot by doing this blogging assignment.

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/17111910490962417750

This is a cool article about how the NBA is using technology to improve the game on all levels.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/ian_thomsen/03/18/countdown.nba.changes/index.html?xid=cnnbin&hpt=Sbin

First, they are trying to implement the same technology used in Avatar to be able to track every movement by every player in a game. The goal is to have every move recorded (from technology put into the uniforms) so that coaches and analysts can see how players performed in a game, what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to be improved. Player tracking could also make for unbelievable amounts of statistics to be open to everyone.

The NBA also envisions 3D technology being used in the future. The idea is to have the 3D TVs in clubs and venues nearby when the games are sold out, so people can go and watch and get an experience like they are watching from the floor.

Lastly, the NBA, like everyone else, is trying to figure out the best way to use interactive media. Instead of just sending fans highlights with videos and stats on their phones, they want to get them more involved. So they plan on polling the audience and getting them involved through promotions, contests, and prizes.


I think this is a great move for the NBA. All three of these new ideas could really get the fans involved and bring new interest to the game. I’m not sure how popular 3D technology is going to be in the future, but perhaps if there are certain venues specifically for watching sold-out games in 3D, people will come. The interactive media polling idea is a great one. I think this will really catch on and stay for a long time. People love their phones, their opinions, and prizes. And the player-tracking technology could really bring new information to every game. Depending on how much the fans would have access to, it’d really get them involved too. Involved fans = happy fans. Happy fans = more money.

This is a great article that furthers the evidence that the internet is changing how we watch sports.


http://mashable.com/2010/03/19/march-madness-on-demand/


March Madness has been off to a great start in the online world. This week, online streams from CBS have seen a record number. Fans have been pouring in to watch their favorite teams go at it online. On the first day of the tournament there were actually three million unique visitors watching streaming video, a 20% increase over last year's numbers. CBS even put in a handy "boss button" - a convincing (not) screen shot that makes it appear that you are working in PowerPoint - in case your boss comes by when you are watching games at work. The number one game streamed, Florida vs BYU, beat last year's number one game by 50%. Clearly this is saying something about the power and growth of the internet.


And it's not just streaming video that is getting people online for March Madness. Many websites and phone apps are doing what they can to reach fans. Facebook has NCAA fan pages for up-to-date news and fan connection.


There are also some free and cheap bracket apps for your phone to keep track of your bracket and join pools. Speaking of brackets, many sites such as ESPN, Yahoo!, and CBS are offering prizes to those who fill out the winning bracket on their sites.


And of course there is Twitter - plenty of reporters and analysts to follow during the games.


Not having a TV is no longer a problem. The NCAA has invaded every part of the internet so that finding a score is as simple as clicking a button on your phone or opening your favorite website. Although this type of instant-information is nothing new (relatively), it is still pretty amazing if you think about it. It makes you wonder what the internet will be like in 10 years.

http://mashable.com/2010/03/12/musicians-social-media/

This is a great article about how musicians are using social media to connect with more fans and create better music. It's very similar to what we see in sports and business, too.


We've heard of musicians on Twitter tweeting about busy lifestyles and favorite coffees, but now they are reaching out to fans even further. Many musicians now are posting videos online to give their fans something more while they are waiting (for an upcoming album). Using sites such as Ustream to create video conferences, they can update fans on how long until an album, problems they are running into, or just random thoughts that they want feedback from. Some are even going as far as asking fans for song advice. "Rob and Kal", a band from the UK, actually post up songs they are working on and ask for suggestions and advice on how to make them better.

Some smaller bands even ask for money so they can produce vinyl records. If enough fans donate on a site such as Kiva (a site that collects multiple donations to reach a certain goal), they can produce the records for the fans.

And finally, some musicians are teaming up with non-music bloggers to promote their music. Because of the fact that non-music bloggers usually don't deal with musicians (duh), running a contest or promotion through them is pretty easy to get them to do. It's also great for that blogger because it's something fresh and different for them. And it can increase traffic/attention for both parties. It's a win-win, and therefore a great marketing strategy.

Why am I talking about musicians on a sports marketing blog? Because the strategies work. Regardless of type, these strategies are universal. Sports stars can use Ustream as a press-conference video or let fans know what's going on in the off season for example. There are plenty of uses for it. Keeping your fans updated helps your image. A good image results in a good brand. And that's what it's all about. There are so many ways that stars can connect with fans now to grow and become even more successful.

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1968469,00.html

This is an article I found about how Gatorade is dropping their endorsement deal with Tiger Woods. It says a lot considering he just made a public apology last week. Gatorade said they don't see a role for Tiger in their marketing anymore.

That says a lot about how they view Tiger. They are giving up a large amount of money by leaving him. But it also says what they stand for. They aren't going to stand behind someone they aren't proud of. Gatorade wants to keep a respectable image. And it's not like they are losing millions and millions of dollars by dropping him. They are going to be just fine. Nevertheless it's still a big move for them to say "Hey, we're not going to support this guy anymore." It's Tiger Woods.

It will be interesting to see what Nike and EA do. They say they are focusing solely on his athleticism. Therefore they are sticking with him right now. Other companies like AT&T have already dropped him though.

Like I said last week, Tiger will need to re-brand himself. And this big move by Gatorade is proving that. He might not have any sponsors when he comes back to golf. Who knows what companies will want to pick him up. I see a change in his actions, demeanor, and involvement with fans and other golfers as the only way he's going to truly come back. He will always have his loyal fans, but if he wants the respect of everyone else, he really needs to change. Whether or not you think it's right or wrong, being the greatest golfer isn't going to cut it anymore.

This is an article from SI I found about Tiger’s apology.

http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1966679,00.html?eref=sihp

So Tiger finally came out and gave a 13-minute apology after a long time of silence. Basically all I’m going to talk about is 1. Was he sincere? 2. What this means for his brand.

When any celebrity gives an apology there are always certain patterns I see. A spouse or family member there to show support, a sorrowful look, and a robotic list of “I’m sorry… I’ve disappointed…I need to get better…It’s hard… Please keep my family out of this…” Therefore it’s hard to determine if an apology is sincere or not. On the one hand it shows Tiger taking full responsibility, understanding, and apologizing for his actions. But on the other, it’s exactly what anyone in that situation would do, sorry or not. So it’s hard to tell. Therefore, I think this, like any apology, will have mixed reactions. His loyal fans will say it was sincere and want to move on, but his critics will talk about the robotic-ness of it all and how he’s become a terrible role model. Whether or not he’s truly sorry, we won’t know until he’s back.

That brings us to the question of what will happen to his brand? It will definitely be different. I can see Tiger reaching out to the fans more, being involved in more charitable events, and even representing different ads. On the one hand, companies like Nike and Gillette make a lot of money by sponsoring Tiger. So when he comes back, they might continue that sponsorship. But if the fans don’t believe in Tiger anymore, the sponsors aren’t going to want to support him either. Sponsoring someone who commits adultery doesn’t exactly make the company image look good either. That’s why I think Tiger will really have to craft his image into something new if he wants to come back and be accepted. People may say he’s the greatest golfer ever, leave his personal life out of it and let him move forward. But that’s not how it works. We’re a society obsessed with gossip, we have access to abundant information in the media 24/7, and sports fans love personal. That’s why we follow stars. That’s why stars are so important in sports. We love to hear the back-story of famous athletes who come from hard times, overcome adversity, and succeed. We love athletes who give us something different. We always want to know more than just what we see on the field. Sure, we love to see truly great players, but personal is such a big part of sports, too. People don’t want to be behind someone who isn’t sorry for their “transgressions.” That’s why whatever Tiger does now is so critical to his return and critical to his overall brand.

http://mashable.com/2010/02/10/red-wings-qr-codes/

Social Media in sports is nothing new anymore. It’s a great way to connect and communicate with fans as well as build and maintain a strong brand. Teams are trying to come up with new and innovative ways to stay on top of this craze. The Detroit Red Wings have done just that.

Inside the programs you get at the games is a way to access interactive media. Printed inside each program is a QR code. A QR code is like a bar code that you can scan. Those with smart phones take a picture of the code and it instantly takes them to whatever website, video, and/or content the program wants. And apparently it’s quite a hit. Many fans are using their smart phones to scan their programs to get more content at the games.

This reminds me of what we discussed in class. To be a successful team/brand/business, one thing you have to do is connect with your fans. With social media being the hottest part of Internet today, sports teams have to get on board.

This is a great idea by the Red Wings for many reasons. First, with print material slowly dying out, it’s a great way to keep up -integrating the two so that special online content is only accessed through their program. Another benefit is that it can be accessed right at the game. Fans are in the atmosphere, feeling involved, feeling excited. What better way to get them more involved than to give them special access on their phones. People are obsessed with their phones today. Any simple way to give them more Red Wings and they’ll do it. And finally, these QR codes have great potential for the future. Advertisers, marketers, whoever- utilizing these to get fans attention is big, especially now, when they’re still pretty new. For example, advertisers can put in codes that send fans to a discount or special offer. If you have a smart phone, who’s not going to scan a program that has a cool, futuristic code in it that sends you to a special video just for the fans. It makes you feel like you’re in control- a smart move by marketers.

As the article put it, this is a great way to drive “ …home the connection between the team, its fans, online content and the in-game experience.”

I thought this was a great article that fit in perfectly with what we learned in class.