Sports Marketing Machine Podcast

Send us a textJeremy Neisser sits down with Courtney Rice from WolfCycle AI Wolf Cycle AI is an automated intelligence software that provides AI-powered sales and retention strategies for sports and entertainment partners. It uses virtual assistants to run strategic outbound campaigns and drive membership sales, group sales, premium and partnership sales. The software combines AI with human oversight to ensure personalized responses and maximize opportunities. Wolf Cycle has seen success across various verticals, including generating additional full seasons, driving partnership conversations, and retaining at-risk accounts. It aims to streamline sales processes and help teams sell more tickets efficiently.TakeawaysWolf Cycle is an AI-powered software that helps sports and entertainment partners with sales and retention strategies.The software uses virtual assistants to run strategic outbound campaigns and drive various types of sales.Wolf Cycle combines AI with human oversight to ensure personalized responses and maximize opportunities.The software has seen success in generating revenue, retaining at-risk accounts, and driving partnership conversations.It aims to streamline sales processes and help teams sell more tickets efficiently.Chapters00:00 - Introduction to Wolf Cycle and AI in Ticket Sales02:18 - AI's Ability to Understand Natural Language Processing04:39 - Customizing Campaigns Based on Partner Goals08:10 - Adding a Human Layer to AI for Response Protection12:15 - Expanding into Sponsorship Outreach18:27 - Proactive Engagement and Retention Strategies21:04 - Leveraging Data and Continuous Improvement23:30 - Future Directions for Wolf Cycle28:08 - How to Get in Touch with Wolf CycleSports Marketing Machine on LinkedInSports Marketing Machine on InstagramBook a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

Jeremy Neisser, an expert in data analytics, breaks down the crucial differences between first-party and third-party data in the sports industry. He explains how first-party data, gathered directly from fans, provides invaluable insights for sports teams. In contrast, third-party data offers broader demographic insights, enhancing targeted advertising efforts. The conversation emphasizes the importance of balancing these data types while prioritizing fan privacy and trust. Neisser advocates for transparency in data usage to strengthen relationships with fans.

Send us a textIn this episode, Jeremy Neisser interviews Kassidy Ellenby, the Executive Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Communications at DePaul University, about an open role for the Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Fan Experience. They discuss the duties and expectations of the role, including overseeing marketing efforts for men's basketball, managing a budget, and coordinating sponsorship activations. They also talk about the game day atmosphere at Wintrust Arena, the importance of fan engagement, and the strategies for increasing student attendance at sporting events. The conversation highlights the collaborative culture at DePaul and the opportunities for growth and development within the athletic department.TakeawaysThe open role at DePaul University is for the Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Fan Experience, with a focus on men's basketball.The role involves overseeing marketing efforts, managing a budget, and coordinating sponsorship activations.The game day atmosphere at Wintrust Arena is top-notch, with pyro towers, immersive video boards, and engaging in-game entertainment.Increasing student attendance at sporting events is a priority, and partnerships with campus organizations and targeted communication strategies are used to promote events and offer incentives.DePaul University offers a collaborative and supportive culture, with opportunities for growth and development within the athletic department.Chapters00:00 - Introduction and Overview of the Open Role03:02 - Creating an Engaging Game Day Atmosphere at Wintrust Arena05:48 - Increasing Student Attendance at Sporting Events08:51 - Collaborative Culture and Opportunities for Growth at DePaul UniversityTo review the job posting and apply - DePaul UniversityConnect with Kassidy on LinkedIn or through DePaul Athletics. Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedInSports Marketing Machine on InstagramBook a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

A sports team struggles with ticket sales, prompting a deep dive into marketing strategies. Prioritizing group and season tickets proves crucial for success. Collecting email addresses emerges as a vital component for future engagement. The discussion highlights intentional marketing focusing on specific games, revealing how targeted efforts can drive sales. Listener takeaways emphasize the need for effective promotion planning and leveraging group sales as a strategic advantage. There's a wealth of practical advice for anyone looking to boost their ticket sales!

Marketing directors face a major challenge in turning single-game ticket buyers into loyal fans. Only 33% return for another game! A strategic post-game email can be a game-changer. Thanking attendees while offering personalized discounts encourages repeat attendance. Personalized communication strikes when the excitement is fresh, boosting conversions. By implementing this approach, teams can transform one-time buyers into multiple attendees and even potential season ticket holders.

Jeremy Neisser, a customer service expert, stresses the crucial link between exceptional service and ticket holder retention. He highlights a notable decline in in-park attendance attributed to underutilization of mini-plans and season tickets. Neisser argues that marketing directors should pivot from acquiring new customers to enhancing the experience of current ticket buyers. By leveraging historical ticket usage data, teams can tailor strategies to boost customer satisfaction and attendance, ensuring that existing fans remain engaged.

Emmanuel Elmajian from Spinzo, an expert in group and promotional ticket sales, joins the conversation to share innovative strategies for enhancing group ticket sales. They discuss the shift towards individual purchases within groups, increasing buyer control and seller data. The talk highlights creative ideas like loyalty programs, themed events, and partnerships with local businesses. Emmanuel also dives into gamification tactics to boost sales and the importance of customizable fan experiences in driving ticket sales and community engagement.

Heather Doane, from Destroyer Promotional Products, shares her expertise on boosting merchandise sales for sports teams. She covers ten essential tips, like effective inventory management and organizing retail spaces for better customer engagement. Heather emphasizes visual merchandising to attract buyers and the significance of conducting market research for competitive pricing. Collaboration among teams and leveraging customer data for targeted marketing also make the list. Listeners gain valuable insights to maximize their merchandise strategies.

Send us a textIn this podcast episode, Joe Rixon from FanIQ shares insights on three key strategies for sports teams to improve their social media and content engagement. The strategies include leveraging influencers, user-generated content (UGC), and showcasing fan experience. Joe emphasizes the importance of matching content to the platform, engaging diverse audiences, and using influencer content for paid advertising. He also highlights the value of UGC in engaging fans and driving ticket sales. The conversation covers the importance of engaging and fun content in driving ticket sales and revenue for sports events. It emphasizes the use of user-generated content, influencers, and targeting new audiences to create engaging and authentic experiences. The discussion also highlights the impact of content strategy on revenue generation and the value of empowering mid-level staffers with data and resources.TakeawaysLeveraging influencers can tap into specific audience segments and provide trusted recommendations for teams' content.User-generated content (UGC) from fans can be a valuable source of engaging and authentic content for sports teams.Showcasing fan experience and exclusive offerings can drive engagement and ticket sales, regardless of the team's performance on the field. Engaging and fun content is crucial for driving ticket sales and revenue for sports events.User-generated content and influencers play a significant role in creating authentic and engaging experiences for fans.Targeting new audiences and empowering mid-level staffers with data and resources can have a positive impact on revenue generation.Content strategy has a direct impact on revenue generation and the growth of fan bases for sports events.Chapters00:00 - Introduction and Background of FanIQ and Joe Rixon02:18 - Leveraging Influencers for Sports Marketing Success13:10 - The Power of User-Generated Content in Sports Marketing22:56 - The Impact of Engaging Content on Revenue Generation25:41 - Influencers, User-Generated Content, and Fan Engagement29:49 - Targeting New Audiences and Empowering Staff for Revenue GrowthLearn more about Fan IQ or email Joe (joe@faniq.live)Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedInSports Marketing Machine on InstagramBook a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

In this discussion, Steve DeLay, an industry expert from The Ultimate Toolkit, shares his insights on crafting effective marketing plans for sports teams. He emphasizes the critical alignment between ticket sales and marketing for driving revenue. Delve into the 'sellout matrix,' a strategy to generate excitement and boost ticket sales. Steve also highlights innovative tactics for gathering email addresses and fostering ticket usage. Plus, he introduces valuable resources for both sports management students and teams to thrive in the competitive landscape.