social media for marathons

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The running community is very active online. Marathons and other road races should leverage social communication channels to build and activate communities year-round. When done right, this can strengthen customer service, deliver a better race-day experience, mitigate crisis situations, drive registrations and recruit volunteers. Using the Columbus Marathon as a case study, this presentation was first delivered to the Road Race Management annual conference. Want Heather Whaling to help your event harness the power of social media? Just email: heather [at] gebencommunication.com.

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#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Why Social Media is a Must

Heather Whalingheather@gebencommunication.com

prtini.com • @prTini

a fresh approach to event communication:

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

The basics:Event news & announcementsRegistrationVolunteers

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Dig deeper:IntentCustomer serviceCommunity relationsSponsor integrationCrisis communication

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Desired Outcomes:

Photo credits: Schoolhouse, Post-It, Line, Runner

activate &

accelerate

educate eliminate barriers

drive registratio

n

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”– Simon Sinek

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Integrating Traditional and Digital PR

Photo source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/will-lion/2636903303/

innovate best practices

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Community Development

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

You have to BUILD a community before you can ACTIVATE it.

tweetable tip:

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

“You have to earn the right to sell something in the same way you earn the right to ask a friend a favor.” – Renegades Write the Rules

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Case Study: The Columbus Marathon

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Goals: • Build a community year-round, activate it leading up

to the marathon• Provide real-time customer service to deliver a

better race-day experience for athletes & spectators• Extend partnerships, especially with Nationwide

Children’s Hospital• Gain insights and feedback through online

monitoring and digital research

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

nail the basics

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

• facebook.com/columbusmarathon• Off season: Update 4-5 times per week• Training season: Update twice daily• Emphasis on facilitating conversation among

marathoners

tweetable tip:Consistent, frequent updates are required to

build interactive Facebook communities

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Facebook

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Countdown Images

The Final Countdown• 1,175 shares• Week-of interactions

increased 385%• Secured car donation

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Facebook – Customer Service151 questions answered the

week of the race – just on Facebook

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Facebook – Race Day Coverage

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

• @cbusmarathon• Limit: 3-4 scheduled tweets per day• Focus on being conversational, providing moral support• Heavy use of lists & local search

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Virtual Scavenger Hunt:• Drive traffic to the new website• Positive reinforcement• Establish new connections with

potential marathon runners/walkers• http://bit.ly/CbusMarathonHunt

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Twitter – Customer Service

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Post Race #PRParty

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

www.columbusmarathon.com/blog

• “Maintenance mode” during off season• In-season: 2-3 posts per week• Blogging team provides real-life

perspective. • Bloggers include:

– Board member/sponsor– Local media personality– Mom walking to lose pregnancy weight– First-timer

• 30 Tips, 30 Days

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

30 Tips, 30 Days• 8 of the top 10 blog

pages in 2011 were tips

• Blog traffic grew 260%

• 2010 to 2011: pageviews tripled

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

30 Tips in 30 Days

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

First Marathon to Join PinterestAmong top 15 referring sites to the

website

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

bridge the digital & physical divide

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Partnership Press Conference

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RunFest

Co-hosts•6 local influencers•Each blogged, shared on Facebook•40 tweets

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RunFest

Result:1,000 attendees (250 in 2010, 500 in 2011)

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Tweet & Go Seek

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Potential partner:

Sponsor:

Participant:

Taking note:

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Ask The Race Director 2012

• UStream• Questions solicited in

advance and in real-time

• Promoted on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and the blog

• Viewership increased 68%

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Expo “Tweet Up”

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crowdsource feedback

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

just ask

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

results

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Results:•Top referral sources:

• Facebook • Facebook Mobile • Twitter

•Facebook:• Engagement: +133%• Fans: +42%• Customer service

doubled•Twitter:

• Engagement: +59%• Followers: +45%

•$875,000 raised for Nationwide Children’s

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Rapid Fire: Content Creation Tools

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Instagram.com@Instagram

Why? Fastest-growing mobile network; visual storytelling

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Tout.com @tout

Why? 15-second videos to repost on Facebook & Twitter

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

VenueSeen.com • @VenueSeen

Why? Monitor Instagram & Foursquare images; create hashtag-driven campaigns; Instagram CRM

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

MadewithOver.com @MadeWithOver

Why? Simple, beautiful textography

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Pitchengine.com@Pitchengine

Why? Social media news releases

#RoadRaceSM • @prTini

Disrupt the status quo. Build awareness.

Acquire customers. Excel in the social world.

Increase sales. Innovate best practices.

Heather Whaling • @prTiniheather@gebencommunication.com

subscribe: bit.ly/prTini

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