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Post by jwolf on Jul 30, 2011 10:19:05 GMT -5
OK, from the bits and pieces of media attention given to the league so far it sounds like the games have been competitive and entertaining. As teams work the rough edges off they seem to be starting to come together. Unfortunately not many people have gotten to experience any of these games yet, either in person or in live time media form. So what will it take for the SFL to succeed in the short term on a shoe string budget?
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Post by J. Myrle Fuller on Jul 30, 2011 20:57:11 GMT -5
At the very least, they have to begin doing a much better job on the Internet/new media side. The Internet is the biggest method of long-distance communication there is, and the league needs to be able to keep things up to date with its rosters, stats, pictures, videos and results as they happen. It can't be that hard-- heck, anyone with even the most basic mobile phone can update Facebook, even if they don't have an Internet connection on the premises (which, I imagine, most of the stadiums do). Put some highlight videos on YouTube. All they'd need are a couple of people to handle those duties; it wouldn't be a bank-breaking proposition.
The fact that they brokered a deal with a local radio station (and one that streams to boot!) is a huge plus.
Once they have a live, dynamic, up-to-date Internet presence, the SFL can then begin advertising. The weekly two-hour infomercial doesn't seem to help matters much, so moving that to a podcast or Internet stream may be a better idea. (It's really designed for the people who are already fans, not the casual listeners.) Then spread that advertising revenue across the three markets that have teams. For the fans that do show up, emphasize word of mouth. Get some cheap T-shirts promoting the league and give them to the fans. Direct friends of fans to the Web site where they can learn about the league and become fans themselves.
Other than that, they seem to be doing OK at holding the line on expenses with the small rosters and low payroll, which is a huge help (and something a certain other league, ahem, should learn). What they need at this point is revenue.
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Post by broncofan on Jul 30, 2011 21:36:00 GMT -5
Any merchandise would be a help. On the radio show they talk about buying swag from the website, but it always comes back "coming soon". A Cafe Press site could be set up to sell merchandise over the internet and it wouldn't cost them anything.
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Post by jwolf on Jul 30, 2011 22:46:34 GMT -5
BUMPER STICKERS !!! For the life of me I could never understand why the UFL wouldn't take this tiny, cheap, but effective step to have 10-20,000 little billboards around the hometowns of their teams. At the red light, at the gas station, in the mall parking lot you have a visual reminder that a professional team is in your hometown! Let's hope the SFL isn't so snobbish about such a simple but effective advertising tool. I have a Green Bay Packers bumper sticker on my SUV and I still get an occasional 'thumbs up" from a passing motorist with one on his vehicle. Glad the Packers don't mind "stooping' to such a lowbrow but effective form of advertisement..
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Post by gatek99 on Jul 31, 2011 0:17:35 GMT -5
I put my semi=pro team games in the newspaper and on facebook.
I got 400 people to my first game in a small town of Columbiana, Ohio. I averaged 300 after that.
And that was a semi pro team consisting of all ex high school players....
they need to do something if they are going to pay their players that much money and rent large stadiums!
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Post by green wave on Jul 31, 2011 9:28:12 GMT -5
at the jazz vs cudas game ,they had merchandice for evey team in the league except the jazz, oh the game was in new orleans. wtf
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Post by broncofan on Jul 31, 2011 13:16:49 GMT -5
at the jazz vs cudas game ,they had merchandice for evey team in the league except the jazz, oh the game was in new orleans. wtf hmmmmm... |
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Post by jwolf on Jul 31, 2011 21:45:32 GMT -5
at the jazz vs cudas game ,they had merchandice for evey team in the league except the jazz, oh the game was in new orleans. wtf OK, yeah, that is weird... |
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Post by whaler4life on Aug 2, 2011 11:23:25 GMT -5
The league needs to realize what the UFL didn't, every bit of marketing helps. Stuff like bumperstickers, windshield stickers, flyers, etc are great cheap ways to advertise the league and teams. If you look at any FBS school they hand out free bumperstickers and windshield stickers all the time, they know that getting their name and logo out there is very important in attracting fans and can be more effective and cheaper then radio or tv commercials that only air after midnight. (the extent of the Col's marketing campaign).
The league should give bumperstickers to everyone who buys tickets, even if only half of the people put them on their cars thats still 100+ mini billboards out on the roads infront of thousands of people.
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Post by broncofan on Aug 2, 2011 12:01:04 GMT -5
The league needs to realize what the UFL didn't, every bit of marketing helps. Stuff like bumperstickers, windshield stickers, flyers, etc are great cheap ways to advertise the league and teams. If you look at any FBS school they hand out free bumperstickers and windshield stickers all the time, they know that getting their name and logo out there is very important in attracting fans and can be more effective and cheaper then radio or tv commercials that only air after midnight. (the extent of the Col's marketing campaign). The league should give bumperstickers to everyone who buys tickets, even if only half of the people put them on their cars thats still 100+ mini billboards out on the roads infront of thousands of people. Bumper stickers work as an initial curiosity device, but you can't stop there. Once they see the name, people have to have a way to find more information about it. This is where the Jazz are ahead of the game. If I looked up the other teams on the SFL website, it would make me less interested, not more. |
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Post by jwolf on Aug 2, 2011 21:14:54 GMT -5
The Jazz do seem to have their act together so far compared to the other teams. I think alot of that is a reflection of their coaching staff using Facebook to interact with both their players and their fans. The other teams could learn from them when it comes to keeping people in the loop I think.
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gdawg
Practice Squad
Posts: 47
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Post by gdawg on Aug 4, 2011 11:53:44 GMT -5
Like the UFL, the league would need millions of excess cash to succeed in the long term.
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Post by broncofan on Aug 4, 2011 12:22:27 GMT -5
Maybe not. If they can operate in the spring it may be cheaper, and if they don't go after big name talent, that will save as well.
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