Facebook has become such a huge social networking tool and has over 1 billion users. Users can follow friends, favorite companies, celebrities, and sports teams. Simply by “liking” these pages, Facebook users can keep up to date with the latest news and content, and engage with the certain athletic team they are following. It allows fans to feel that they have an inside look at the professional sports team that they follow week in and week out. Teams post pictures, videos, score updates, schedules, promotions, and contests.
It is not only great for the fans, but it is even better for the professional organization themselves. It allows teams to get the word out there and gain fans. When a Facebook user “likes” a particular sports team, every friend the user has on Facebook will see that. This prompts other users to visit the team page. Also, by being a fan of the team on Facebook, the user will see each post the team makes on their newsfeed. This is great for promoting the team, as well as a key marketing tool. From the fan page, users can also find the pages of the professional athletes that play for the teams. These athletes have their own personal fan pages.
Three main perks for using Facebook to market a sports team are contests, fan photos and PPC. Contest draw people in because it gives them a chance to win team gear, tickets and other fun prizes. Contests also get people talking and spreads the word. Who doesn’t love winning free things? No one! So, obviously everyone tells their friends and post links to the contest. Another way of interacting with fans is to post pictures of them on the page. Even if a fan never sees themselves on the page, there is always a hope that they will appear, supporting the team they love. Everyone wants the chance to have their own ten seconds of fame. The Pay Per Click is a great feature because, like previously stated, it allows the teams page to be spread throughout Facebook the more fans they gain. This will build the amount of traffic the page has, and essentially, draws more fans to the page.
An article by Cork Gaines in "The Business Insider" displays the 20 most popular sports teams on Facebook. Surprisingly, soccer teams are the sport with the most Facebook Fans. Among those are Manchester United, Barcelona FC, Liverpool FC, Arsenal, and Real Madrid. The United States, being the sports hub that it is, has a few MLB, NFL, and NBA teams with the most fans. For as large a social networking country the United States is, they really should step up their athletic Facebook fan pages. Below is the Lakers' fan page, which is the most popular team in the United States.
Although I have never liked a page on Facebook, I do find it beneficial for companies, celebrities, and teams to have a fans page. It truly does get keep them in the spotlight. There are a few kids from my high school who are trying to be rappers and thus have made Facebook fan pages to build their reputation. It really does work. They also have incorporated contests on their pages. It is amazing how much social media can do for someone who wants to be famous.
ReplyDeleteFacebook fan pages are one of my favorite aspects of the social media site. I think fan pages are such a great tactic to keep fans engaged, while keeping them updated with the most current sports team information. Companies would be wise to utilize fan pages due to the fact that Facebook is a highly trafficked social media site. Users are more apt to search for a company, team or organization through Facebook rather than the internet. As for your mention of the sport with the most Facebook fans, it makes perfect sense why soccer teams are up at the top. Because soccer is the number one sport in the world, it just goes to show that people outside of the United States are engaged with Facebook fan pages as well.
ReplyDeleteFacebook Fan Pages are one of the best ways that a company can gain exposure and brand awareness. It's an amazing tool for sports pages to gain fans and interact with their audiences when they usually don't get a chance to. Contests and free prizes are a great way to get people involved and to spread the word with their friends. Even if people aren't actively engaged on the page if they see their posts it may spark them to want to buy tickets or check out their schedule. It's a great multi purpose tool. It is surprising the Soccer has the most fans but like Kelsey said they are the most popular sport in the world. Looks like Americans aren't the only ones using social media ;)
ReplyDeleteFacebook has become such a large social networking tool so it is no surprise that it is beneficial to various industries and brands. Facebook serves as a great tool for sports teams to promote themselves as a brand. Facebook pages are a great way to connect and stay up to date with your favorite sports team. I agree that contests, fan photos and PPC are three effective ways to market a sports team on Facebook. It also is interesting that soccer teams have the most Facebook fans.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think it is beneficial for a professional sports team to have an official Facebook page. Professional Sports, and teams represent not only a business but a gigantic market place with an even larger fan base. Social Media has changed the relationship between sports teams and fans. It opens a line of communication and a "personal" relationship that never existed before. I think there really is no downside of a team having a Facebook page. If anything these pages will make fans more interested, more engaged, and more satisfied. -- Emily McKenna
ReplyDeleteI think Facebook pages are super important as far as branding goes. It clues visitors in on events contests and updates. However, I think Facebook fan pages only work for certain types of industries, sports being one of them. I think for a Fan Page to be successful the brand / product/ service needs a fan base to start off with. Otherwise, I personally never understood why drug companies would feel the need to have "fans" on Facebook. ( it just does not work) . Plus, sports pages have enough streaming content to populate their pages which makes make sit more dynamic and more of a reason for "fans" to check back in and see the latest news about their favorite teams.
ReplyDeleteBrand image is a key component to public relations and can make or break a company in a heartbeat. People want to see that your company has a face and personality that goes along with it. Businesses spend millions upon millions of dollars to maintain and enhance their brand image. Nike is the sleek swoop and the brand the hip, young athletes want gear from. They clearly value the use of social media and post on their Facebook page more than once a week. The site, http://www.facebook.com/nike, has over 11.5 million likes and displays crisp images and inspirational videos. It is absolutely important to have a Facebook fan page in this competitive environment.
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