Player marketing

wh · May 15, 2012, 10:23:56 AM

This from the WSU board:

Received a call from Wright State last night and I thought when I answered it that it was just another fund raising call. I was very surprised when the caller identified himself as A.J. Pacher and he wanted to thank us for being a season ticket holder and supporting the basketball team in the past and into the future. I was really somewhat taken back because that had never happened in my 31 years as a season ticket holder. I asked A.J. if other players were making phone calls to season ticket holders and he stated that each player had about 70 fans to call. He stated that he was getting a lot of voice mail. I was impressed that our players were taking the time to call every season ticket holder to express their gratitude to us.

I'm pretty certain that we have had a significant decline in the number of season ticket holders over the past several years. I have to believe personal phone calls from players would have helped at least some of those people stay the course. At the same time I wonder how realistic it is to ask players to make 70 personal phone calls each to help "drum up" business," so to speak. Any thoughts?

Valpo89 · May 15, 2012, 11:13:41 AM

I think they should make the calls from their personal phones. I would be more inclined to answer a call if 'Ryan Broekhoff" showed up in my caller ID as opposed to "Valparaiso University." But then again, college kids don't need extra phone charges I'm sure.

vu72 · May 15, 2012, 11:38:59 AM

I always enjoy speaking with students even if I know it's a fund raising call. Find out some interesting things sometimes.

Oh, and if I received a call from Ryan Broekhoff I'd assume someone stole his phone and was doing a prank!

valpotx · May 15, 2012, 12:43:33 PM

While it would be great to receive a call from their personal phones, that would be terrible as the student athlete. I could only imagine if we had given out our phone numbers to fans, how often you would be called lol

valporun · May 15, 2012, 03:27:42 PM

Quote from: valpotx on May 15, 2012, 12:43:33 PM
While it would be great to receive a call from their personal phones, that would be terrible as the student athlete. I could only imagine if we had given out our phone numbers to fans, how often you would be called lol

Not only that, but what college athlete would really want to be making phone calls for basketball purposes on their personal phones?

lowposter · May 15, 2012, 03:43:25 PM

Sounds like it has NCAA violations written all over it. It is too logical.

A phone call from their personal phone wouldnt be a good idea, but one from a phone bank would be excellent marketing. Again...NCAA would find something wrong with it.

lowposter

valpomarketingguy · May 15, 2012, 06:46:00 PM

Quote from: lowposter on May 15, 2012, 03:43:25 PM
Sounds like it has NCAA violations written all over it. It is too logical.

A phone call from their personal phone wouldnt be a good idea, but one from a phone bank would be excellent marketing. Again...NCAA would find something wrong with it.

lowposter

+1

I asked about doing this or sending personalized letters to season ticket holders last year and was told no...

valpo84 · May 15, 2012, 08:57:31 PM

At other schools, that are at the forefront of using cost-effective means of marketing (aka new technology), I have received recorded calls as a season-ticket holder and "athletic fund supporter" thanking me for donation and for purchasing tickets, and for big games. Also receive regular emails with links to highlights, preview videos, etc. These are effective for engagement. Marketing for sports is not an "event" based thing anymore, it's about everyday reaching out and engaging the fan in the team. Great book on this is The Elusive Fan. valpomarketingguy, if you haven't read it yet, highly recommend it. Nothing earth shattering but reinforces what we should be doing and especially what we haven't been doing effectively.

justducky · May 16, 2012, 12:50:14 AM

Quote from: valpomarketingguy on May 15, 2012, 06:46:00 PMI asked about doing this or sending personalized letters to season ticket holders last year and was told no...

First, we have missed you and all wonder how your efforts at Akron or Toledo or wherever have gone. Are you still arguing here from time to time using one of your aliases or are you now displaying your multiple personalities only at your new home?

Give us some details.

Second, let me suggest that somebody who knows how to do it might want to open a new thread catagory called maybe Expanding the VU fan base. Under this would fall things like the value of recruiting local players, how best we can fill the ARC by the teams that we schedule, and any and all suggestions that will help bring the next generation of fans into the building to enjoy a new run of Bryce Drew and VU success. We keep commenting on attendance in any and all threads, where what we need to do is to put it all under one roof where we can easily refer back and continue the debate after a many month lull in the topic.

StlVUFan · May 16, 2012, 09:18:02 AM

Quote from: valpo84 on May 15, 2012, 08:57:31 PM
At other schools, that are at the forefront of using cost-effective means of marketing (aka new technology), I have received recorded calls as a season-ticket holder and "athletic fund supporter" thanking me for donation and for purchasing tickets, and for big games. Also receive regular emails with links to highlights, preview videos, etc. These are effective for engagement. Marketing for sports is not an "event" based thing anymore, it's about everyday reaching out and engaging the fan in the team. Great book on this is The Elusive Fan. valpomarketingguy, if you haven't read it yet, highly recommend it. Nothing earth shattering but reinforces what we should be doing and especially what we haven't been doing effectively.

I regularly received emails with YouTube links to Valpo basketball highlights this year.