Creating content that helps your fans get to know players on a personal level beyond the scores and stats is important. Off-the-field stories and facts help humanize players and make them relatable to fans. If fans feel a personal connection to a player, they might be more likely to share content and pay attention. After all, stories about people and human interests tap into emotion.
There are many ways to help your fans get to know players through content. From simple graphic to more robust videos, the opportunities are endless. I’ve compiled a list of emmawatson-fans.com to help get the ball rolling.
No. 1- Get to Know “Infographics”
Several teams have created fantastic graphics that call out the likes and interests of their athletes. Graphics that are easy to consume and don’t need scrolling are key. Let the visuals tell the story of the athlete’s facts. Below are some great examples from simple name intros for rookies to more robust infographics:
No. 2- Music
Music moves us all and is a great way to connect fans with players. Find ways to highlight your athletes’ favorite playlist, the song that motivates them, etc. Here are a few good examples of teams leveraging music to build a more personal connection:
https://instagram.com/p/7ENxVwLJQK/
Sunday Playlist: 10 songs @Jaguars wide receiver @Thee_AR15 is bumping right now: http://t.co/55osV5RqBv
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) August 2, 2015
What is @tkelce listening to before hitting the field? Check out his @bose playlist of the game. #DENvsKC pic.twitter.com/caNDlCAV39
— Kansas City Chiefs (@chiefs) September 18, 2015
Check out the @Bose Player Playlist that the #Bears are listening to before kickoff today. http://t.co/uHCZugo5g9 pic.twitter.com/bHVdDjXhaz
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 13, 2015
No. 3- Through the Words of Teammates
Sometimes it’s hard to get people to talk about themselves in a genuine way (after all, it can be awkward). For a fun, fresh perspective enlist teammates and coaches to help fans get to know the team. Here are some varying examples of what this can look like.
Superlatives
Members of the 2014-15 Oklahoma men’s basketball team participated in a 22-question player poll, supplying the name of a teammate for various categories. Oklahoma then featured the superlatives on exposure.co in a fun visual. Not only is the idea fantastic, but the photos do a great job representing the student-athletes. View it here.
More Likley
For media day, the Mountain West Conference did a fun series with players that asked who more likely to do x. The banter the questions create back and forth makes for fun content.
.@AFFootball cadet-athletes Alex Hansen & AJ Ruechel share some insight on the Falcons heading into 2015 #mwfb WATCH: http://t.co/3NqNtybxgq
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) August 26, 2015
Teammate Talk
Purdue Volleyball has a series called “Teammate Talk” where fans get to know players through the eyes of their teammates. It’s a fun angle that can be executed easily.
No. 4- In Their Own Words
First-hand accounts that tell an emotional story go a long way. If you want athletes to tell their own story, find the emotional angle and go beyond a talking head. Great b-roll paired with emotional voiceover helps paint the full picture.
Indiana has launched a campaign this year called #ImAHoosier that chronicles five student-athletes. It’s a great example of showing the full journey , in student-athletes own words, beyond the stats and scores. You can follow the campaign here.
This post only scratches the surface of how you can help fans get to know your athletes. Just remember, there are so many stories to tell about the people behind the uniforms… tell them.
What good examples have you seen of teams and leagues helping fans get to know players and athletes?
Thanks for reading!
Jess – another good post! Couple more samples from Arizona today:
https://twitter.com/APlayersProgram/status/644601654977896448
https://twitter.com/APlayersProgram/status/644601570689048576