Do you want to engage customers with your brand in a way that incites passion, loyalty and commitment? Of course you do. With football season kicking off, sports fans will devote countless hours and resources to following their favorite teams for the next few months. Why not use sports-related marketing to connect your brand to what your customers already know and love? Check out these four creative ideas to score big with your customers!
1. Provide printed schedules for their favorite teams.
Most dedicated fans keep a printed copy of their favorite team’s schedule for the season, so why not combine your logo with the schedule? We’ve got access to schedules for both professional and collegiate teams, making it easy to drop in your logo for a totally custom promotion! This concept is versatile enough to work for a wide range of businesses and it’s budget-friendly, too. VP of Sales Gena Mueller recently created a custom football schedule for a Georgia-based bank. The product was targeted at the South Carolina market so they used a dual schedule magnet that included South Carolina and Clemson. The client could easily stick their business cards on the top to personalize the magnet. Now their logo will be prominently displayed through the end of the season, which is a big win for everyone!
2. Incorporate team colors into your branding.
Sports fans wear their team colors with pride, so consider coordinating your logo with team colors to set your brand apart from the competition. I worked with a law firm to create a custom tee shirt that could be used by multiple offices throughout the southeast. We chose tee shirt colors that worked with the most popular college football teams in each state where they had an office, and branded the shirts with the firm’s logo. They distributed the shirts to their clients so that they could show their team spirit all season long. You’re not limited to tee shirts, though. The same principle can be applied to drinkware, pens or any other branded item. Looking for something really affordable in team colors? This 16 oz. double-wall insulated reusable cup is available for as low as $1.99 each.
3. Offer point-of-entry gifts at local sporting events.
I recently attended a Major League Baseball game where the first 5000 people received a custom cap with the sponsor’s logo. People all over the stadium sported their new caps and the sponsor got excellent exposure for their brand. Whether or not you’re ready for the big leagues, the concept can work for large and small businesses! If you’re looking to generate some positive press out in the community, consider partnering with high schools, community colleges or city leagues to provide a point-of-entry gift for a select number of attendees. From custom caps to disposable ponchos, the only limit is your imagination. (And okay, probably your budget.) A few of our favorites include soft-sided coolers, stadium cushions, clear tote bags, sunglasses and cow bells.
4. Carry the sports theme into your tradeshows and events.
When it comes to tradeshows and events, you need a way to stand out from the crowd. Why not use a seasonal sports promotion to attract more people to your booth or table? JDA is doing just that with our semi-annual Product Showcase next month! We decided to play on the spirited Alabama vs. Auburn college football rivalry that is a part of the lifeblood of our community. We’re giving our show the look and feel of a big tailgate party! Although we’ll still offer all the great vendor booths and product information that our clients have come to rely on over the years, we’re tapping into the power of sports to create a fun and unforgettable atmosphere.
(By the way, we’d love for you to attend our FREE show. Click here to register online.)
Think about outfitting your staff with colorblock polos for an athletic look and handing out sports-related items like mini football stress relievers (also available for baseball, basketball, soccer and other sports.) Mini bottles of water with custom labels also make for a great giveaway. If you really want to make an impression, set up one of these portable games and watch people flock to your booth because you’re doing something fun and different. You can always drive more traffic to your booth with a drawing for a tailgate-related item that can be shipped directly to the recipient, such as this double-chair/umbrella combo unit with built-in speakers.
Figure out what works for you and make it happen.
When you start to see sports as a way to connect with your customers, you can give your brand a major boost. Armed with these ideas, sit down with your team and decide what type of sports-related marketing makes the most sense for your company. What do you hope to achieve with the promotion? Who is your target audience? What is your budget? Let us help you put together the best marketing campaign possible! Email contactus@juniordavis.com for a free consultation today!