Today we’ll continue our journey through the NCAA Landscape, revealing my ten favorite digital and social things from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Our goal though this is to shine a light on programs who are trying new things in the hope of inspiring the rest of us towards more great things.
Here we go.
10. Miami Offers High Fives for Watching Videos
Wow. I wouldn’t have believed this if I hadn’t read it (and verified it). Miami has built a site (here) where fans are encouraged to watch a Getting to Know you video for every men’s and women’s basketball player on their roster. Watch every video (there are 24 of them by my count) and what do you get? The opportunity to high five the players as they hit the court. I actually really like this for so many reasons. First of all, there really should be more high-fiving in the world. But, beyond that, Miami is giving away the most simplest form of an experience to fans who take the time to get more closely connected to the players on each roster. It is positioned as a concrete reward for investing your time. Love the idea and where this could go.
9. North Carolina’s Game Recaps as Music Videos
To culminate last season’s appearance in the Carrier Classic, North Carolina created a music video of the full game day – from arriving through the game action. The result and imagery would be captivating on its own, but the act of creating a music video really took this to another level of emotional connection. It even got me wondering – why don’t more teams do this after every game? Highlight reels reinvented as music videos could be just the way to draw more fans in to your team.
8. The Maryland Fan Map
There’s no easier way to show your program is a national program than to let your fans show you. Maryland Athletics asks fans to show their Terrapin pride by planting their name on a map (shown below or here). You can also browse fan comments from each region of the state… or country. I love the concept not just for what it does now (connecting people through their love for Maryland) but rather for what it could be (imagine if this impacted where the program played games?)
7. Miami Transforms Stat Sheets into Infographics
I love infographics. There, I said it. But what I love the most about them is they can get you to process information that otherwise you may have simply glossed over. Miami has introduced a series of infographics like the one shown below or here. As you’ll quickly see, this is an extremely effective and interesting way to tell the story of the stat sheet. And the beauty of telling a story this way is that you can shape the message to elevate the aspects of your program that you hope become sticky with fans, alumni, and of course recruits.
6. Clemson Athletics Instagram helps you feel the moment through multiple perspectives.
Instagram lets you show others the world through your eyes. Which is why I found this approach even more valuable: Clemson lets you see a snapshot through multiple sets of eyes. By combining points of view in the moment, they really do help you connect at a much deeper level. Check them out on Instagram, here.
5. Boston College brings fans in to their Instagram messaging
If you two pictures can combine to tell a more captivating story, imagine what a fan base could deliver? That’s the premise behind Boston College’s Instagram call to action. As you’ll note on their page, they are asking for fans to tag their pictures with #WeAreBC, with the best images being shared on video boards, Facebook, and Twitter. Roughly 2,000 pictures later (see link here), there’s a start to a great conversation between fans and the program.
4. Tweet the #DukeBasketballNeverStops hashtag
Duke’s newly-redesigned website, DukeBluePlanet.com, is set up to put you, the site visitor simply one click away from joining their message on Twitter. As you’ll note on the image trail below, Duke puts Tweet #BasketballNeverStops at the top of their website, and by clicking in, you are taken to Twitter with it all set up for you to join the conversation. And, as you’ll see below or here, it is a pretty vibrant conversation. I’ve often wondered why more teams don’t make it as easy to join the conversation as Duke does here — and would love to know the stats on how much a lift in conversation this has delivered.
3. Wake Forest and Duke merge the past and present on Facebook
There’s something magical about positioning the current team in the same place as legendary alums. That’s exactly what Duke and Wake Forest are delivering on their Facebook pages through their cover art.
2. Duke’s DukeStrong physical becomes social media poster
It’s not a team photo. It is a chance to use a team photo as an opportunity to define your brand, not just in physical print but also through social communities. Mission Accomplished by Duke for delivering the most incredible team photo poster I’ve come across. Download it for yourself, here.
1. Duke makes post game messaging into a brand statement
This is a great learning for everyone to apply. It’s not about posting that you won a big game. It’s about combining all the elements at your disposal (images, stats, quotes) to create a brand statement — ideally the same level of brand statement in social media that you just delivered on the court (or field). Great example of delivering just this from Duke Basketball here, or below.
Thank you for hanging with me on this ride. I’ll be back next week, for another round of best practices. If you like what you see (thanks!), please follow along on Twitter (I’m @andypawlowski) or on Facebook, here.
Andy