Marketing and sports are two completely different terms and words that seem hard to combine and accomplish a business goal. However, this is an idea that we must take out of our heads. In reality, marketing and sports can perfectly match and help your gym or specialized fitness center succeed in gaining brand recognition and expanding your audience and client base.
The purpose of this article is to talk about ways in which you can implement marketing ideas, events, and strategies into your business plan that will benefit your business in different approaches and goals. Discover along with us how to successfully launch sports marketing events.
Defining Sports Marketing Events
We can define sports marketing as a marketing strategy that is aimed at promoting sporting events, equipment, or products and services using an athlete or a team. It is no secret that marketing events and strategies are methods used by a significant percentage of the most famous and beloved brands we know today. With a correct marketing management plan and strategy in a business plan, many benefits can be reached. Creating a brand presence in the market, developing a proper and strong brand voice and image, and globalizing your business to the point where you can reach your target audience more easily and effectively.
Nowadays, we can find different types of marketing strategies in the sports industry, from worldwide famous events like The Superbowl to smaller marketing campaigns for gyms and fitness businesses aimed at promoting their services. However, they all have one thing in common: a well-planned and organized marketing strategy that helps them successfully create events, gaining visibility and notice among the competition.
Having mentioned some examples of successful marketing events and the benefits they provide to a business, it is time to discuss the types of events we can find nowadays.
Types of Events
Sponsorship Activations
We can define the marketing term Sponsorship Activation as a marketing term used to indicate a corporate sponsor’s intention to independently promote and advertise its involvement with a particular marketing asset. Sponsorship means to act in support of an activity, event, organization, or person in financial terms or with the provision of services and products.
In this case, to find sponsorship activation for your business, try to look for a person or organization that shares your brand objectives and values. Present your business plan and try to reach an arrangement in which both sides gain benefits by being involved in the marketing event. It is not an easy task to do, but once you find your sponsors, the probability of gaining a new market and a business ally is high.
Fan Engagement Events
Fan engagement events are a popular and effective marketing strategy for sports brands and businesses. As mentioned before, events like the Super Bowl and the Soccer World Cup, among other examples, are fan engagement events that keep the audience engaged and thrilled with excitement. By involving your audience in your events, you can easily initiate organic audience expansion. People will start talking about your event to those they know, creating the possibility of generating curiosity about your brand and services within a new potential audience.
In smaller Fan Engagement Event ideas, we can find examples like the following:
- Public Fitness Classes for non gym users
- Exercise Challenge events for your gym users
- A specialized fitness class that is not usually on your class schedule
Product Launches
If your goal is to promote the fitness products your business provides, a good idea is to capitalize on the marketing campaign of a product you are about to release in the market. By promoting a new and innovative product that interests your audience, people are going to start paying attention to your services. By providing them with a strong image and a quality product, users will start getting involved with the other services you offer. This is the perfect scenario to promote your business and successfully obtain the benefits that marketing brings to your brand.
Some tips for a strong product launch strategy are the following:
- Compelling website and social media content
- Consistency in your marketing strategy
- Interact with your clients, audience, and online users
- Release interesting and useful information about your product.
Charity and Community Events
Besides being a marketing strategy that gives your business a positive brand image, charity and community events are the perfect way to win the hearts of your audience and clients. Charity and community events are designed with the idea of promoting the brand that is launching the event while also assisting another business or organization that requires financial or other types of support to continue their work.
An example of a charity event could involve partnering with an organization that assists gym users and sports enthusiasts with their medical health or offers services for a social cause. Find an organization that aligns with your fitness goals and ethics, and work together to create a win-win situation with the event you plan to organize.
Significance of Sports Marketing Events
With a successful sports marketing event, fitness brands get the opportunity to reach a whole new range of audiences and simultaneously enhance brand awareness. Additionally, sports events tend to evoke strong emotions in attendees and viewers, making it easier to generate brand loyalty among spectators and fostering their affection for your business.
Creating a memorable experience for your clients and audience through interactive events also reflects on the quality of your brand and services. By providing an enjoyable event, attendees will naturally desire to attend future events and share their experiences within their social circle of friends and family.
Planning and Executing
We have discussed some examples of marketing events, provided tips for your successful implementation, and highlighted the numerous advantages your business can gain from a successful sports marketing event. Now, it is time to delve into the planning and execution of these events.
Pre-Event Strategy
First and foremost, we need to emphasize the pre-event strategy. Consider aspects such as the financial resources required to launch the event. If you plan to partner with another business or organization, ensure you establish all the crucial details and necessary arrangements. Also, brainstorm ways to promote awareness of your sports event.
Venue Selection
Once you have made decisions and addressed all the pre-event marketing strategies, it is time to focus on the logistical aspects of the work. Based on your resources and possibilities, consider the venue for your event. Choose a location that aligns with your event’s objectives and atmosphere, and ensure you have all the necessary materials for people to enjoy your event.
Promotion and Outreach
You have completed your pre-event strategy and finalized your venue selection, and now it’s time to shift your focus to event promotion. Utilize a wide range of marketing resources, including social media, your website, and non-technological marketing materials such as announcements and flyers. Each marketing strategy and promotion will contribute to maximizing your event’s outreach.
Engagement Activities
Planning and executing engagement activities that promote your brand products or services is the final touch you need. Use the power of technology to promote your business event, make sure that your event has an innovation that the public will be curious about. Also, think about who is going to be your target audience, fitness students, for example, won’t have the same interest on certain event that users that are older might have. Marketers constantly design their events and materials to promote them according to the public they want to reach out and catch their attention.
Most of the sports business leaders are constantly creating products, implementing a membership, or even give awards on their marketing events to catch the curiosity of their public and spectators. Any qualified marketing agencies will understand the methodology that needs to be followed in each specific case to register positive numbers and outcomes from their marketing events.
Some great examples from successful sports marketing events can be the nba and nfl game matches that are constantly found on the T.V. sports channels and main sports events.
Work with us!
A careful and well-done marketing event needs to be well thought out and executed. With the help of an experienced marketing team, the possibilities of successfully launching a sports marketing event increase drastically. That is why we invite you to contact us. With an experienced and hard-working marketing team, at Creatitive, we are more than happy to help you every step of the way for your business to accomplish a magnificent sports event with an accurate marketing strategy plan that fits with your brand objectives and sports events planning process.
FAQ
How long does the planning of a sports event take?
Depending on the magnitude of the event and the constant work you put into it, the organization and planning of a sports marketing event can vary.
Can I launch a Sports Event by myself?
It is possible to plan and create a sports event without the help of any external organization, business, or marketing team. However, the difficulty of the task and the time in which it can be made can be longer than usual.
What are the basic needs for a successful event?
Aspects like speakers, professionals on the event subjects, innovation on the event, easy access, and most importantly, a well-planned entertainment activity.
