Direct Contact

Ticket Sales and Sponsorship via Social Networks

If you are in ticket sales or corporate sponsorship sales, here are some tips for marketers and sellers alike…

Facebook is a great tool for “soft” networking with friends and family. The idea behind using Facebook as a sales tool is not to use it to sell, but participate in communities, monitor activities, and leverage the PR factor of Friend networks.

• Build your network:
  • Friends
  • Family
  • Coworkers (past  & present)
  • Alumni
  • Make it known that you sell tickets
• Join local Facebook networks (your city)
• Join your teams’ Facebook fan page
  • Drive your network to it
  • Reference it  in your status updates
• Join your sponsor’s Facebook pages
  • Monitor their use
  • Keep up to date on their activities
  • Discuss their strategies with them
• Keep your profile professional

The primary goal of using Twitter for sports marketing is to allow fans to get “closer” to their team and reward them with offers and real time info they cannot get elsewhere. Once your follower base grows, you can look to leverage targeted sponsorship activation.

• Release unclaimed reserved game tickets offers via Twitter
  • Include links to purchase them
• Follow key brands, see how they use it
• Follow your team and other teams Twitter feeds
• Share relevant information and links with your followers
• Build followers from your other networks
  

Linkedin’s best fit is for sponsor and corporate partner networking. There are apps to leverage here, like the ability to share documents or slide shows. Networking is all about what you can do for other people, so actively look to help out and connect your contacts. Give referrals to your contacts, and share information with them that can make a difference in their day. Don’t sell here – be informative and available.

• Building and strengthen existing contact relationships
  • Connect with clients (previous as well)
  • Search for existing prospects/contacts
  • Build credibility through Recommendations
• Search out contacts, but do not sell to them
  • • Build relationships, look to understand their goals and ideas
• Share information with your contacts
  • Give them relevant info that matters to them
  • Keep them informed
  • Ask how you can help them

Fans, sponsors, brands are all participating in social media communities right now. These are places you need to be representing your organization as well. The approach here is not to sell or to pitch, but to be available, involved and participatory. Building your network and strengthening your relationships is what will provide you the opportunity to sell.