Best of Digital Sports World #12

The St George Illawarra Dragons are seeking to appoint a Digital Communications Co-ordinator and are doing so via the Digital Dragon campaign. Keep an eye on YouTube for job applications and follow updates on Twitter via #DigitalDragon. Good luck if you’re applying, shows you need to be in the space to understand the space.

MLB financials info leaked via Deadspin, Darren Rovell looks at why it matters.

Want to own an NBA Team? Golden State Warriors are looking for investors from @Sports_Business

The latest Partnership Activation newsletter is out from @BrianGainor.

Essendon did well with the #efctweetup hashtag created 488,562 impressions, 36,066 unique views from 341 Tweets. Want to collect data on your hashtags? This data was reported using Tweet Reach.

With the @AFL finals approaching you can now get a Twibbon to support your team. They have to be the biggest Twibbons we have ever seen, no little logo in the corner for the AFL!

Facebook Places – no longer What you’re doing but Where…

Facebook Places has been launched entering the world of geo-locational social networks. It should be noted that Facebook Places is not yet available in Australia.

Here is what people are saying about the launch:

• Let the Location Wars Begin from @sevnthsin
• Who, What, When, and Now…Where from Facebook Blog
• Facebook Places: A field guide from Mashable
• Location based social networking has sports marketing potential from Australian Sponsorship News [subscription]

Sports Mini-sites…

Sports mini sites around events & signings will become another tool available to sports marketers. Like We Want Wade previously profiled Bring Back Cardinal does the same for Timberwolves fan favourite Brian Cardinal.

Such is Life – Ben Cousins

Not here to judge or comment on the Ben Cousins documentary there is more than enough commentators on the subject.

However, Channel 7 missed the mark understanding social media with the program.

Problems with execution include:

• After the first break Hamish McLaughlin told everyone to join the conversation with the Twitter account @SuchisLifeBen
• @SuchisLifeBen account not setup at the time, someone obviously setup the account on the night and collected 360 followers
• They did not monitor the hashtags actually being used by TV viewers #suchislife #bencousins
• For part 2 they obviously were not monitoring Twitter that closely and didn’t see the viewer backlash for delaying the start of Part 2 with a panel show
• Additionally they rectified their hashtag to #suchaslifeben to further fragment the conversation
• Kudos to the @AFL for using the #suchaslife hashtag to respond to the documentary but I think it would have been braver to engage the AFL fan base during the show.

For those who missed it here is a clip from Fox Sports.

Best of Digital Sports World #11

And #BODSW is back!  Thanks to people who asked where it was, especially after I quoted Jerry Seinfeld’s “Don’t break the chain” philosophy!

If you missed the Sydney (#scau)  and Auckland (#scnz)  SRG Conferences in July then you really did miss out!

Obviously the Australian & New Zealand sports markets have been inspired into action gauging on the interest & development in digital sports projects ramping up in the past month.

Congrats to Essendon who this week will host #efctweetup to get Twitter fans of the Bombers to unite.  I will be watching to see how the event goes this Sunday.

New York Times gives Tumblr a big pump up, will it be the next big social media platform?  Follow Sports Geek on Tumblr.

For #scau & #scnz attendees who miss Dan Harbison (@danstwitter) from the Portland TrailBlazers you can catch him being interviewed by @rowshow from NACMA.

Detroit Red Wings are the latest team to release their own iPhone app.  What is your take on club/franchise based apps?

Chris Bosh (@ChrisBosh) may be 3rd fiddle in the Wade-James trio but he is “Master of his own domain” (and everyone else’s it seems).

Good article by @jeffespo linking live sport with social media activity with MLB.com.

This article from @Mashable definitely rings true after great tweets at the conferences “How to: Get Tweetable Moments from your Presentations”.

Great use of Facebook Like button (AKA Social Graph) by the New Orlean Hornets – Honeybee Auditions.

Facebook changes Custom Tabs

Are you using Custom Tabs in your Facebook Fan Page?  Well Facebook are changing the width of Custom Tabs to 520 pixels on the 23 August, make sure you have resized your custom tabs.  Here is a quick run down from Facebook Developer’s blog.

@SportConference tweets mashup

Wonder what was discussed at @SportConference?  Thanks to TweetStats & Wordle you can.

Quick Facebook Tip

Do you hate it when you try to add a link to an article on from your site or a news website but get a terrible image with the link?

Solution: Upload the photo of your choice and add the link in the caption!  As seen here by Real Madrid.

Video Clip of the Week

Like we need more evidence that Roger Federer is a freak!

For those who didn’t pick up the change @_SportsGeek_ has lost the underscores and is now @SportsGeekHQ

Thanks to tweeps for voting @seancallanan Melbourne’s Top Tweeter.

Thanks especially to my IRL tweeps, the key for me is getting out there and meeting tweeps IRL – In Real Life.

From TechFluff.tv

Sean has won a fabulous video promotion package courtesy of our sister company, Newspepper.com, with the opportunity to work with our innovative and creative film crew for one day and produce an online video to further promote his company Sports Geek on his website and via social media platforms.

Looking forward to taping this on Thursday with the Newspepper crew, stay tuned for it will be uploaded to SportsGeek.com.au soon.

What question do you answered from “@SportsGeekHQ – the movie”?

Best of Digital Sports World #10

This coming week may be the biggest in NBA history as the free agent class of LeBron, Wade & Bosh among others decide where they will continue to ply their trade.  Teams & fans are in a frenzy at the possibility of landing one, two are perhaps all three. Chicago Bulls sold 1500 season tickets in 48 hours just on speculation alone.

Darren Rovell does are great job breaking down what LeBron’s worth maybe to each potential destination.

Latest release of SSMI was released this week looking at the NRL clubs and how they use social media platforms to connect with sports fans.  Hear more about it on @SportzfanRadio this Sunday at http://SportzfanRadio.com.

@WeThinkSocial thank social media for lifting profile of soccer in the US looking back at the Twitter rates during the USA Soccer run.

Good video captured by @JasonPeck at Social Media event in DC.

Great piece on ambush marketing at the World Cup with Bavaria Vs Budweiser.

Sacramento Kings engage fans during NBA Draft hat tip to @BrianGainor

If you’re reading this then I recommend you read 30 Sports Blogs you should be reading.  Note: @SportsAndaLatte just moved here.

Look out Steele Sidebottom, back to back titles seem unlikely as QB Fudge Van Hooser commits to Tulane, becomes an early Name Of The Year favorite

#localfooty connecting with fans

Sports Geek getting the Southern Footy League up to speed with social media promoting this Saturday’s via a Facebook promotion with half-price entry to anyone who RSVPs on Facebook.

Best On Ground

Wimbledon using Facebook & Livestream to create a mashup to connect the press room to Facebook fans.

Video Clip of the Week

More from Wimbledon since it is reaching the pointy end…

Book your ticket for SRG Conferences
Got your ticket yet? HUGE lineup with speakers from Real Madrid, NBA (Trailblazers & Timberwolves) & Tottenham…
Engaging Fans & Participants in the Digital Age Sydney – Star City – July 13 & 14

Best of Digital Sports World #9

While World Cup teams have banned players from using social media, others are using it as a launch platform for endorsement exposure.  In Cristiano Ronaldo‘s case exposure is exactly the right word with his Armani photo getting 32k likes and 11,780 comments.

Twitter reports the massive spikes in traffic from the #worldcup but it was the Lakers’ win in the NBA Finals that broke records.

NBA Championship between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. The Lakers’ victory generated a record 3,085 TPS as the game ended.

Darren Rovell reports IMG lost $4.6M in income due to Tiger Woods’ issues.

Big brands are following the lead of sports teams befriending Facebook.

Great tips from @ChrisBrogan on using Twitter.

@BrianGainor releases another Partnership Activation newsletter if you don’t subscribe to it I suggest you do.

Fox Sports take a peek behind the scenes of the NBA use of social media, it’s a slam dunk.

Good advice from @TrevorYoung – I Urge You to Ignore Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare et al

Amazing game at Wimbledon

Can’t got past without mentioning the amazing 5 set match between Isner & Mahut that took 3 days to complete and ended with a 70-68 Isnet win in the 5th.

But here is the tweet of the tournament so far from Andy Roddick.

Best On Ground

Toyota Racing have done well offering NASCAR fans the ability to create their very own NASCAR, great sport-sponsor digital promotion with Sponsafier 2.

Video Clip of the Week

NBA using Vimeo to as part of broadcast package of the NBA Finals…

Book your ticket for SRG Conferences
Got your ticket yet? HUGE lineup with speakers from Real Madrid, NBA (Trailblazers & Timberwolves) & Tottenham…
Engaging Fans & Participants in the Digital Age Sydney – Star City – July 13 & 14

Best of Digital Sports World #8

Sports on Facebook is tracking the Facebook activities of World Cup fans by passion, popularity, intensity, region & group.

World Cup getting strong TV ratings in the US after the draw with England.  Even 2M+ Australians got up at 4:30am to watch the Socceroos fail against the Germans.

From the world of NBA USA Today talks to Jeanie Buss about Twitter, Phil Jackson and working in the NBA.

32 Creative and Clever Sports Posters to Inspire You

@Mashable took us Inside Gatorade’s Social Media Command Center

Andy Pawlowski (@pawlow34) uses his learning from the Digital Disciple series with Facebook: 5 Things NCAA Programs could steal from the NBA

A look at the roles involved in social media in college athletics from @ZachLassiter, what do you think of the Protector, the Entertainer, and the Interactor?

Dwight Howard building his endorsement base via his Superman persona from @sports_business

@Harry_O is running another competition via Twitter engaging with his fans looking for a “fresh” photo.

If you didn’t catch it, here is our look at the Andrew Johns saga and how the Australian Twitter community responded, a must read fro any athlete manager.

Welcome to Twitter – AFL Insider

Good to see the @AFL mix it up engaging with fans via different Twitter accounts. Waiting for @NRLHQ to tweet…

Best On Ground

Twitter is doing it’s best to bring World Cup fans together with it World Cup 2010 page.  You can track tweets from games providing a twitter commentary when you mute the TV for vuvuzela relief.

Video Clip of the Week

Kobe Bryant fan needs to be seen to be believed…

Book your ticket for SRG Conferences
Got your ticket yet? HUGE lineup with speakers from Real Madrid, NBA (Trailblazers & Timberwolves) & Tottenham…
Engaging Fans & Participants in the Digital Age Sydney – Star City – July 13 & 14

Best of Digital Sports World – Ronaldo Edition 7

Apologies to Justin Bieber but for the next 31 days you won’t be the number 1 topic on the Internet.  That position will be held by the FIFA World Cup. (Bucket List: Mention Justin Bieber in a blog post. Completed)

Here is @Mashable‘s guide to following the World Cup on Twitter.  The easiest way is to use #worldcup hashtag and follow soccer tweeps to chat about games as they happen.

Best digital representation of the World Cup schedule (pictured), click around & bookmark it!

Great work from the guys @Activ8Social with the Rajon Rondo’s #LooseBall Scavenger Hunt combining Foursquare, Twitter & Facebook the social media triple-play.

An interesting opposing view on the NBA Finals “Don’t watch the NBA Finals!”

Congrats to the Chicago Blackhawks on winning the Stanley Cup.  Great exposure for sponsor Van Kampen Investments on the Blackhawks website, simple but very effective!

Great research from @TimBull from Tribalytic on the AFL’s hashtag strategy, I’ve been discussing this one with Tim for a while, great to see some data to back it up.  Shows the power leagues like the @AFL have in shaping the conversation on Twitter!

Welcome to Twitter – Brendan Fevola

Love seeing new athletes join Twitter, didn’t think I’d see this guy anytime soon….

Please Fev be careful with the Twitpics

Best On Ground

Great promotion by @NHL over the playoffs with Beard-a-thon, great connection with a sponsor King of Shaves as well as connecting with hockey fans to raise money!  WIN-WIN-WIN

YouTube Clip of the Week

Continuing the World Cup theme…

Edition 6 of #BODSW

NBA is stepping things up with the NBA Finals starting today.

• Getting creative setting up a Twitter account for the matchup @CELTICSvLAKERS
• Setting up a The Finals app on their Facebook page to play highlights from the NBA Finals Archive.
• Shout Go Lakers or Go Celtics in Foursquare to get a Lakers or Celtics badge.
• Providing a Twitter Mashup at NBA.com/Twitter

ESPN having a little fun with the upcoming NBA Free Agent market with the Free Agent Slot Machine.

Sports technology expanding it’s reach with the NFL’s replay technology being adopted by the military help monitor battlefields in Afghanistan. (Link no longer valid, thanks Yahoo)

Are you ready for the World Cup? Is your iPhone?  The New York Times review World Cup apps that will help you track all the news.

Want to be a sponsor of a successful team? Get on board early don’t expect to jump on the bandwagon just when the good times start.  Just ask the NHL’s Philly Flyers their playoff run has them with happy sponsors and a waiting list!

Super Swarms are the next big thing in Foursquare with a 332 people checking in at a Conan O’Brien show.  Look for Foursquare to keep things interesting by setting bigger targets.

In case you missed it, here are 5 mistakes you need to avoid on Twitter.

Congrats to  Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom winning the Name of the Year competition.

Worst On Ground

It was great to see Amare Stoudamire win Best on Ground in last week’s edition but this week he (or his team) made the mistake of the automated blog post.  Adding a note to his fans that was obviously written before Game 5 but it was posted after the Western Conference Finals had finished.  (Phoenix lost)

Perhaps Amare needs some Sports Geek help? Try Social Media Athlete Training.

Best On Ground

This week’s Best On Ground goes to Kathleen Hessert for this tweet, are you ready for this game changer?

YouTube Clip of the Week

Remembering Dennis Hopper in Hoosiers… RIP

Connect with Sports Geek on Twitter, Foursquare, Facebook & LinkedIn
Contact Sports Geek to activate your sports brand & connect with your fans

New form of Athlete endorsement?

Edition 5 of #BODSW, welcome to SportsGeek V2.0, what do you think?

Socceroos left for South Africa this week but it was a their Facebook page getting praise gaining 30K+ fans via #WriteTheFuture campaign. (Hat tip to @bryonycole)

Digital and social media pose biggest challenge, admits FC Barcelona CMO “We want to be pioneers in football.  This is our core business.  But we have to look what other elements interests our fans and our members.  And we realise that social networking and digital media, it is important, and we are on that.” (hat tip to @shane_harmon)

It’s always about the balls, Adidas promises more scoring and frustrated goalies at the FIFA World Cup (Thx to @khuda1)

Social Media in Small Business is Anything But Small great advice from @BrianSolis just as relevant for sports team as small business.

A nice study on time spent on social media marketing.  How much time do you spend promoting your sport or team via social media?  It is very easy to fall into “social notworking” mode, that’s why you need a strategy, start with a Sports Geek workshop!

Looking for new ways to look at Foursquare? Try 4sqSearch (via @AdamVincenzini)  While we are talking search you can now search Facebook with logging in at Open Facebook Search

Australian sports fans continue to show support for Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom in the Name of the Year competition last week he beat Charity Beaver, this week it’s the finals against Banana Yaya. Vote now for Steele.

Best On Ground

This week’s Best On Ground goes to Phoenix Suns star Amare Stoudamire not only for his play against the LA Lakers in the NBA’s Western Conference Finals but for leveraging his Facebook fan page to sell playoff tickets to his fans.

From Darren Rovell at Athlete Social Media Value Could Be Realized Through Retail – CNBC

Through a partnership with RazorGator and a technology platform called AtCost.com, Stoudemire is currently selling playoff tickets on his own Facebook page.

YouTube Clip of the Week

Here are some funny sports commercials to liven up your Friday, enjoy!

Got your ticket yet? HUGE lineup with speakers from Real Madrid, NBA & Tottenham…

Engaging Fans & Participants in the Digital Age Sydney – Star City – July 13 & 14
Sport is Fantastic 2010 Auckland – Eden Park – July 19 & 20

Connect with Sports Geek on Twitter, Foursquare, Facebook & LinkedIn
Contact Sports Geek to activate your sports brand & connect with your fans

New site design ready for launch soon? Do you like?

Edition 4 of #BODSW, wow 4 straight weeks thanks Jerry Seinfeld – “Don’t break the chain”.

Nike goes Viral in April – how Nike is taking a different approach in social media using their vast stable of athletes to promote the Nike brand via YouTube. Hat tip to @activ8social

How engaged are Australia Twitter users? – Great stats on Twitter users and how they are using Twitter from the team at @Tribalytic, keep an eye on these guys.

London 2012 announce new mascots – Wenlock & Mandeville – two one-eyed steel creatures, borne out of the steel used for the Olympic Stadium in east London – hardly cuddly.

Are Facebook Like Buttons Wrong or Right For Your Site? – A recap of the how & why Facebook buttons may or may not work with your site, good read from @problogger.

Pat Coyle aka @sports20 has a nice mashup presenting a Twitter following/Facebook fan ladder across all US sports updated every 12 hours, now numbers are not everything in social media but sports is competitive so people love ladders.

ESPN working on a Foursquare style app – Will it work? ESPN Passport hasn’t caught on yet have they missed the geo-location boat?

From the “Hey, that’s cool pile” you can now read the news from your tweeps using Paper.li – Feel free to read what my followers are reading – http://paper.li/seancallanan

Worst On Ground

After awarding a Worst on Ground instead of BOG to Phil Mickelson I’ve decided to create this as a permanent feature as you cannot go past Western Bulldogs footballer Jason Akermanis. Aker caused a major stir with his article “Stay in the closet, Jason Akermanis tells homosexuals” he then followed up on radio & TV interviews. The backlash was evident in social media with Facebook groups & fan pages springing up to deride Aker’s views. On Twitter we saw #akermanis trend and the story was picked up globally by the likes of Deadspin. It was a good lesson in understanding how the social platforms can work against you as much as for you, I’m sure the AFLPA (@AFLPAToday) now have a better understanding of this after they prompted the article from Akermanis.

Best On Ground

Great article from Marketing Week “Where dreams of global goals are made…” looking at strategies that brands will take to best leverage their partnership with the FIFA World Cup. Coke, Visa, Castrol & Tesco all featured.

YouTube Clip of the Week

Here is what happens when you introduce AFL footballers to impro, you end up flapping your arms on national TV.

Thanks to @Harry_O & @ImproMelbourne.

Check out Impro Melbourne for shows & workshops. Impro Cave season starts soon check it out!

Got your ticket yet? HUGE lineup with speakers from Real Madrid, NBA & Tottenham…

Engaging Fans & Participants in the Digital Age Sydney – Star City – July 13 & 14
Sport is Fantastic 2010 Auckland – Eden Park – July 19 & 20

Connect with Sports Geek on Twitter, Foursquare, Facebook & LinkedIn
Contact Sports Geek to activate your sports brand & connect with your fans

What did I miss? Drop a comment with your suggestions for next week’s #BODSW