With all of the uncertainty surrounding the sports business right now, industry leaders are scratching their heads—wondering just how and when to address their peers, employees, customers and fans. They’re worrying about timing… messaging… whether or not it’s appropriate to pitch new business during this unprecedented time in history.
If this sounds like you… let me give you some blunt advice…
Stay calm and start TALKING.
Right now we are all present for a moment in history where the rules of the sports media have gone out the window. There are no games to report on. No high-heeled sideline reporters toting interview hit lists. No spreads. No lines. No Final Four. Nothing.
What sports industry leaders want to be doing right now is injecting themselves into the organic talk that’s happening everywhere—on every platform.
Thought leaders are emerging across the industry.
How about Steph Curry’s interview with Dr. Fauci? Let’s look at that for a second, people. A blue chip NBA player gets real with THE medically-trained face of the coronavirus on Instagram Live, commanding the attention of 50,000 people for 28 minutes. The recorded session posted on YouTube has seen over 360k views (and counting.)
This sh*t just got real, again. The NBA continues to blaze an uncharted trail…. again. People are calling this interview the most influential move Steph Curry has made in his career thus far. And the real kicker is that it was done from the comfort of his own home using nothing but a phone. Boom.
What’s stopping you from creating your own strategy?
With media consumption following the same trend as the coronavirus case counts, why not brush up your profile and start talking to the hosts and bookers of those talk shows we’re all listening to?
Easier said than done, I know, but here’s the thing. As a leader in the sports industry, you have a unique value proposition. You possess knowledge and experience that not many other people possess. And so, the talk show hosts want to hear from you. They really do! You’ll just need to give them a reason to invite you onto their show.
Preparation is half the battle.
In order to be considered for a guest slot on a podcast, radio show, what have you, you’ll need a few things. The first thing you’ll need is a snapshot of who you are and why your opinions are relevant right now. Sure, you can type this up in the body of an email. You can send them your resume in Word.
BUT, if you want to be a sharp shooter, you’ll deliver those hosts and bookers a pretty little one-sheeter on you—a document that answers all of their questions up front. That document should contain a few key elements. I detail what those elements are in this blog post, complete with a how-to video for those who prefer visuals.
Unpack your rolodex (or if we’re being realistic, your LinkedIn network.)
All of those people you’ve had the pleasure of meeting over the past 10, 20, 30 years AND the people who are running the sports talk circuit have profiles on LinkedIn. They also have Twitter accounts, Facebook pages and maybe even an Instagram account.
In order to put yourself on their radar, you must first connect with these hosts. If that gives you anxiety, here’s a post to read over coffee about how to network on LinkedIn the right way. Once you’ve connected with those hosts, you’re nearly there.
Position yourself as THE expert in your niche.
The art form in this little project is putting your years of experience into a blender and pouring out the SO WHAT of it all. For me, this is like painting a portrait with words, and it’s something I love doing for my clients.
Are you the head of eCommerce for the NFL? Then you are THE expert on how coronavirus will impact consumer purchasing behaviors in sports. (Are fans still buying hats and jerseys by the way?) Only you can answer that.
Get it? Good.
Get on with your bad self and start moving.
It’s time to get on your horse and gallop into your future. Will you be seen and heard during this pandemic? Will you emerge as a thought leader in your niche? Will you gain the respect and admiration of your peers and prospects?
Again, only you can answer those questions.
As for me, I’m here to support your vision. And if you’d like to talk about it, feel free to book a time on my calendar to discuss.
Oh, and if you’re curious, right now I’m offering emerging thought leaders a hot market sports media pitch pack that you can contemplate HERE… as you wait out the rest of this unplanned offseason.
Happy painting!
