Open letter to athletic department re: marketing this team

[CalallenStang]

Pretty good stuff, Blvd_Stang. Since we probably don't have the $$$$ or time to put together TV spots, would you do radio commercials on, say, the sports stations?

[Blvd_Stang]

If possible I would have our sports radio contacts mention to go to our website to buy it, but I would never pay for a radio spot. Not a fan. The call to action is on a platform far too distant from where you can take action. You have to remember a phone number and call? You have to visit a website when you're driving? just not a fan.

[CalallenStang]

If possible I would have our sports radio contacts mention to go to our website to buy it, but I would never pay for a radio spot. Not a fan. The call to action is on a platform far too distant from where you can take action. You have to remember a phone number and call? You have to visit a website when you're driving? just not a fan.

Good points. You can tell I'm not an advertising guy

[GiddyUp]

Ok since I am in advertising I'll let you know how I would do this campaign:

Billboards: Two Billboards one on the 75 and one on the 35. Show remaining schedule and show the packaged deal price. Maybe throw FoxSports on there to add some credibility.. and while we're at it an iron skillet.

Social Media: It's inexpensive, it's targeted, it's effective. SMU already had the infrastructure in place and would be able to deliver the message. Also as a thought, have a grassroots campaign where dallas-area students post the deal for their friends. People are more receptive to advertising in social media from people they trust and have a relationship with. This is why you see brands not just posting deals on their social media pages but also content that opens a dialogue and a relationship. Anyways I regress.. If there's enough buzz on campus this could work too.

Newspapers: Similar ad as billboard bought for newspaper format. However, with a twist I would advertise this in the local colleges like UTD newspapers as well.

Direct Mail: Targeted, really nice mail pieces that offer something tangible. I would even do something like include mockups of the tickets for the rest of the season where you have something to hold and make it real. You can make a really nice DM piece for about .42 cost per piece. I'd make it super classy looking and target west village and highland park, north dallas and the local colleges without football programs.

TV commercials: Doubt we could afford this, but obviously you sell the BLVD experience like a mofo showing awesome shots of Bishop going off with highlights from the games.

PR: Any PR contacts our dept. has for free.. get this drive PUBLISHED

Event Marketing: Raffle off the package tickets at events where there are large groups. This is all about making smart strategic partnerships to give away tickets that lead a couple people to win then ultimately bring people with them. Texas state fair is huge, high school football games, HR dept. of companies is a huge asset. Call them and offer two four game passes that they can raffle off. That's huge for getting others involved.

Take or leave what we can afford. But obviously most effective if all done together.

All good ideas:

Any what would you charge for all this as an Ad firm? We have a VERY LIMITED budget which is embarrassing to even state here -- and Orsini just doesn't go the marketing direction unfortunately...

Social Media is the cheapest and becoming very effective...for the billboards, I would just put all the sponsors on the bottom of it and that would help pay for it.

[Blvd_Stang]

If possible I would have our sports radio contacts mention to go to our website to buy it, but I would never pay for a radio spot. Not a fan. The call to action is on a platform far too distant from where you can take action. You have to remember a phone number and call? You have to visit a website when you're driving? just not a fan.

Good points. You can tell I'm not an advertising guy

If this were to ever get traction I would be willing to do pro bono work for SMU. Costs would mostly be media buys and freelance graphic designers create the creative for the billboard/print ads. Event marketing could be handled by SMU marketing and PR depts. Honestly just a handful of events you give away a few package deals. Then we can have ponyfans here who work in big offices in Dallas to get their HR departments to raffle off tickets or lottery them. Huge way to potentially get a lot of people invited/involved.

Direct Mail pieces get more complicated because you have to purchase the data which has the addresses you want. Then furthermore it's .40-.55 cents per piece with postage, depending on how nice you want to make it.

Social Media would be handled internally at SMU through existing pages as well as getting Dallas area students involved through an SMU student body eblast and word of mouth/banners around campus.

[LakeHighlandsPony]

I would do a marketing campaign on the "Johnson Boys" Darius and Jeremy are ready for primetime.

[Blvd_Stang]

I would do a marketing campaign on the "Johnson Boys" Darius and Jeremy are ready for primetime.

I agree the Johnson boys are ready for primetime. But we're targeting people that aren't huge SMU fans and probably won't have an innate knowledge of the team. We're selling "the experience". The boulevard, the traditions, the campus, fun games, run n shoot etc.

[mrydel]

While I agree with the potential of the Johnsons, I would be hesitant to market any individual players. We tried it with Willis and BLM and they both bombed out. Whether a jinx, bad luck, or fate, I would suggest we market the team as a whole.

[GiddyUp]

If possible I would have our sports radio contacts mention to go to our website to buy it, but I would never pay for a radio spot. Not a fan. The call to action is on a platform far too distant from where you can take action. You have to remember a phone number and call? You have to visit a website when you're driving? just not a fan.

Good points. You can tell I'm not an advertising guy

If this were to ever get traction I would be willing to do pro bono work for SMU. Costs would mostly be media buys and freelance graphic designers create the creative for the billboard/print ads. Event marketing could be handled by SMU marketing and PR depts. Honestly just a handful of events you give away a few package deals. Then we can have ponyfans here who work in big offices in Dallas to get their HR departments to raffle off tickets or lottery them. Huge way to potentially get a lot of people invited/involved.

Direct Mail pieces get more complicated because you have to purchase the data which has the addresses you want. Then furthermore it's .40-.55 cents per piece with postage, depending on how nice you want to make it.

Social Media would be handled internally at SMU through existing pages as well as getting Dallas area students involved through an SMU student body eblast and word of mouth/banners around campus.

Not sure how many times I've said - we don't have a marketing dept and a part-time PR/social media person...manpower is not there...hence why we try to do grassroots marketing as much as possible..

[ponyscott]

Orsini, Steve <[email protected]>

[GRGB]

Dear Open Letter:

Hadn't thought of that.

I'll try that next time I try selling sand to an Arab in July.

Thanks for the tip!

- Steve-O

[Stallion]

Marketing: Hot Chicks on the Boulevard-(Maybe a couple of babies petting Peruna)

[Blvd_Stang]

(Maybe a couple of babies petting Peruna)

Is that what gets you off?

[Stallion]

No its designed to attract the fans we lose when they get married and have kids

[Blvd_Stang]

Not sure how many times I've said - we don't have a marketing dept and a part-time PR/social media person...manpower is not there...hence why we try to do grassroots marketing as much as possible..

Alright well someone is posting to this page and it has over 10,000 followers. http://www.facebook.com/SMUMustangs