Monday’s Social Mashup: May 28, 2012

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The big news last week was the NFL and its need to do catch up with social media, Facebook’s ability to count brand viewers, social media’s roll in balancing NBA teams and their fans’ emotions, Dunkin’ Donuts’ twitter campaign, and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ social media night.
 
NFL & Social Media Integration
 
Even when the NFL is not in season it still dominates on all cylinders. The Draft is in primetime, OTA’s are covered with full media attention, and preseason games are broadcast on live television. And yet there is still one area the NFL does not dominate: the world of social media.
 
Of NFL teams the San Diego Chargers had the most social media activations with seven and the Carolina Panthers were a close second with six. Between the NFL, NHL, and NBA the world of football can’t compete on the social media platform. It’s impossible. In basketball, fans feel they are right next to the action and can recognize these players anywhere. In hockey, the lines are constantly changing, but everyone knows the first line of their favorite team.
 
Football is different. There are more than 22 players that are considered starters! They wear pads and helmets that completely cover themselves and the closest spectator is extremely far from the action. A fan’s relationship with players is different and, therefore, these NFL teams struggle to make social media connections with their fanbase. Despite this barrier, however, the NFL is slowly making progress on Facebook and Twitter, but they need to continue this on their websites. Not one team has attempted to include a social media hub on their website – something unheard of in the NBA and NHL. They need to help bridge the gap between their players and the fans.
 
Hopefully the future improves for the NFL.
 
Facebook Tells Brands the Percentage of Fans Who See Their Posts
 
It’s stressful being Facebook. To be the leader of the social media world means being on top of your users, utilizing their visits, clicks, and posts. After releasing their IPO to the public, buying Instagram for $1 billion, and then releasing its own photo experience app, Facebook felt their month was not chaotic enough.
 

 
So low and behold Facebook is finding another way to make money when they told brands they can now see the percentage of fans who saw, and liked, recent posts on their brand pages. After the IPO went public Mark Zuckerberg’s company got a lot of pressure to monetize the huge reach of users on the social networking site. These numbers, however, go both ways. For the brands, they can see what is working on Facebook for their supporters. For Facebook, they can start charging based on users, views, and likes for brands using their site.
 
NBA Playoffs: Balancing Team Focus on the Ultimate Goal with Fan Emotion
 
The Thunder are going to the Western Conference Finals! Again! Why aren’t they excited? They are. But their website says, ‘Thunder Moves on With Game 5 Win” How does that scream excited?
 
Herein lies the problem. What we want from our teams is not what they want from themselves. The Thunder want the championship trophy. A Western Conference Finals appearance is expected. Only four teams make it to their conference finals and its something to celebrate, but thats not the ultimate goal. There is no banner raised for making it to conference finals. Only winning it.
 
So how did this problem resonate? Enter social media. NBA teams and players do a great job of utilizing these sites, but because of that it causes a conflict between what the fans want to see and what the teams want to post.
 

That’s it? Spurs advance. One exclamation point? The spurs are the most underrated number one seed in memory and all they get is an exclamation point? Social media has created a fine line and both sides won’t be satisfied until the trophy is raised.
 
Dunkin’ In First Product Launch Via Twitter
 
Dunkin’ Donuts has a new product and if you wanted to know about it before everyone else you need a Twitter account. The international franchise ran a “Mocha MaDDness Twitter Sweepstakes” as a way to pre-promote their new Mocha K-Cup Pack. Winners receive a 14-count carton of Mocha K-Cup Packs before they are released.
 

 
Dunkin’ Donuts is not new to the social media bandwagon, having used Facebook to submit photos of people drinking Dunkin’ Donuts coffee for a chance to win prizes. They have found huge success in the social media world and other franchises are catching on. Bottom line? Get a twitter otherwise you miss out on free stuff!
 
Pittsburgh Pirates Social Media Night
 
Next up? The Pittsburgh Pirates. They are the most recent team to host a social media night to promote their team brand. The event took place on May 25th and fans who attended received a T-shirt and a chance to meet the Pirate’s radio personalities and executives. In addition, fans who follow the team through Twitter or Facebook received $10 off their ticket for the night and were invited to a pre-game reception.
 

 
The Pirates are on the right track. Well, at least with their fans.
 
Other social media articles from last week that you may enjoy: