Believe me, if you can't find enough fans attending your games at the stadium, then there is where you can find them - on SOCIAL MEDIA.
The key is this: find them on social media, engage them and interest them to start attending your games and other fan fest activities. This is how to grow your fans in today's world: Attract them to your social media platforms - Engage them with interesing contents - Give them added benefits to attend your matches.
If your team already have a social media presence, you’re on the right track. But, opening up a social media account for your team and tooting your own horn is not enough. In fact, sometimes it can do more harm than good.
In order to see the best results through your social media activity, you have to make a real connection with football fans. This requires interacting with them on a regular basis by asking questions and responding to comments, no matter which social media platform you prefer.
It also means employing your creativity and knowing what fans like, to help your team establish a more intimate relationship with them.
We know about facebook having over two billion active users. Indeed, as of the second quarter of 2018, Facebook had 2.23 billion monthly active users. I don't know in your locality, but in Nigeria facebook has 17 million active users.
Nigeria population has reached 195.6 million and recent record estimated active football fans in the country to be between 75 - 80 million. Following the statistics indicates that more or less than 10 million Nigerian facebook users are football fans.
Facebook currently has 17 million active users in Nigeria of which 9.7 million indicated football as either their hobby or related profession.
This means if any Nigerian football team creates a facebook-page account and become skillful in attracting and engaging fans on the platform, they could gain a substantial percentage of 10 million fans. That's quite a large number! This is the reason I want to share here tips on how you can attract fans to your team's facebook page, how to engage them and How to Persuade them to start attending your matches at the stadium.
Facebook page can help your team grow their fan base both locally and globally...increase fans in the locality where your team is based and those in diaspora. I will show you here the three part:
1. How to attract fans to your team's facebook-page
# Boost Important or Attractive Contents on your facebook Page
Facebook will always suggest that you boost contents on your page with your own demographic cateria. This enable facebook to spread your content to people of your chosen cateria outside those that have already like your team's page.
This is a paid service facebook offers, but a good way to attract new fans who have account on facebook.
But be sure you fill in the right demographic caterias such as:
Age: Fill in the age range of people that can be interested to be your team's fans.
Fill the location of your team and the local area range you think your active fans can come from., fill in people that has football as hobby or profession. These information will enable facebook send your content to the right people.
# Promote Your Facebook Page On Other Networks
While Facebook is certainly a giant in the social media world, it’s not the only platform out there.
There is no rule against promoting your team's page on other networks like Twitter or Instagram . In fact, you should invite your fans to like your page on Facebook so they don’t miss out on a live interview with your number one player.
2. How to Engage the fans in your team's facebook-page
#Use the Power of Live Video
Video is a hot marketing trend nowadays. Videos are easy to consume and they can engage your fans on a more emotional level than images alone. You can use it in many different ways, from sharing moments before or after the game, letting your players appear on video to greet the fans, or to announce big events.
#Let Your Fans Take Over For a Day
One of the most common pieces of advice you hear when it comes to social media engagement is to know your audience and speak their language. What better way to get to know your audience than to let your fans take over your page for a day and share their unique insights and message with the rest of the community?
You could run a contest on your page a few days prior and ask your fans to submit content examples or ideas. The winner gets to take over your Facebook page for a time period you designate. After that, you can remove their admin rights and repeat the process for another fan.
#Feature a Fan
Another way to make your fans feel special is to feature them on your page. This shows the other fans that you do care about them personally, rather than just boosting your follower count.
This is another area where Manchester United win – they feature their fans regularly on their Facebook page and their fans can suggest a person to be featured along with sending a brief story and a photo why the person should be chosen.
#Share Behind-the-Scenes Moments
Die-hard sports fans want to know everything there is to know about their favorite sports teams. They want to be on the inside and crave more information than what’s related to the latest game announcement, player transfers, or game statistics.
Show them what happens in the locker room, on the bus, or during training.
Share personal information about your team members – their birthdays, how they spend their free time, etc. Show fans the person behind the player.
Don’t be afraid of sharing even the funny or embarrassing moments – it makes you and your team more relatable.
3. How to attract more fans to your team's games at the stadium
#Run a Contest and Give Out Special Match Tickets
Another thing sports fans love is winning sports-related goodies, especially if those goodies get them closer to their favorite players.
Running contests has been a tried and true technique for many brands on Facebook, so there is absolutely no reason for your team not to jump on the bandwagon.
Winning tickets to your next game might seem like an obvious choice here, but there are other things you can turn into a prize.
#Run A Season Lottery for frequent Match Attendance
Reward fans who frequently attend your team's matches, Install tracker of each fan can track his or her progress on your team's facebook page.
Make the prize so attractive enough: Car, electronics or free season ticket.
Do the selection of winners and announce it before or during half time of a special match day.
#Publize to Give Out Team Freebies During Your Next Match
Advertise or post a contest about your freebies on your next match and invite fans to participate.
Consider giving out signed jerseys, hats, balls, morfolas and other memorabilia.
