Live tweeting and outreach for big sporting events

Live tweeting and outreach for big sporting events

I promised someone I would jot out some ‘observations’  around social media and outreach for big sporting events – be it the Ryder Cup or the Underwater Basket Weaving Olympics. This is a note to myself as much as anyone else.

  1. Where outreach is concerned before the event is really important and after the event a whole lot less relevant and interesting.
  2. Think carefully about the right content, across the right channels for the right audience. Not everyone loves Golf!
  3. What stuff can no one else get hold of? What related information and insights are more interesting to a more diverse audience?
  4. Don’t underestimate the need to get your network of content contributors on board with the concept and approach.
  5. What are the realities of making it happen? What if mobiles and camera phones are forbidden?!
  6. Think about domains and visibility. Do the live stuff in the right place but think too about managing risk.
  7. In some cases you can only listen. Managing can be difficult. Yes, Mr. #RyderCup hashtag it rained during the event!
  8. There’s nothing wrong with supporting it with a bit of tactical PPC.
  9. Prior preparation prevents piss poor performance. Plan carefully any site migrations, DNS changes and ISP moves well before the event.
  10. Test and learn. You’ll get better and better – both while doing the job in hand and in the future.

I hope they are useful observations. Well done to everyone involved. It wasn’t just a win for Europe.