If social media is the tools, opportunities and conversations that enable mass two-way or multi-way communication and information sharing, then Twitter is the #1 tool right now that allows for direct, real-time interaction between people. Twitter is a very powerful connector and enabler. It enables JoeSportsFan in Philly to connect with JimSportsFan in New York and discuss the NBA Playoffs...in real-time, on their iPhones, while they're both watching from their favorite sports bars. And then an unlimited number of fans can join the conversation or just see what is being said.
There are many, many benefits and reasons why a sports organization should be using Twitter. Here are ten of them:
- Opportunity to provide great customer service
- Ask questions, get feedback from fans and save money on focus groups
- Spread news, in real-time to people who care about what you're saying
- Ability to address crisis situations quickly
- Protect your brand, ensure that people are getting accurate information about you (it's no longer about giving up control...it's about taking back control and gaining influence)
- Extend sponsor promotions
- Reach a new audience that may have never visited your official website
- Build deeper connections with existing audience
- Connect with online influencers and learn about new ideas
- Increased traffic back to organization's website
Bonus
- It's MEASURABLE via the number of followers, replies, retweets, and clicks on links. Plus, you can analyze and group mentions of your organization and see how fan perceptions change over time.
I hope these reasons why sports organizations should use Twitter are helpful for you. I've been saying that teams should be using Twitter for over a year, so it's good to see some of them doing this, even if they're not taking full advantage in many cases.
If you have anything to add, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear what you think.