Episode 49 of the DSMSports Podcast w/ Ross Tucker, NFL Broadcaster and Podcaster

Best Of...Ross Tucker on the
Digital and Social Media Sports Podcast
Ross Tucker, former NFL player and now a NFL broadcaster and host of
the Ross Tucker Football, Fantasy Feast Eatin', and Even Money
podcasts, was the featured guest on episode 49 of the DSMSports
Podcast.
What follows are some snippets from the interview. Hear the full episode
on www.DSMSports.net or find it on iTunes and Stitcher.
Enjoy...
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Ross's background and career path
Grew up in Wyomissing, PA and playing football and
aspiring to be a sportswriter or broadcaster
→ Became a better player than he anticipated and
ended up attending Princeton to play football
→ Did internships between school years and
accepted a job at Lehman Brothers before making
the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Ross's background and career path
→ He deferred his Lehman Brothers job for a year
during his first season in the NFL
→ Continued doing internships in the offseason
during his NFL career, not preparing himself for a
career in media, however (after doing a podcast and
writing for ESPN).”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

“I actually deferred my Lehman Brothers job because I
thought 'Eh, this might just be one year [in the NFL],'...I
looked at every year like that, so every offseason I would
get a different internship...I kind of leaned away from the
media thing because it seemed like that's what (everyone
else) was going to do...
I noticed that seemingly the best jobs in the broadcasting
industry typically went to the guys that were the best
players, but that just wasn't me...”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Ross attended the first-ever NFL broadcasting boot camp
before his last NFL season
“I came away from that thinking (that) a lot of guys could talk
on TV or the radio, but not a lot of guys could write...I
thought 'What if I'm the first or one of the only former
players that actually writes about what it's really like?'...I
thought that could be my niche, my competitive
advantage.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Ross mentioned this idea to (Sports Illustrated NFL Senior Writer
and Founder/Editor of TheMMQB) Peter King and, after getting
hurt with the Redskins, began writing for The MMQB while on
Injured Reserve
→ “My career was essentially over, but that (injury) triggered a lot
of media opportunities (SI, Sirius XM radio, Comcast)...Since
then, I've had a million different media gigs, started the
podcast...”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Ross took on a lot of media jobs and wrote for ESPN, before also
co-hosting an NFL podcast → “I literally had no idea what a
podcast was (when they asked him to host one)...I started doing
the podcast for a few years (with ESPN)...”
Ross took the podcast solo after leaving ESPN and started the
Ross Tucker Football Podcast, as well as two others (with one
more to come) Even Money (football betting odds and tips) and
Fantasy Feast Eatin' (fantasy football).
@njh287
DSMSports.net

“I absolutely love the podcast medium for a lot of different reasons.
The flexibility. I can put the live (advertising) reads in when I
want to. It's not as rigid. I don't really have a boss, I'm kind of on
my own.
We talk about what I want to talk about, we get the guests on that I
want to get. The positives are it's all on me. The negatives are
it's all on me.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

On leaving ESPN and building the Ross Tucker brand
“It was exciting, but it was also nerve-wracking. At ESPN, I had a
contract and would get 'x' amount of dollars per podcast no
matter how many people listened. It was turnkey for me...It was
not really heavy lifting for me...
@njh287
DSMSports.net

“It was exciting to know I was actually going to own something and
the podcast was going to be my baby. I was really fortunate that
I had done a nice job at ESPN on behalf of the advertisers...
They had really seen significant results when they used me over at
ESPN, so I was able to get them with basically introductory
pricing on the podcast. So I was able to have revenue from day
one.
It was a start-up business, but not really a start-up business in the
sense that I had established myself in the industry and I had
established myself with those particular advertisers.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

On migrating his ESPN audience to his eponymous platform
“I tried as much as I could to get people to follow me on social
media, so they would know about the new podcast. But there
was a drop-off in numbers from ESPN. That is just such a big
platform over there...but slowly and surely, I am building it back
to up where I want it to be.
It's a lot, now. I do have a sales agency...but I do a lot of the sales
myself. I have to do the outline for the podcast I have to get the
guest. It's definitely a lot more work, but it's also more rewarding
personally and professionally.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Helpful tool:
Tagging people in Twitter photos, can tag up to 10 people and
they'll be notified, you'll be on their radar (of, again, potentially
ten people in a single tweet, no characters used!)
@njh287
DSMSports.net

How Ross uses digital and social to reach, mobilize, and engage his
fans
“One of the things I really love about podcasts is this community that I
have...the Tuck-Heads, this is my crew, this is my people. TV gigs,
radio gigs, writing gigs – those will come and go over the years.
But I feel like my podcast listeners, that's my community...that I
hope to foster for years to come. So they are my top priority...
Plus, my competition is really the podcast at ESPN and NFL.com and
they just have gigantic platforms...I don't have the platform that
they have, so I really need my listeners to spread the gospel of
being a listener of my podcast.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Plus, not being associated with ESPN and the NFL, I'm able to do
some things and say some things that I don't think that they are,
but also they don't have as much advertising (as his podcast)
because they look at (podcasts) as a way to continue to engage
with customers that frequent their other platforms...it's not really
an additional moneymaker for them...
When my competition doesn't have much advertisement, that
makes it tough for me to...strike the balance.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

“There is always that balance of revenue versus content for me,
which is a good problem to have. The other issue would be that
no one wants to advertise and then I wouldn't be able to do it...
A lot of my advertisers are direct response advertisers, so they
know exactly how many of my listeners go to their website and
use the code...So I'm really heavily dependent on (listeners) to
support the podcast, take advantage of the offers, and use the
(promotional) codes.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

On whether he utilizes his independent position to feature the less
mainstream NFL content
“It's not...I don't really look at (ESPN, NFL) competition when I'm
(coming up with content)...I just try to do something that I think
is interesting because, usually, if I think it's interesting, then the
listeners are going to think it's interesting, as well...”
[Ross tells a great anecdote with background on the recent
podcast featuring his wife speaking about being the wife of an
NFL player]
@njh287
DSMSports.net

“In terms of the competition, what's interesting about it is, there isn't
really any other podcast I'm aware of that features a former player
like me...other (podcasts) do a great job, but it's just different...They
can't have the perspective that I have on most things.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

On the importance of having an engaged community that
supports and trusts him
“Trust is gigantic, which is why I don't take on an advertiser
unless I check them out first and believe in them...I believe in
these things (and use them all)...that trust is really
important...
@njh287
DSMSports.net

“In terms of (answering) email, I want to be interactive with the
audience and I want to provide them with value. So, if they're going
to take the time to use one of my sponsors, then I'm going to
reward them for that. You support me, then I'm going to support
you...I think that's a fair deal and, evidently, so do the listeners.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Share-able stat:
One-third (33%) of all Americans 12 years of age or older now say
they have listened to at least one podcast.
[Edinson Research, May 2015]
@njh287
DSMSports.net

The most unusual “Ask Ross” question that Ross has ever received
from a fan
“Probably people either wanting to stop by my house or grab
something to eat where I live. As much as I love my listeners, it's
always a little interesting when you don't know someone
personally...”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Ross's favorite guest he's ever had on the podcast and why
“It'd probably be pretty bad if I didn't say my wife, yeah?...I (also)
really enjoyed Herschel Walker, he's a really interesting
guy...Probably my wife because I think that's an aspect of the NFL
that people don't really delve into. And that's probably the most
positive feedback I can remember getting from a guest in a long
time.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

On why NFL linemen (like Ross) make the best broadcasters
“A couple of reasons...Other than quarterback, offensive linemen have
to be among the smartest and most knowledgeable (players) on
the team just because of the nature of blocking schemes and
defensive adjustments.
Also, I think offensive linemen are usually the most appreciative and
the most down-to-earth. So, if they get a broadcasting job, they're
excited about (and) put their heart and soul into it. But they also
don't think that they're great because they haven't been told they're
a star their whole lives.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

The most talented teammates Ross has ever had
Two guys –
LaVar Arrington, who Ross played with in Washington: “He's as gifted
as anyone I have ever been around, but, unfortunately, the injury
bug caught him.”
Jason Peters → “He was a 320-pound practice squad tight end when I
was with him in 2004 with the Buffalo Bills and it's just amazing to
see the career he has had. The first day they moved him to
offensive line was unbelievable to watch.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

An NFL player or media member that Ross thinks uses social media
well and why
“I like people that...really provide good nuggets for whatever it is
that their focal point is. A guy like Joel Corry (@corryjoel), who
writes for CBSSports.com. He is a cap guy, a contract guy (and) I
enjoy his stuff...
Another guy I started following recently is Joe Banner (former Eagles
and Browns team President) Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13)...(He is)
actually very honest and outspoken on Twitter.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

On the future of the Ross Tucker brand and its outlets
“I'd like to see the continued growth of the podcast. Whether that's
adding more and different sports that maybe I don't host or just
continuing to grow the (ones) I have...
One of the real positive podcasts is I do it from home (And it doesn't
require travel)...I'm always open to the TV stuff and video and
radio. But top number one priority is to continue to grow and maybe
have the biggest NFL podcast out there.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

The best press box meal of all-time according to Ross
Ro ss nam e s two :
“Green Bay always has a ton of great stuff, including brats, and I'm a
sucker for brats...Brats and mashed potatoes...”
“Surprisingly to me, Tampa. The Tampa Bay Bucs is terrific. A ton of
delicious options and there was a Bananas Foster section that I hit
up three times.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Ross's Social Media All-Star to Follow
@KyleBrandt [Ross's college roommate] → “If you like the
intersection of sports and Hollywood...He's a producer for Jim
Rome
Andrew Brandt @ADBrandt → “I enjoy his take on the business side
of the NFL.”
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Where to find Ross and all of Ross Tucker podcasts and media
@RossTuckerNFL on Twitter and RossTuckerNFL on Facebook,
RossTucker.com
@RTFPodcast on Twitter for the main football podcast,
Podcasts: Ross Tucker Football podcast, Even Money Podcast
Fantasy Feast Eatin', and one more...
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Thanks so much to Ross Tuckerforjoining
the Digital & Social Media Sports podcast!
For more info on the podcast, check out
DSMSports.net and follow me @njh287
@njh287
DSMSports.net

Episode 49 of the DSMSports Podcast w/ Ross Tucker, NFL Broadcaster and Podcaster

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Episode 49 of the DSMSports Podcast w/ Ross Tucker, NFL Broadcaster and Podcaster