This past semester, I have studied Michigan State University Athletic Department’s Marketing and Advertising activities. Based on the research I have conducted from examining the brand’s social media, online, and on campus image, here are some digital strategy recommendations.
In terms of the brands social media marketing and activity, I would recommend tailoring the focus to your target audience of mainly students and alumni. One way to get the upcoming generation of Spartans more excited and involved in Michigan State Athletics is to create an MSUAD based Snapchat account.
Snapchat is extremely popular among everyone, but especially students. Creating a Snapchat account would give the Athletic Department the ability to engage with students and fans in a fun way on a unique platform.
This account would be updated frequently throughout each day sharing all things MSU athletics based.
Posts would include exclusive behind the scenes content of the all the athletic teams at Michigan State, including both Men’s and Women’s team footage on and off campus.
With a focus on sharing athletic content from either the team’s practices, games, or even tournaments. Along with exclusive locker room video, team bonding events, and student-athlete life.
Because Snapchat is a free platform that enables its users to share content like pictures and videos with it’s followers,
Snapchat can be a great investment for most brands looking to advertise to their target audience on a convenient yet affordable level.
With the ability to advertise for free, Snapchat gives MSUAD an opportunity to promote each of the different team’s brands along with their merchandise and gear.
Another great use for Snapchat is communication.
Using messages and taglines like “Spartan’s Will”, the fight song, and other MSU trademark sayings in Snapchat videos and pictures will help appeal to the MSU students because of the relevance and meaning they carry on campus.
Snapchat allows your followers to reply and comment on whatever content is posted and receive feedback from them as well, so you can post content your viewers want to see to engage a greater audience.
Using Snapchat to get the word out to fans about big upcoming games and events would help bring in more people and revenue to all sport teams.
Athletic events like Tumbles and Takedowns would be a perfect opportunity for Snapchat to draw in more fans to cheer on MSU athletics such as Gymnastics and Wrestling.
Posting with well known athletes and leaders on campus will help to attract a large fan base on and off campus to the Snapchat account. Fans will be interested in seeing a more personalized side of their favorite players and will tune in for the special limited time content.