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With 18.9M tuning in to watch the Women’s NCAA Tournament Championship, one thing becomes abundantly clear: Enthusiasm for women’s sports is reaching new heights. Whether you're looking to increase #BrandAwareness or #DriveConversions, leveraging women's sports could be the winning strategy for your next #AdvertisingCampaign. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gR2hzMMm #MarchMadness #Advertising #RecordViewership #WomensSports https://lnkd.in/gR2hzMMm

Who are the biggest names in all of sports? 👇 When working with athletes to build their personal brands this is often one of the first questions I ask. The most common responses I get are LeBron James, Simone Biles, and Serena Williams. 👀 Besides these three being some of the greatest to ever compete, they also have one thing in common: as the star of their sport, their face is seen *everywhere*. If you walk by LeBron, Simone, or Serena on the street, I guarantee you're going to know it. Their facial recognition is one of the biggest reasons that each of them has global brand reach and a portfolio worth millions upon millions. 🙂 One of the main things I teach our athletes at Athletes Unlimited is that the most valuable marketing tool is a recognizable face. Whether you think about it or not, you pair faces to brands across all landscapes, every day. Whether it's fictional (Captain Crunch), real (Jake from State Farm), or a combo (the creepy Burger King guy), we subconsciously recognize and relate to these characters all the time - and I'd be willing to bet painted a picture of each of those three faces as you read them. People appeal to emotion and emotion drives consumerism. 🔍 To athletes out there looking maximize brand value -- make yourself visible. When you put yourself in a position to be recognized whether you're in uniform or street clothes, you'll start to see your brand value skyrocket. Social media is your biggest resource. While you can't always control where you play, how fans can watch your games, or (in some ways) how well you play, you can and should control the way you market yourself on your owned and operated social channels. Posting with intention and frequency both in and out of uniform is a key step to putting yourself in a position to succeed. 💰 To businesses both small and large, leverage your brand through emotional appeal and authentic faces. Katelyn Bourgoin 🧠 says it best, ads featuring the human face are 11x more likely to be noticed. Partnering with athletes, creators, and people of influence provides opportunities for low entry, high ROI investment. 📷 Sis Bates, photographed by Jade Hewitt #smsports #smmarketing #contentmarketing #NIL #athletemarketing #influencermarketing #brandvalue

In the ever evolving landscape of branding, inclusivity and awareness are no longer optional but critical to a brand's authenticity. Missteps, even if unintended, can undermine trust, particularly when the message doesn't align with the values of the audience. How can brands ensure they are deeply aligned with their audience's sensitivities while still creating bold, memorable campaigns?

🎬 Must-Watch Content Alert! 🎬 If you're into sports marketing and innovation, this content hits the spot! The University of Tennessee’s new "Dark Mode" jerseys are more than just a fresh look – they’re a masterclass in connecting with Gen Z fans through bold design and modern storytelling. 🏈⚡️ Here are three key takeaways: 🏈 Bold Brand Identity: These jerseys set Tennessee apart, establishing a unique, edgy look that resonates with a younger fan base. 🏈 Enhanced Recruitment Appeal: 'The Dark Mode' theme aligns with Gen Z’s tastes, helping recruit fresh talent and deepen fan loyalty. 🏈 Multi-Channel Engagement: This innovative design captures attention across social media and live events, showcasing Tennessee’s forward-thinking approach. This is the kind of content that highlights the power of branding in building a lasting fan base. Dive in and see how Tennessee is turning heads with these standout jerseys. 👉 Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/gvN_HEHm #SportsMarketing #BrandInnovation #GenZEngagement #Tennessee

Women got game. 🏀 🔥 The number one pick in yesterday's WNBA draft and NCAA all-time leading scorer Caitlin Clark had a record-smashing season that enchanted spectators and marketers alike. The basketball superstar has grown the game by: 🔸 Filling arenas 🔸 Breaking viewership records 🔸 Forcing brands to revise the assumption that “No one watches women’s sports” Clark joins icons like Serena Williams, Simone Biles, Megan Rapinoe and the indefatigable Billie Jean King as catalysts who are elevating women’s sports by attracting fans, brands and media investment. 🛍 Do you think the excitement and momentum around women in sports will fuel more product and/or media consumption? See the recent RetailWire article by Tom Ryan and add your thoughts. #retail #ecommerce #sports #media

Gatorade is launching its largest marketing campaign to date, bringing back the iconic "Is It In You?" tagline and featuring legendary athlete Michael Jordan. A recent article from Marketing Dive provides a deep dive into this monumental campaign. Key takeaways from the article include: - Return of an Iconic Tagline: Gatorade is reviving its famous "Is It In You?" tagline, aiming to reignite the powerful message of athletic excellence and determination that has resonated with audiences for years. - Featuring Michael Jordan: The campaign prominently features basketball legend Michael Jordan, whose association with Gatorade has been legendary. His involvement adds a nostalgic and inspirational touch, connecting with both longtime fans and new generations. - Comprehensive Campaign: This multi-faceted campaign will include TV commercials, digital content, social media activations, and in-store promotions, ensuring a broad and impactful reach. - Focus on Performance: Gatorade's campaign underscores the importance of athletic performance and endurance, reinforcing the brand's commitment to fueling athletes with the necessary hydration and nutrition. - Cultural Resonance: By tapping into the cultural legacy of the "Is It In You?" tagline and Michael Jordan's enduring influence, Gatorade aims to create a powerful connection with its audience, celebrating the spirit of sportsmanship and perseverance. This campaign is a brilliant example of how brands can leverage their heritage and iconic partnerships to create compelling and emotionally resonant marketing initiatives. Check out the full article - https://lnkd.in/eu-W457t #gatorade #campaign #summer #throwback #marketing #michaeljordan

🚨 The Attention-Span Myth: Why Sports Marketers Need to Reimagine Youth Engagement 🚨 The sports industry is facing a pivotal challenge: engaging the next generation of fans. Gen Z is breaking away from traditional loyalties and redefining fandom, but is their so-called "short attention span" really to blame? Or are we, as sports marketers, not meeting them where they are? In my latest article for fcbusiness Magazine , I explore: ⚽ Fluid Fandom – Why geographical and generational ties no longer define loyalty. 📱 Digital-First Strategies – How clubs can leverage storytelling, gamification, and UGC to create immersive, connected experiences. 🔗 Tech as a Gamechanger – AR, OTT, NFTs to NFC with enabled jerseys to interactive badges, how innovation is redefining fan engagement. The rules of engagement are shifting, and the competition isn’t just other sports—it’s The Walt Disney Company, TikTok, Electronic Arts (EA) and Netflix. If we don’t adapt, we risk losing a generation of fans. Check out the article for insights and examples of how clubs like FC Barcelona Femení, The Premier League and AS Roma Business Club are thriving by embracing creativity, authenticity, and innovation. 🌟 Other great fan engagement examples not mentioned in the article are Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Technology & SailGP with the adoption of NFTs. 🔗 Read more here: The Attention-Span Myth: Why Sports Marketers Need to Reimagine Youth Engagement Share in the comment how is your organization evolving to connect with Gen Z fans? 👇 #SportsMarketing #FanEngagement #GenZ #DigitalTransformation #Innovation FIFA UEFA

“As we were evaluating women’s sports, we were seeing so much momentum in rights deals that were being done…but it was really confusing for our brands to figure out what’s the best way to start to participate,”  Robin Cohen, our EVP of Integrated Media Investment and Planning, tells Ad Age. There is no question that the intersection of women's sports and marketing holds boundless potential for brands and advertisers. This Ad Age article discusses the leading efforts marketing agencies, including Rain the Growth Agency, are making to boost investments and create equality-driven opportunities in the women’s sports arena. Read about #HypeHer, our dedicated practice area that connects brands with women’s sports media opportunities, at the link below. #RaintheGrowthAgency #WomensSports

Gatorade is bringing fresh energy to its “Is It In You?” tagline from the ’90s and early aughts to encourage the next generation of athletes to ignore the noise. The move seeks to address the shifting pressures and distractions faced by athletes today versus three decades ago, with 53% of Gen Z athletes who stopped playing sports reporting that they did so because of external factors like social pressure and unrealistic expectations, per Gatorade research cited in release details. Accordingly, the revival of the brand’s iconic tagline — first popularized with ads showcasing NBA legend Jordan dripping in Gatorade-colored sweat — reintroduces the concept of “it,” or what the brand defines as the “inner drive that fuels greatness.” The campaign’s 60-second spot, “It Hasn’t Changed,” is narrated by Jordan, also the brand’s longest-standing athlete partner, and serves as a reminder to athletes that greatness isn’t about aspects like hype, clout or likes, but one’s own determination. “The return of ‘Is It In You?’, our biggest campaign of all time, is about acknowledging how much the sports landscape has changed, while reminding athletes that one thing hasn’t – the inner drive that fuels you – and that’s what matters most,” said Gatorade Chief Brand Officer Anuj Bhasin in a statement. The film also includes appearances from a number of Gatorade’s roster athletes, including Josh Allen, Caitlin Clark, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Jayson Tatum, A’ja Wilson, and DJ Lagway, who share stories of how they’ve overcome personal obstacles by channeling their “it” while being seen dripping in Gatorade-colored sweat in a nod to the original ads. https://lnkd.in/gcs39YwQ