by Jayson Schmidt, Preseason
The summer is a wonderful time to get a head start on the next recruiting class.
Just like getting on the road, evaluating athletes, and doing the traditional legwork it takes to get on a recruit’s radar, winning on social media is important work that can help you win – not only this summer, but with your next recruiting class:
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1. Utilize year-end momentum.
Whether you’re in-season or not, you can use the end of the school year to your advantage.
If you’re a spring sport contender, perhaps you’re still in the mix for a championship. Maybe you’ve got a new or languishing program and you feel miles away. Either way, you’ve got something in common: realizing your dreams and winning on the big stage.
Likewise, you can parlay that same feeling onto social media by using the momentum from the end of the season (or if you’re a fall/winter sport, the end of the school year). Every recruit has dreams and goals about their future career. How you connect the dots (by linking your dreams with theirs) will give you a leg up in recruiting them.
May is a great month to talk about your program’s aspirations on social media.
2. Find consistency.
Most programs struggle when the content runs dry, so to speak.
Before your athletes leave campus, ask them to talk about your program on video. Use an iPhone and don’t worry about perfection. Ask them questions. Take this content and use it weekly throughout the summer to give your accounts life.
You can also ask them to send in videos about topics while they’re away for the summer.
3. Document your preparation.
As the new school year approaches, giving recruits an ‘inside look’ at your program is a great way to be more relatable. More than looking for hard information about your program, they want to learn about you––– who you are, how you think, and whether they should come to play for you.
It might seem mundane, but truthfully, it’ll look more like an average day once they arrive on campus. That authenticity is better received over everything’s-always-amazing moments.
You’d be surprised how far a video of you unboxing new apparel can go.
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You’ve heard the old adage, “done is better than perfect.”
As it pertains to social media, we’re looking for consistent effort that showcases your program. Don’t worry about how it looks, just get it out there. Even if it’s bad, producing content over and over again will make your content better.
Show us your content this summer! Tag @hellopreseason on Instagram and Twitter.
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This article is the 23rd in a series on athletics branding. Jayson Schmidt is a former NCAA Division II head coach and managing partner of Preseason, a creative agency that helps colleges win.
Struggling with your brand or just simply want an edge on the competition? Preseason can elevate your story and deliver it to recruits, fans, and donors.