Plugd'n

[alanmwangi-blog]

Is anybody going to get on the NBA's level when it comes to social media? They are seriously on point and keep coming out with innovative ideas to engage their fans. Check out the NBA Finals ad. I know I'm excited to watch!

[alanmwangi-blog]

As we get closer and closer to the Finals, the NBA continues to use social media to engage their fans....

Thunder post on Facebook upon defeating the Lakers, Advancing to the Western Conference Finals...

[alanmwangi-blog]

Instragram and NHL Fans

Photos speak a thousand words and that couldn’t be truer than in the sporting world. As we become a more connected community through social media, the smartphone and mobile technology is dominating how we get our information, pictures and videos.

Take Instagram for example. It seems like everybody and their best friend has caught the Instagram fever. As its growth in popularity has reached over 25 million users, teams are developing ways to include it in their digital marketing strategy.

On the night of a crucial game against the Ottawa Senators, the New York Rangers brought in the top six instagraphers and along with Delta Airlines hosted them in Madison Square Garden. The instragraphers were put in strategic spots and hard to reach areas for media crews, while being asked to take pictures of the game as creatively as they could for the New York Rangers social media networks.

This opens the door to an element of sponsorship as well. Delta Airlines, one of Madison Square Garden’s main corporate sponsors, saw this as an opportunity to surpass the traditional ideas of corporate sponsorship by engaging fans via social media channels and giving fans the chance to create their own story about “the time I was at the Garden”.

Here's the full story: http://on.mash.to/JsKDbp

[alanmwangi-blog]

NBA Digital holds Social Town Hall for Christmas Opener: Will we see it again in the NBA Finals?

The NBA and NBA Digital, which is managed by Turner Sports in Atlanta, held an "NBA Town Hall" on NBA.com and the NBA's Facebook page. Fans were able to take part in the "NBA Town Hall" through live streaming. This last second digital campaign by the social marketers at NBA Digital, fed into the excitement of the season tip off game on Christmas Day like nothing you could ever imagine.

Fans were able to ask questions via Facebook and the #NBATownHall hashtag with the likes of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Amare Stoudemire to answer your questions. Fans also received give aways like tickets and team memorabilia from the league using the hashtag #BIGNBAXMAS.

NBA Digital decided to use Facebook integrated with Watchaloo's multi-streaming collaboration platform as its medium because of the capabilities and the NBA's consistently growing social fan base (over 10 million fans globally). Facebook was the perfect medium for the Town Hall because it allows the fans, players and the league to connect. Fans were able to connect with the a few of the league's top players in real time conversations giving them the opportunity to engage on a personal level.

Will we see this for the NBA Playoffs? My challenge to NBA Digital and the digital team at Turner Sports is to set up a Town Hall for the NBA Finals. What a better way to excite fans about the climax to a completely unpredictable season than a chance to engage with players on the verge of winning a championship? 

Check out the Full story on NBA’s Christmas Town Hall: http://bit.ly/KISKhv

[alanmwangi-blog]

Phoenix Suns Issue Android Tablets to Players

Do you remember watching games and seeing the guy that stands on the sideline with a clipboard and you wonder who is that? Whoever he is, it must suck walking around with that clipboard. Well "whoever he is" just got a pretty sweet upgrade from a good old sturdy clipboard to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

As we've seen with most of the latest social media trends, the NBA is the first league to allow tablets on the sidelines and the Phoenix Suns have already started to take advantage of that rule. Players will have access to the team playbook, practice videos, scouting reports, and travel itineraries.

The Galaxy Tab is one amazing piece of technology that will allow the players, coaches and organization to be truly connected by collaboration, sharing and interaction. That plus 4G access will give the whole organization a real multimedia experience that you just won’t get working anywhere else. I don't know about you but that job on the sideline doesn't sound too bad after all.

Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/IGwacn

[alanmwangi-blog]

The NBA and Twitter: Players’ Twitter Handles on T-shirts now available at NBA store:

The NBA is the #1 sports league on twitter with more than 4.5 million followers on @NBA and 350 players with twitter handles. For those who may not know that's a lot (more than 80% of players in the league).

Are you a fan of twitter? How about the NBA? If both I'm sure you follow players like Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Jeremy Lin and Dwayne Wade. So you’re a pretty big fan then huh? Would you wear Jeremy Lin's twitter handle on your shirt? @JLin7

If you would, the NBA has made it possible for you to do so. There have been a few teams promoting this and even a few sites dedicated to twitter handle merchandise, but the NBA is the first league to make the twitter handle shirts official merchandise.

So put that felt pen down and the plain white tee you’re about to scribble @KDTrey5 on, and check out the NBA's official twitter handle shirts:

http://on.nba.com/IML81B

Read the full story: http://on.mash.to/H65LSQ

[alanmwangi-blog]

The Olympic Athletes’ Hub Launches, Giving Fans Behind-the-Scenes Access to London 2012

Big fan of the Summer Olympics? We'll then check this out: The International Olympics Committee officially launched the Olympic Athletes' Hub. During the Games you can get all your Facebook, Twitter and other social media updates from your favorite Olympic Athletes and results from their events. As a fan you can also earn rewards like unlocking videos and winning virtual medals. You now have the ability to connect with Michael Phelps and check out what he's up to when he's not tearing it up in swimming pools. How cool is that?

Read the full story here: http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/04/18/the-olympic-athletes-hub-launches-giving-fans-behind-the-scenes-access-to-london-2012/