Legacy Direct is a sports & entertainment technology company that helps athletes and their advisors manage their brands and discover new revenue streams. I connected with one of their employees (Andy Bailer) on Twitter recently and after we had a nice phone discussion about sports and social media, I emailed him a few questions. Here are his answers:
1 - How did you become the guy to lead Legacy Direct into social media?
I was brought onto the Legacy Direct team as an intern in July of 2008, doing mostly research and administrative work. Within the first few months, I realized how significant the social media marketplace was becoming and wanted to create a blog to reflect the messaging of our company.
2 - Can you give an example of one of your your clients who has utilized social media to enhance his/her brand and connect with fans?
Sure. A great example is Natalie Gulbis, a LPGA Tour golfer, who has just recently began using Twitter to engage with fans and show them what she is all about.
Take A Note: In less than two months, Natalie has over 2,000 followers--people who are interested in seeing updates from her about golf/life/whatever. Using Twitter is a GREAT way for athletes to show their human/personal side and connect directly with their fans.
3 -We connected on Twitter. What about it made you want to bring Legacy into the community there?
I wanted to bring Legacy into the twitter community to strengthen the reach of our social media initiatives. I soon realized how valuable Twitter can be in the way of networking and building a brand.
4 - What is your favorite professional sports team and how do you currently get your news/updates about them?
My favorite professional sports team is the New York Mets. I currently get my news/updates about them by going directly to the team’s website or by reading blogs written by Mets’ fans.
5 -Have they ever tried to connect with you personally on social media sites (that you're aware of)?
No, the Mets organization has not tried to do that. However, there are lots of Mets’ fans who operate blogs and are more than happy to connect if it means increased readership for their site.
6 - How would you like them to connect with you online and what kind of information would you want to receive from them?
I think it would be nice if the Mets had an “official” twitter account, where I could receive daily updates. A good example of a successful fan integration and public relations movement by a professional sports team is the Phoenix Suns, who have done a great job connecting with fans on twitter.
7 - Let's say they wanted to connect with you and other fans but were unsure about the consequences/potential drawbacks. What advice would you have for them?
I would say, “Look at what the Phoenix Suns are doing with all of their social media initiatives and how they are staying on top of the latest technology. If you (the team) don’t start to embrace some of these new technologies, you will fall behind in terms of fan engagement and interaction.
Thanks, Andy. I think we'll see more and more teams and athletes taking note of these new technologies to increase engagement with fans.
Are you or your team interested in learning more about how to use Twitter to connect with your fans? Contact me and let's talk.