First of all, no, I am not going to be writing this much (daily).  I dove in with both feet on the blog to shake out the voice and to try to hit the ground running.

With May 1st just days away and the new site update due any day now, I may change my mind and launch the blog this week.  I had thought about waiting until mid-May and then talking more about it leading into June.  (and I reserve the right to change my mind again!)

Speaking of the May update, I have a couple of the parts done now.  First is a $10 investment that can help you improve on every time out (that may be a bit of hyperbole)…but having a dry erase board handy is a pretty solid idea.  The site has links to sport-specific boards and hopefully all the encouragement you need to consider such a fine investment.

The second part is a nice quality signature panel sport ball.  These are sythetic leather footballs and basketballs that hav a nice smooth area for autographs.  In the off-season teams do less gate-giveaways, so I thought this was a good item to feature when you just need something with some good value.  I see this as a popular item for community relations, special sponsor gifts, or as a higher value giveaway to special fans.  On team used them for a sponsor event giveaway item…the item has value to it since it feels like a quality item (more so that a rubber basketball for example)…which worked well for this particular sponsor (hi-end car dealership).

This month I will try something a little different with the mailing list.  The mailer will be very short and punchy….I am interested to see how that effects the response rate.   The service I use highly recommends trying different formats….so I am doing some experimentation . 

Finally the update will note that the popular inflatable bowling pins are back in stock…..(I am trying to note that everywhere, since I have received about 30 inquiries in the last 45 days while they have been out).

….again….please feel free to comment on any aspect of the blog.  Your feedback will help shape how this is used.

Thanks.

-Cudo

The last couple weeks have been rewarding in an off-beat kind of way on Gameops.com.  Our Classified Ads have started to show some activity, after a slow few initial months.

The Classified Ads are actually the second attempt at a “want ads” type resource on the site.  The first was a bit of a disaster….just old, clumsy, there was a charge for listing, and it was really hard to shop or post.  I pulled that after a few frustrating months (frustrating for me, probably more frustration for the readers.)

The new Classified Ads are very easy to visit and shop.  They are free to use (both for shopping and for posting your items) and the new method of connecting between the person selling and the person buying is easier than ever.  All in all, it’s a big improvement.

What’s been satisfying recently is the uptick in activity.  The first couple sales have occurred (since I had actually posted items on there to get things rolling) and someone else has finally added a couple items to the Classified Ads.  I think the Ads are a very strong tool for the readers, so seeing it get used and seeing more posts and sales is very rewarding.

If you have not seen the Classified Ads, take a look.  If you are looking for used promotional tools (sometimes new items at a discount) it’s a great place to poke around.  More importantly if you have an old promotional tool, or other items that people in our industry might need, the Classified Ads provide a way for you to offer your item to the world.  Follow the posting directions, add a photo, and go from there. 

-Cudo

As part of the Dallas Mavericks Fan Appreciation Night held at the team’s April 19 game, American Airlines gave out more than 20,000 airline ticket vouchers good for one free, round-trip ticket anywhere that American Airlines flies to or from Dallas Love Field Airport (which includes the cities of Austin, San Antonio, Kansas City, and St. Louis).An additional 1,000 ticket vouchers were given out to fans watching the game from home via a text messaging promotion. This is considered to be the largest-ever free ticket giveaway promotion. (team PR).Wow. This is an incredible giveaway.  First for sheer value, it has to me unprecedented.  Even at $100 a ticket (which is probably low) that is a $2 million dollar prize giveway. 

Part of these first few posts (which are live, but not linked to the site) is to sort out what the blog will be and what kind of content and comment ”fit” into the blog.

One possible use of the blog is to expand on thoughts that I note on the homepage, but allowing me the change to eloborate on them.

Last month, I noted a new product on the home page that I recently purchased.  It’s not something totally new, but for those people who haven’t seen it in action or haven’t considered it as a tool….you really need to.

The product is a GPD system.  While it doesn’t have use in-game, it is a very useful tool for mascots or front office people who make many appearances in the community.  For anyone who has driven around lost in a town they have never been to knows the frustration of getting questionable directions or paying dearly for a missed turned or unknown detour.

The GPS systems simply eliminate all the uncertainty and puts the incredible power of interactive maps all on your dashboard.

GPS is Global Positioning Satalite, which combines satalite positioning with detailed maps of every street in North America.  You simply punch in your address (or use other methods for picking your drive to location) and the unit charts the best method of getting there.  Take a wrong turn, or follow your own path…and the unit will recalculate the new path. 

The unit I have (below) also tell you your estimated arrival time too, which is great when you are on the way to an event….see that you might be late and you can call ahead…see that you have more time, and you can stop for lunch.

In a word, this is a tool that you can’t be without if you are making more than a handful of appearances a month.  It also is totally portable, so you can pop it on the window of your car, transfer it over to the company car or mobile marketing vehicle. 

The Garmin C340 (the unit we have) has been fantastic.  Portable GPS units start around $400, and most (including the C340) have no monthly fees.

Click here for more GPS Units options. 

Finally, as noted this blog post is also about finding what is useful on the blog.  If you found this useful or lame, I’d love to know.  You can post a comment on the blog…all of which I read and I appreciate the feedback, especially as I sort out the new blog format.

For more info on the Garmin GPS unit (affectionally known here as “the Garmin”) or to purchase, you can click on this link or the picture: Garmin C340 GPS Unit

-Cudo

When teams enter the playoffs there is a change in the game production, corporate elements are shed for rally moments and fans run on emotion.

What is interesting to me is whether teams have elements they have built over the course of the year to train their fans…and if they work during the playoffs.  Or if the game directors just end up at the whim and mercy of their fans.

Directors have a full season to create elements their fans can identify with, to determine how best to use the elements and to meld them into the post-season format.  Great directors will be able to direct their crowds and channel the playoff frenzy energy into their show. 

Playoff games can be powerful, based on the fans reaction alone ….it is useful for directors/performers to review games to see what they were doing to channel, focus, or direct the crowd reaction.

The critical question at the end of the game isn’t if the fans were going crazy….it’s were the fans reacting to the game presentation when directed to, or were they just reacting to the game?

-cudo

At this point I am still wondering exactly what will be posted here, but it seems like the next logical progression.  It’s not as though there is a steady drumbeat from the masses for more of my thoughts….but here they are.

Please feel free to jump in, comment back or just let me know why I shouldn’t write.

-cudo