Recruiting is a form of marketing and in marketing you need to go to where your customers (recruits) are. Today they are on the Internet!
Recently, we have made the Internet a critical part of our recruiting plan here at Montana State University. Today’s student athlete is on the Internet, they all have their own email, they are on Facebook and if they see a cool video on YouTube, they pass it on to twenty of their friends.
Email
A few years ago we started using a software company called Scoutware (http://www.scoutware.com/). Scoutware is, at its core, a web based database and graphic email program. There is so much that Scoutware can do and we are working hard to take advantage of its capabilities. One of the main features of Scoutware is the ability to create graphic HTML email. Every email we send with Scoutware allows us to use sharp graphics such as an Erica Perry action photo, or pictures of our beautiful campus. In every email that I send, Scoutware allows me to add my picture at the end of the message which allows recruits to put a face to the message.
Blog
Our next step into the web was “Bin’s Blog.” This is something that we wanted to do with the msubobcats.com website a few seasons ago, but settled on having Jamie Thornton write a play blog instead (It was great by the way!). Coach Binford’s Blog http://coachbinford.blogspot.com/ was launched in May 2008 (after a small push by recruiting guru Dan Tudor) with personal stories about family, vacation and Tee Ball. It has since grown into a blog about different topics like leadership, pride, and a very popular series called “Take it to the Next Level.” Next Level is a collection of ideas and strategies for athletes that want to be the best they can be, whether it is youth basketball, high school, college, or professional. Currently, Coach Bin’s Blog has over 6,600 hits from all over the world including Europe, Asia, and a few very loyal readers in Australia!
YouTube
One of the hardest jobs I do is also one of my favorite responsibilities as an assistant coach at MSU. This is the production of our end of the season highlight video. I work very hard and take great pride in the production of this video. As the videos grew in popularity with our players and Fast Break Club members, we were looking for an avenue to share these clips with more fans and also with recruits. YouTube was the obvious forum, and after a little trial and error, we were up and running at www.youtube.com/msuhoopster. Currently we have 43 videos uploaded to YouTube including highlight clips, off the court outtakes, player interviews, and our very popular “Cat Shorts” series. “Cat Shorts” is a series of commercials filmed with the purpose of showing what kind of amazing (and funny) athletes play for Montana State University Women’s Basketball.
Future
As new technology becomes available and we see it as a positive avenue for our message, you can be sure that we will be all over it. On the immediate horizon for Montana State University Women’s Basketball are Twitter and Facebook accounts. See you on the Net!
Recently, we have made the Internet a critical part of our recruiting plan here at Montana State University. Today’s student athlete is on the Internet, they all have their own email, they are on Facebook and if they see a cool video on YouTube, they pass it on to twenty of their friends.
A few years ago we started using a software company called Scoutware (http://www.scoutware.com/). Scoutware is, at its core, a web based database and graphic email program. There is so much that Scoutware can do and we are working hard to take advantage of its capabilities. One of the main features of Scoutware is the ability to create graphic HTML email. Every email we send with Scoutware allows us to use sharp graphics such as an Erica Perry action photo, or pictures of our beautiful campus. In every email that I send, Scoutware allows me to add my picture at the end of the message which allows recruits to put a face to the message.
Blog
Our next step into the web was “Bin’s Blog.” This is something that we wanted to do with the msubobcats.com website a few seasons ago, but settled on having Jamie Thornton write a play blog instead (It was great by the way!). Coach Binford’s Blog http://coachbinford.blogspot.com/ was launched in May 2008 (after a small push by recruiting guru Dan Tudor) with personal stories about family, vacation and Tee Ball. It has since grown into a blog about different topics like leadership, pride, and a very popular series called “Take it to the Next Level.” Next Level is a collection of ideas and strategies for athletes that want to be the best they can be, whether it is youth basketball, high school, college, or professional. Currently, Coach Bin’s Blog has over 6,600 hits from all over the world including Europe, Asia, and a few very loyal readers in Australia!YouTube
One of the hardest jobs I do is also one of my favorite responsibilities as an assistant coach at MSU. This is the production of our end of the season highlight video. I work very hard and take great pride in the production of this video. As the videos grew in popularity with our players and Fast Break Club members, we were looking for an avenue to share these clips with more fans and also with recruits. YouTube was the obvious forum, and after a little trial and error, we were up and running at www.youtube.com/msuhoopster. Currently we have 43 videos uploaded to YouTube including highlight clips, off the court outtakes, player interviews, and our very popular “Cat Shorts” series. “Cat Shorts” is a series of commercials filmed with the purpose of showing what kind of amazing (and funny) athletes play for Montana State University Women’s Basketball.
Future
As new technology becomes available and we see it as a positive avenue for our message, you can be sure that we will be all over it. On the immediate horizon for Montana State University Women’s Basketball are Twitter and Facebook accounts. See you on the Net!
1 comment:
Hi Coach,
I just read this post and I see that you've mentioned that you are interested in technology to assist in your efforts. Allow me to introduce FieldLevel: http:www.fieldlevel.com.
FieldLevel Team is the easiest way to centralize and organize your athlete recruiting efforts while keeping compliant.
Take a look!
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