Sports PR Summit And Their Wooden Credentials

Estimated reading time: 1 minute 33 seconds

We are all aware of the many marketing strategies and tactics used to promote various sporting events. Well, while doing my usual scroll down Instagram Lane, I came across something that immediately caught my attention.

If you do not know about the Sports PR Summit, here is your chance come from under that rock. The Sports PR Summit presented by The Players' Tribune is an invite-only event that brings together senior PR executives from professional and collegiate sports and top sports corporations for panel discussions and invaluable networking opportunities. This year's Sports PR Summit is taking place at The Players' Tribune headquarters in New York City as I write this article.

However, the location or presenting sponsor is not what caught my attention. Something unique and, what I presume, soon to be trending is what made me stop, like, and screenshot.

This year, with the help of their branding director Cameron Sandage, the Sports PR Summit included one-of-a-kind wooden credentials for everyone that registered before May 1st. This unique keepsake credential, made by Swing Shift Studios, is a piece of wood engraved with the Sports PR Summit and The Players' Tribune logos with the name, title, affiliation, and role the individual. Talk about branding and marketing done the right way.

While continuing my stroll down Instagram Lane and searching #SportsPRSummit, I noticed how trending the wooden credentials were. Although this is not the first time the Sports PR Summit has distributed wooden credentials, I'm sure this branding and marketing tactic will catch on with other events in the near future.

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https://instagram.com/p/BjFNSWIh6ML/?utm_source=ig_embed

Fun Fact:

16 minutes into the 2018 Sports PR Summit, #SportsPRSummit was the No. 1 trending hashtag on Twitter. Via Founder and CEO Brian Berger

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From My Perspective:

Branding and marketing (done the right way) are a significant part of event planning and execution. If you have been to many events, especially those surrounding sports, you know that your credentials are the one thing that you can hold on to as a memory of the event. Plus, everyone loves seeing and showing off his or her name on an event badge to get that extra sense of importance.

Something as small as an event badge, lapel pin, bracelet, or notebook, when customized, can make a significant difference in how people perceive your event and if their willing to share all the cool things they get, with everyone on social media.

For more information on the Sports PR Summit be sure to visit the links below.

#SportsPRSummit | @SportsPRSummit | @BrianBergerPR | @SwingShiftStudio

Sources: Sports PR Summit

Ohio State Football Beyond Four Years

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Via Ohio State FB

Coming from a university that places great emphasis on networking and building genuine business relationships (Full Sail University), I was excited to hear about the Ohio State Football Real Life Wednesdays program. Although this program is not new, one of their latest videos captures the real mission and vision for Real Life Wednesdays.

Real Life Wednesdays is a three-phase program that takes student-athletes through the process of filling and maintaining their "toolbox" and building brand awareness through internship opportunities and career fairs. By bringing in guest speakers such as Phil Knight (Nike), Dan Gilbert (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Kenneth Chenault (American Express) athletes have the opportunity to shake hands and connect with some of the top executives in the nation. In the words of Ryan Stamper, Director of Player Development for Ohio State Football, "we don't want to make sure our guys are just set for the four years they're here. My goal is to make sure they're set for the next 40 years."

Being that Columbus, Ohio is the 15th largest city in the nation and the state is home to 25 Fortune 500 companies, Ohio State also provides student-athletes with internship opportunities with many companies in Ohio and around the country. Also, through the Real Life Wednesdays program, athletes are given opportunities to shadow companies and executive and are taken through mock interviews.

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From My Perspective:

I think Real Life Wednesdays is a program that every school needs from high schools to colleges and universities. These days, having a high school diploma or a college degree is not enough. Taking advantage of every opportunity, you have to connect and network with potential employers or industry professionals is the key to establishing a long career after graduation.

Many student-athletes are not well-equipped with the tools needed after college or after their sports career. I'm not sure if the Real Life Wednesdays program is for all student-athletes, but Ohio State Football has a very organized plan in place for their athletes.
 

Check out the video below to see what Ohio State is doing to prepare student-athletes for a life and career beyond four years.

Sources: Ohio State Football