I really like Twitter. Like, a lot. A lot, a lot. I think it
is amazing that I can follow some of the world’s greatest minds, powerful
leaders and my favourite sports men and women. I read somewhere that “Facebook makes you hate
people you know and Twitter makes you love people you don’t” and I feel that
completely sums up how I feel about both social media sites.
I also think it is completely unnecessary to say how I feel
about most other social sites (cough/sneeze/scream/instagram) because that is
obviously clear.
Anyway. Back to Twitter. I love it, cannot get enough of it.
It makes me feel like I am actually friends with Obama and that I am actually
part of the Brisbane Lions squad. I actually fear for when I meet Tom Rockliff
and I will know absolutely way too much about his life and how I am going to
try and ‘stay cool’ without screaming at him that I follow him on Twitter and I
think Footy Fix is the best.
These feelings and the personalisation of relationships
between players and fans is clearly why so many sports people are on Twitter.
It is a marketers dream to create an emotional connection between their product
and consumers and in the case of Twitter, a simple retweet, reply or mention
has the ability to forge that emotional connection forever. I am completely
guilty of it, I love it when a celeb or sports personality or ANYBODY for that
matter talks to me on Twitter or initiates any form of interaction. We are
human beings, and we like attention, at least I do anyway.
These emotional connections players are able to connect with
their fans is the reason why most sports people are on Twitter, and for some
reason I do not believe that the entire Brisbane Lions team approached their
media department about joining the Twitter world. I am sure it is a strategic
PR move and one that I believe has been growing with some success for the
sports world.
With any successes come controversy or failures and these
controversies have stirred social media policies across the nation,
particularly for the AFL. Gary Ablett, captain of the Gold Coast Suns has
become notorious for his off field commentary of both players and umpires. The
following Tweet created quite a stir and as I was both watching the game and
browsing Twitter, I was involved instantly and had to agree wholeheartedly with
his comments.
GaryAblettJnr Gary Ablett Jnr
Crowley is a joke!
Play the ball, not the man! That's why lingy was such a great player he ran
both ways! #givejuddafreekick
The controversy here is really if as a professional AFL
player, indeed one of the games greats and captain, should be providing commentary
or if it is deemed unethical. For a player like Gary Ablett who holds so much
credibility and respect between both players, coaches, umpires and fans, his
influence on public opinion is extremely great and therefore his comments on
Twittercan impact on both the reputation of the game as well as his team. I do
not believe in silencing him or anybody else on social networking sites
however, players must understand their influence.
And let’s be honest, Crowley was being crap and NOBODY puts
Judd in the corner!
It is no doubt that AFL clubs have cottoned on to the
success Twitter can bring to connecting with their fan base and it has been a
highly strategic move that the clubs have capitalised on. Not only does a
retweet or connection foster an emotional connection between players and fans,
but their interactions between other AFL players or public figures involves
their fans as well.
Quade Cooper is by far the best example of using Twitter to
connect with his fans, although at times he is presented with highly
inappropriate messages, he deals with them non-provocatively and
professionally.
A quick side note to some girls, tweeting Quade Cooper that you had a
highly sexualised dream about him probably WON’T end in him falling in love
with you or whatever else you intend from sending him that so probably leave
those thoughts to your internal monologue and make his life less awkward.
A great example of his use of Twitter to connect with his
fans was the recent death of his gold fish – hurt by the death of his fish and
wanting to pay homage to its short life, he wore black tape on his arm as a
tribute in his game that weekend. The next day talking about the match,
somebody asked why Quade was wearing his arm band – not only could I tell the
group why he was wearing it but I also told them WHY his fish was called Mofo
and its type. I have never met Quade before but by simply following him on
Twitter there is an immediate familiarity and the rest of the group of people
were left impressed that I would know those intimate details about his life.
Twitter is a great PR tool for professional sportsmen and
women, however, I am sure each club across the country has an extensive social
media handbook given to players, and if not they are off their prawn. Social
media, particularly Twitter, has the ability to create a crisis in less than 120
characters, and for AFL clubs whose reputations have been carefully and
meticulously built up for over 100 years this is a great concern. Overall I
think that players are doing an excellent job in using Twitter to create an
online profile and show their personality to their dedicated fans.
Who do you follow on Twitter and how do they connect with
you?
Some of my favourite sports Tweeters are;
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