NBA Best Practices: San Antonio Spurs and the Facebook Camera Set Up

When fans come back from a big game, there are two things that feel like they are always part of the next day: 1) tell our friends we were there and 2) post pictures of our experience on Facebook.

But how can teams help this behavior? How can they take this as inspiration and create something that a fan couldn't do on their own?

The San Antonio Spurs introduce their version of the uber-camera, the Gigapan...

The journey starts on the Spurs home page, shown below. You'll see a headline asking fans who attended Game 1 of their first-round series vs Memphis to click in. (Naturally, not the main story today)

Clicking in takes us here, to the Spurs vs Grizzlies Gigapan. (Yes, what a cool name...) This camera gives fans access to navigate to the section of the arena they sat in (or any section) and explore the stadium at a moment in time...

But, more than that, as you can see below, they ask fans to Tag Themselves on Facebook. Basically they are asking you to go in, find yourself, and then raise your hand digitally -- claiming yourself. This effect will then allow fans to share with their networks, telling all their friends they were at the game, and showing them the energy they were a part of...



And, when your friends visit this image (see below), they can hover over any of the "+" signs, and see the Facebook profiles of the fans at the game. (You can even click on to view that fan's profile, if you want!)



I'll zoom in to give you a sense for the power of the camera... Pretty cool stuff!

So what does all this mean? Fans are given a picture of the arena during the big game and the ability to share that "they were there" with their friends. Really cool, takes advantage of what fans want to do, but (like everything) it could get better!

How could this be better? This is a fantastic starting point. But there is a big question that we need to think about: Why would a fan (or their network) return to this experience a 2nd time? That first time it's cool to see what we look like and feel a part of the energy. But to get us back again, we need something that's evolving. What if fans could upload pictures of their POV -- allowing you to see the game from their perspective? Or, on a simpler level, what if fans were encouraged to have a Spurs profile picture -- since it's going to be visible on this map. Prizes go to the best profile... and these profiles are, naturally, visible to the networks of each fan.

That wraps the 30 teams in the NBA.

We're taking a week off, then we'll be back -- shifting gears to the Australian Rules Football League. Lots of learnings on how to use digital & social media from across the globe.

Watch out!

And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Chicago Bulls Give Us a Twitter Roster

Is it possible to transform a list of who to follow on Twitter into something more? Something more personal. I hadn't come across anything that really accomplished this. But then I hit the Chicago Bulls presence.

Let's go.

Hit the Bulls home page and click on the Twitter icon in the upper right-hand corner.

This takes you here, to what I'd call the Roster of the Chicago Bulls on Twitter. As you can see in this image, it feels much more personal due to the arrangement. It's a roster, but it's also a list.

You'll also note that the Media is presented in the same fashion, offering you easy access to the official ways of connecting around the squad in Twitter.

Finally, there's life -- the latest Bulls Tweet is pulled in at the top. And it's super easy to share this page via Twitter or Facebook via the share buttons in the upper right-hand corner of the page.

How could this be better? The roster layout is fantastic. But what if we finished the job. Put their number and their position into this layout. Then let us see the latest tweet from each player pop into the top frame, where we have the Bulls Tweet -- giving us a dynamic page that feels personal and authentic.

Come back tomorrow for our final round of best practices from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: LA Lakers Use Real-Time, Authentic Photography to Power Facebook

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Makes me wonder what an amazing picture at the right time that hits your emotion is worth?

The Los Angeles Lakers recognize this and take their photography serious.

You can grasp this from one glance at the Lakers Facebook page, shown below or here. You'll note the imagery that pops within each post. The beauty of this, of course is that this imagery will also pop inside your news feed alongside those images of your favorite niece or your friends' vacation, if you are one of the roughly 8M fans to follow them.

I'll zoom in on a particular post, moments after the Lakers clinched the first round over the Hornets. It's celebratory, and timely (exactly at 0:00, right?) And, naturally, it is set up to easily share -- as thousands have done.

But click in, here, and check out the beauty that is this image. Amazing stuff!

How could this be better? I love the image, love the treatment, love the style of posting. Now the challenge is how can you encourage fans to use this for good. (for themselves) To spread Lakers visuals onto their identity inside social? I'd love to see this image quickly available for setting as your profile picture, your Twitter skin, your YouTube skin, or your mobile wallpaper. It's the same image, the same timeliness -- just let people take it with them!

Come back tomorrow for another round of best practices from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Miami Heat Kill it with Twitter Emotion

Can you really convey emotion via Twitter? I mean, it's all about short, succinct conversations right. I even heard the analogy that Twitter is where you know no one and talk to everyone while Facebook is the place you know everyone and talk to no one. If you don't know anyone, can you be emotional?

Enter the Miami Heat.

Start on their Twitter page and take a peak.

Now, scroll down the page to the height of Playoff basketball. The image below says it all.

The Heat are using Hashtags to convey emotion. Repeatedly. And you can't help but want to join in, right? I mean, the difference between "lead the Sixers 77-71" and "lead the Sixers 77-71. #LETSGOHEAT #LETSGOHEAT #LETSGOHEAT #LETSGOHEAT" is hard to put into words.

It's as if the team is there, with you, watching the action. And if you're a fan checking your Twitter feed in game - from the arena or the living room, that's exactly what you want to feel.

So, how could this be better? (Besides more of it) Tough. I'd love to see more personality. Take this as a starting point and add emotion to the start of the Tweet. Something in the zone of "Need a stop here. We got this. #LETSGOHEAT #LETSGOHEAT #LETSGOHEAT #LETSGOHEAT" If we took that entire post and pumped it full of emotion, then played this out over a game (or a season), wow.

Come back tomorrow for another round of best practices from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: The Dallas Mavericks Let You Email A Player?!

I love best practices.

But it's not often that I come across a practice so simple, yet so powerful that I almost can't type fast enough.... until today.

The Dallas Mavericks have long been innovators in being approachable as an organization. Owner Mark Cuban is a heavy blogger, and is very integrated into their experience online -- both via his blog (here) and via interactive games to "Beat up on Mark Cuban inside Facebook Battle Ball" (shown below).

It's that approachability that allows the Dallas brand to grow, and that makes fans nationwide feel more connected to the team. Well done.

But for all the tech innovation around the team, it's one of the most simple tactics that drew my attention. How do most people reach out to their family members or friends to wish them luck? By email.

And Dallas makes it possible to email a player.

Let that soak in...

Hit the Mavs home page and hover over "Interactive".

Now, Click on "Email a Player", which takes you here. The instructions (shown below) are simple: "Would you like to send your favorite Mavs player a message? If so, here's your chance. Just click here and send a note to one of the Mavs. We print out the email and put it in the player's mailbox.

Unfortunately, the "Here" to click on wasn't working for me, but the idea is magnificent.

But, now, how could this be better? First, I'd love to see this through an environmental lens. Rather than physically printing out each email, could the Mavs provide each player with a smartphone that pulls in email from their fans. (Filtered of course) That way the player gets support everywhere, home or road - across seasons and across good times + bad. It would also enable the player to be available for a chat from this device on occasion, through the season.

Then, what if the experience went deeper? What if the latest comments from fans pumped into the player's locker? The second he comes in to get ready, he has the ability to see that fans are with him. Feels like it could become a techy but uplifting system -- which fits the Mavs brand well.

This is all about delivering an experience that a fan can't do on their own -- I can make a sign for a player, I can cheer, but I can't contact them in a personal way that is bigger than me. This potential is astounding!

Come back tomorrow for another round of best practices from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Boston Celtics Unite Their Fan Base with a Twitter #Hashtag

Do you struggle to get Twitter?

It's ok to admit it -- you're in a safe place here.

I was in the same boat, and maybe I still am in that boat -- trying to figure out how to best use the power it brings.

Check a few of these stats, via the Next Web:

• 1 Billion Tweets per week, worldwide
• Twitter posts are up 3X last year
• There are an average of 460,000 Twitter accounts opened each day
• Mobile use is up 182% over last year. Meaning people are addicted.

Goodness.

But what's that mean for us? In theory, this all sounds great -- Twitter is an easy way to unite people around topics. And to do so on topics that are timely and, well, spontaneous. But what's that mean for teams or in sports?

Today's best practice comes from the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics have found a way to unite their fan base around the chase for their 18th title, all via Twitter.

Hit the Celtics Twitter page (here), and shown below. You'll note the "It's All About 18" banner on the left-hand side.

But dive a little deeper into their posting style... As you can note below, the Celtics are using this hashtag consistently, around Playoff related posts. And they are asking fans to use the same hashtag.



Is it working? The best way to do this is to click onto the Hashtag, #AllAbout18, which I'll do for you here. Your first glance shows that 3 posts are Twitter Top Tweets!

But wait, is that good? What's a top tweet? According to Twitter, they've built an algorithm to tell which posts are the most re-tweeted or shared. And those surface in the moment as Top Tweets. They pop out of the stream with the Top Tweet badge -- getting you even more attention. (Read more here)

In short, the Celtics united a fan base around the Title Chase and they did it through a hashtag.

How could this be better? Consistent Emotion. There's so much emotion in the statement "AllAbout18". That emotion comes through loud and clear in their post "The Sweep is Complete." That's fantastic. But it doesn't connect as clearly in their post "It's 29-23 Celtics after the 1st." Both tweets are fine -- but the opportunity is to encourage fans not just to use this hashtag, but rather to use this hashtag wisely. To use it to express passion, emotion, hunger, and courage -- not just to report a score. They are onto something and I can't wait to see it evolve!

Come back next week as we lock down the final week of best practices from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Oklahoma City Thunder Tap Into Real Time Photography

What was the game like?

That's a question I'll often catch myself asking of a friend who went to a game I missed. And, if I'm the one who went to the game, I'm quick to want to share my experience.

Facebook has thrived by tapping into these experiences, making it easy for people to connect with friends in ways they want to do.

The Oklahoma City Thunder recognize this and feed the engine, via Facebook...

The journey begins on the OKC Thunder Facebook page (linked here, shown below). You'll note the images below, coming quickly after the Thunder's big road win in Game 3 of the 1st Round of this year's Playoffs...

Clicking in takes us here, to the album, appropriately entitled, "Thunder defeats Nuggets in Game 3. April 23, 2011"...

The images (check the one below) are emotional and fitting. The timing is instantaneous -- immediately after the game. And, naturally, this is set up for easy sharing to your friends.

Which is a lot of why this is fantastic. The game is going on and most of us can't be there. So the Thunder take this into account, posting the most captivating imagery they can into this stream, immediately after the game.

Scroll through your news feed and, in the same window of time where your friends are likely celebrating (or voicing frustration) on the game, the Thunder deliver the visual firepower you desire. They leverage their access to give you what you crave, when you crave it.

Well done.

How could this be better? I'd love to see a gallery post before each game. Give me shots of the team getting off the bus, getting taped, hitting the court for the first time, etc. It's access, but as a fan prepares emotionally for the game there's something amazing about realizing you are on the same (albeit also dramatically different) journey as the team. And, of course, those images hit your news feed, at the same time you are likely to voice your "Go Thunder" message... Timely and Authentic, plus it'd be delivered in the same style you would use to connect with a friend!

Come back tomorrow as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: How the Orlando Magic Give Tickets Away Through Facebook

How do you stay top of mind on Facebook? There's a fine balance between making sure you show up and overwhelming fans with your updates. And the key to being on the right side of that line? Offer value.

The Orlando Magic give us a great example to follow.

Hit the Orlando Magic Facebook page (here and below) and scroll down.

You'll see a series of posts under the header "Fan Fugitive." The Magic announced inside Facebook that they would be giving away tickets via Facebook and would do this by sending a person out with the tickets. If you follow the Magic on Facebook and you can decipher the clues, you could be headed to a Playoff game.

As you'll note below, the clues get more specific every 20-30 minutes...

First we know the location.

Then we know it's NOT someone in Magic gear.

Then we know it's a male.

Then in a red shirt...

Feeling the urgency yet? (I sure did!)

The idea is great -- because it starts with rewarding your fans with a chance to win tickets. And it gets better because the best chance to win is to keep checking back for updates -- which seem to come pretty regularly. And of course the payoff (Playoff tickets) are very, very high value to fans.

How could this be better? I like the chase, but would love to see a little more Magic love from fans. In other words, how can we take the idea (sequential updates for a prize) and make it something that only the Magic could pull off? The idea is something that any local organization with tickets could deliver -- and the Magic have a chance to tap not just into prizes but into emotion. What if the prize wasn't just tickets but also a chance at an experience (pregame access, press conference access, congratulations call from a player/coach, or even access to be the first one in the building?) None of these ideas "cost" anything but all are things that no one else in the world could deliver.

And that's the best value!

Come back tomorrow as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Denver Nuggets Use Facebook to Give Back

You can use Facebook growth for good.

Believe it or not, it is possible to give back to help you grow your social presence. Mind blowing!

I was incredibly impressed by this strategy brought to life in Denver. Hit the Denver Nuggets Facebook Page, shown below, and note the callouts on the left hand side of the page.

Click on Give Back, which takes you to the image below... Step one: LIKE the Nuggets to help them reach a goal of donating $175,000 for youth sports programs. OK, cool. I did this...

... which revealed the image below. Now if I share this, they donate $5 to the cause. I'm not sure if they donate $500 if I share it to 100 people, but you get the idea -- if you are willing to help them grow, they will help out the world.

Pretty cool strategy, and one that I've never come across before!

How could this be better? When I did what they asked and "LIKED" the squad, the message below hits my Facebook feed.

I like the Nuggets.

That's it.

Now, the opportunity exists for context. Instead of "Andy likes Denver Nuggets," what if it said "Andy likes Denver Nuggets. Click here to help us raise $175,000 for youth sports." (Or similar) The missing pieces (link to the experience and description of why you should visit) could be monstrous in helping the Nuggets grow this baby. The idea's so amazing that it just needs that final touch to go from good to wow.

Come back tomorrow as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Atlanta Hawks Introduce Playoffs Wallpapers

Playoff time!

Go to a game, you have to get a souvenir, right? Buy a program or a t shirt, or well something (I used to want the plastic cups, believe it or not). It's also why newspapers and magazines print special editions to commemorate this moment. But this vibe, this "have to have it" feeling exists even if you are not going to the arena. The best fans want to support their team heading into the playoffs... and they'll find value in whatever you can provide to enable this.

The Atlanta Hawks provide this value to you and show the door towards quite a bit of learning along the way. Let's roll...

The journey starts on the Atlanta Hawks Facebook page, shown below.

The first post you can see (hopefully) says this:

"Get ready for the 2011 Playoffs with the all new Atlanta Hawks wallpaper. This first batch features all three captains and offer options for your desktop and for your mobile device..."

Clicking in takes you to the wallpaper gallery, here.

See Al Horford's for yourself, here,

So the Hawks are giving you wallpapers with a special 2011 Playoffs logo (in the lower right-hand corner of the image)... and they are unveiling it inside Facebook, first. Plus, they say "first batch", which implies there will be other batches coming throughout the playoffs. And you can use these via desktop or mobile? Hot. Hot. Hot.

I feel like this is the start of a new model of thinking. Reward fans who are a part of each game with a visual takeaway.

How could this be better? What if every fan who went to the game could go and enter their ticket to get a limited edition download after that game? Perhaps it's from that game - commemorating the play of the game? It's could be stamped with your seat location and the matchup. And you could be encouraged to fan the Hawks on Facebook through the experience. Every game you went to would be a different visual, much like every game gets a different scorecard/game notes. And it ties the fan, emotionally, to the squad? That would be insane.

Come back tomorrow as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Portland Trail Blazers Let Fans Elevate the Player Roster

The players.

It's what makes fans identify with a team. Sometimes it's their flash, sometimes their heart, sometimes their skill. But how do you use the fact that fans identify with these individuals for the good of the team?

Let's travel to Portland and check out how the Trail Blazers handle this topic.

Hit the Trail Blazers site and hover over the TEAM menu.

From here, you can choose a player or instead, click on roster, which takes you here. Don't you love the title of a roster page as "Your Trail Blazers Team?" Fantastic. It's not our team, it's your team.

From here, visit a player page of your choosing. I'm picking Gerald Wallace's page, here.

As you can see, fans can make Gerald their favorite player, add him to their starting 5, or add him to their "huddle" It's a tiered system of love. Then, on the right hand side of the page, you can submit well-wishes for Gerald. And the Blazers in turn can elevate fan messages to hero status in this page, or in their community, I am a Trail Blazers Fan (here).

Pretty sweet.

How could this be better? OK so fans can choose a player as their favorite, in their top 5, or in their huddle (which could be all the guys I'd guess). What's that do for the fan? How could you make it valuable to name a player as your favorite? Could the Blazers open up chat sessions with the players and only those fans who named them their favorite? Could make the start of a sweet Social Media day!

Further, how could we make this more social? I'd love to see Gerald Wallace's Facebook wall pump in here -- making it easy for fans to connect between the Blazers Fan site and Facebook. And for this page to stoke the conversation on Facebook.

But all that said, we have a system for fans to celebrate their players and to amplify the player roster like I haven't seen in any other place. Well done!

Come back next week as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: New Orleans Hornets Tap into Local Pride

Your team is part of your city's identity.

Take a minute to let that sink in.

It's why sports success can have such an uplifting effect on a city. The better a team does, the more economic impact, the more prestige, the more united a city can feel. If you're lucky enough to have lived in a city that wins a title, you've felt this. But we as teams don't often take note of this.

Enter the New Orleans Hornets.

I hit the Hornets home page and noted the multiple callouts for "I'm In." It's on the top, it's in the middle, it's on the bottom. Takeaway? It's important.

So, if it's important to a squad, I want to take a look. Clicking in takes you here, to the unofficial home of "I'm In."

So what's here? And said differently, why am I hyped? Simple... You have the Mayor involved. You have a mix of athletes (Drew Brees), fans, politicians (even the Governor of Louisiana), fans, and mascots here. The message? It's not about buying a season ticket. It's about uniting a region together.

Let's keep peaking around here.

You can support buy downloading a wallpaper, adding a button to your Facebook page (get that here), or you can buy season tickets. The Hornets have made it easy to be a part of the team, and they have made the team about more than what happens on the court. Super cool stuff here.

But I can't stop thinking about what this means, beyond this. This feels like a starting point, not a completed mission.

How could we make this better?

First, from an awareness standpoint, could we take the idea of buttons and make them into physical expressions of support? (Yard signs/bumper stickers for those who are all in?)

Then, this idea's so hot that it feels like there should be physical extensions for supporting the region. For being "All In." Yes, this is a digital site, but the best digital goes beyond digital -- and what I'm after here is access/experience. Is there a way to provide access to community give back events only for those individuals? Let those fans submit ideas for impacting the community and then unite everyone to support the best ideas? For example, join the Governor or Drew Brees or the Mayor in reading at schools, or in cleaning up neighborhoods, or in volunteering? Don't get hung up in the specific idea, the concept is how can we make the people who are ALL IN leaders in the community, socially and physically.

Come back tomorrow as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Philadelphia 76ers Put Their Schedule on Your Desktop

We're in a world where it's tough to keep track of all that's going on. Appointments, classes, tests, and well meetings. If you aren't careful, you'll miss the fact that a game's going on. (Or a few games). So how do we stay top of mind?

I'm impressed with how the Philadelphia 76ers approach this challenge.

Hit the 76ers home page and hover over "Interactive".

From there, you'll spot the "Wallpapers" menu, which takes us here - to a gallery of options for all devices (including iPhone & iPad) and players (from Brand to Iguodala)... I love this for many reasons. Naturally, I love that you have a choice. It's not just a Sixers wallpaper but rather your Sixers wallpaper. I also dig that it's easy to navigate to your device's size. But, most of all, I love that the team schedules are artistically included in each image!



I'll zoom into one example, for Andre Iguodala (here). Note we get a combination of a sick image (the kind you want on your desktop) and the 76ers schedule. This isn't a schedule wallpaper... but it is.

Hot.

So, How could this be better? I'd love to see this go beyond Wallpaper for devices and see it become Facebook profile pictures & Twitter wallpapers. (Places many fans will go day in and day out). And, secondly, what if this was more than a schedule of games? What if it included Easter eggs? (Moments in the year where only those fans who have this wallpaper could experience?) It'd be the 76ers' way of rewarding fans who take the club and make it their identity! I feel the 76ers are onto something here -- and now it's a chance to go deep and create an experience!

Food for thought...

Come back tomorrow as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Memphis Grizzlies Show Pure Emotion in Facebook & Twitter

Postseason!!!

That's the key goal for most teams - no matter your sport, no matter your level. And it's the best time because it is the time when the players, coaches, and fans are the most emotional. The most passionate. The most hanging on every word you say (or don't say).

But how do you announce this without coming across wrong? How do you keep the right tone in what you do? And how do you create emotion that fans rally behind?

Enter the Memphis Grizzlies and their moment of clinching a playoff bid. It's a master class in using social media well!

Let's take a look. First, on the Memphis Facebook page (here). As you'll see, there's an emotional picture and a simple headline... "I think this just about says it all..."

In case you want to get a full feel, here's that image. Wow. If I'm a Grizzlies fan, you'd better believe I'm digging this image! And the key here is it is quick, it feels spontaneous, and it isn't a 3 page article describing their likely opponents. It simply is of the moment. And I'm loving this!

Now, let's turn to Twitter. As you'll see on the Grizzlies Twitter page (here), the squad brings emotion in a succinct expression of the team. It's easy to retweet. It's easy to add comments (the brevity of this post lets fans easily add a bit to it), and it is full of emotion in three action-packed hashtags: #gogrizz, #believememphis, #playoffbound!

Think the fan base digs this? Take a look at the image below -- you'll get a glimpse (I couldn't screengrab the full list) of the fans who are Retweeting this message, immediately upon posting.

So, in short, Memphis puts on a clinic in using social for what it's best at -- shared quick comments in Twitter & powerful visuals in Facebook. Well done!

How could this be better? I'd love to see this emotion paired with a call to action. How can they get fans to participate? Can they encourage the use of #believememphis, for example? Can they get fans to post their own Playoff Bound images on Facebook or to share reasons they believe on Twitter? These aren't easy challenges to solve. But the question is simply how can they get fans to provide the same level of emotion into social that the team is pumping in?

Come back tomorrow as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: Indiana Pacers Read for Children

It's an opportunity for every team to connect better with the local community. And to do so in a way that builds the individual brands of your players and your team. But how can you do this in a way that works both in season and offseason?

The Indiana Pacers unveiled a program that is scheduled, leverages the full team, and gives back in a way that connects... Plus, they use digital to share this with the world.

Intrigued?

Hit the Pacers home page and scroll down to the bottom of the page. You'll see a tout for "Call a Pacer" where we'll turn our attention...

I'll zoom in to make it more clear:

Clicking in takes us here, to the announcement of how the Pacers will have their athletes as "featured readers" who will read a children's story for all to hear.

Interesting.

As they describe it, "Call-A-Pacer allows callers to listen to featured Pacers' players read part of a children's story... Fans can also visit their local library and receive an autographed photo of that week's featured player. It was created to encourage kids to read.

Love this inspiration.

But it isn't all the way there. How could this be better? First, I latched onto the word "part". I'd love to see that removed -- let's start with a complete children's story! Next, let's have the players involved in choosing the story. There's something connecting about hearing why you chose the one you did... And, most importantly, let's focus on the experience. Rather than ask fans to call a number to hear a reading, can we create an experience? I'd love to see this in two ways:

1. A physical experience where kids who have demonstrated they are reading can actually come to the library to listen to the story read, in person.
2. A digital experience in the form of a uStream session. Let fans tune in to watch the player read the story. Imagine the world where kids are climbing into bed and their hero reads them a story? Through technology, this can definitely happen. And it would bring the fan base (especially the youngest) a lot closer to the team.

In both cases, this is an illustration that there's value in face-to-face interaction... but I'm pumped to see this as a starting point!

Great inspiration here, for sure!!!

Come back Monday as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy

NBA Best Practices: How the Utah Jazz Are the Center of Info on the Utah Jazz

Who knows your team better than you?

That's a question with an obvious answer (no one) but one that we seldom see in practice. It's also the reason that insider blogs make a good amount of money -- because people are willing to pay for a good, impartial, unbiased view of their team. And to have that info before anyone else. And we, as teams, steer clear. We report the news but not always the story behind the news... and that is the opportunity. Don't let anyone scoop you - find a way to be the source of insight on your team. Embrace the opportunity.

The Utah Jazz are on this path.

Hit the Jazz home page and hover over Fan Zone.




Click on Utah Jazz 360, which takes you here, to the blogging home for the Jazz...




Now scroll down the page and you'll come here, to the center of the latest posts by Jazz insiders or fans on the squad.




It's the header, Bye Bye AK that got my attention. I clicked in. I really do love this post on Andrei Kirilenko selling his home (read it here, check photos here). But why do I love it?

Because this is territory seldom visited by teams. For one, it's a downer -- a player leaving your team isn't good conversation during the season (this went up in early April). But it is insight. And it does give the team a chance to put this in front of fans with their POV on the situation. Ironically the team posting this makes it feel less like a situation and more like an interesting aside.

Which led me to a series of questions. Could they become the home for speculation and discussion around the team? Around moves that have been made or should be? On decisions that were or were not made?

Interesting opportunity here.







How could this be better? I'd love to see a mission statement/title that owns this. Come here for the latest insight and news on the Jazz, the players, the coaches. Don't go anywhere else. Go here. If you can own this space (and with the inside position they have, they definitely can), this can be the home. Finally, there is opportunity to unite all Jazz Bloggers into this space as well -- meaning they can become the seal of approval for those passionate enough to write on the squad. And the level of insight on UtahJazz.com can go up, in a big way!

Come back tomorrow as we check out another best practice from the NBA. And as always, you can follow me on Twitter (I'm @pawlow34) or on Facebook (Digital Hoops Blast).

Thanks!

Andy