NBA Digital Disciple Series: 5 Learnings from the Golden State Warriors

30 teams. 7 weeks. 2 bloggers. 1 mission: to share our learnings of how NBA teams uniquely leverage digital tools to build fan community.

As students, or disciples of the game, we'll supply you with the doctrine - 5 takeaways per team - and then raise you one enhancement suggestion for each learning that's highlighted. (One way to make the great even greater)

Then, we'll wrap it up, pick a winner, and send you on your merry way to spread the gospel.

Cool?

Thus far, we've covered the NJ Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Our full schedule is available here.

Let's move.

Let's take a look at the digital connections made by the Golden State Warriors (link here, image below).



Here's 5 things to inspire you, along with a Plus One to make each better.

1. Weekly Facebook Video Show

I am a pretty big fan of the approach Golden State is taking inside Facebook. Their Page is home to over 38,000 Warriors fans (linked here). As you can see below, they air the program Warriors Weekly inside this fan community, right onto the main wall. The results, as the astute eye will also note, are powerful... post a video, 34 people like it and there's 42 comments. What that says is that the content is hitting the community in a way that is on point.

This is also fantastic due to it's viral potential. Posting the video up onto YouTube, then embedding it inside Facebook gives you easy access to your fans, and it makes it simple for them to spread the love. So many of us make it tough to share our features, and this is a nice example of success from simplicity.

Plus One. What is the schedule? I know it's a weekly program, but what's coming next week? Who are we going to hear from, and can we, the community, have a say in it? Can you flip the idea of a schedule and turn it into a planning session?

2. A Facebook YouTube Channel You Can Share

Sticking in the zone of Facebook, I was really impressed with this piece. As you'll note below, the impressive thing is the viral potential. Look to the box on the left hand side of this page (or click here if you can't see it).

Golden State has created a YouTube Channel, then they add a feed of your friends and ask you to simply check boxes and share this with them. In the spirit of making it easy, you don't get much better. Look at the channel, click a couple of boxes and you're off.

Plus One. Can you find a way to give me status in the Warriors community by spreading the word? It'd be powerful to see not just who is in the community, but who the people are who are actively informing others!

3. The Blog Squad

Blogging has come a long way, huh? It used to be a thing only the nerds did (hopefully that's not the case any more)! The Warriors have created quite a collection of experts (players, PR, Analysts, and Dancers) and put them under a fun sounding brand. It's all accessible here.

Plus One: How do you take the collection of experts and bring them together? So it isn't a series of links but rather a group (a team?) I think that's the challenge here. And I believe a moderator who guides us through the journey would be a big step.

4. Players Websites Here...

It's nice to see the squad elevating the websites of their players. And it's amazing to think of how many players in the league likely have their own sites now! This is easy to find, and it definitely signals to the players that the team has their back in bringing fans to them.

Plus One. These need to still be even more accessible. First, take these sites and add them to the player pages (see below) -- that would feel a natural place to tout their sites!

And, second, as you'll see from Stephen Curry's site, he has a nice widget that brings you everything from his blog to Twitter and more... and you can take it and share it anywhere. (So maybe the Warriors could also take it and share it on his page!)

5. Warrior Girl Central

Build access on what you have. As you can see below and linked here, the Warriors develop an inside community on their dance squad, Warrior Girls.

The site gives you access to bios, blogs, pictures and a video gallery of the team.


Plus One. Make it easy to share. Take the strategy that worked well for their weekly video show and implement it here. (YouTube + Facebook) It'll be easy to find and share with your friends.

That's all.

I hope you're enjoying this ride. Check out Peter Robert Casey tomorrow (here) as he takes on the Pistons (not personally but in his blog). And click here to follow me on Twitter.

Andy