Following the huge success of our recent whitepaper on How To Maximise Your Football Clubs’ Fan Engagement With CRM we continue to explore the vital role of CRM in football. Football is more than just the game, it’s about the fans. Clubs are global brands, managing millions of fan relationships, and CRM systems are key to unlocking their potential. In our whitepaper, we explore how technology can enhance supporter engagement, create exceptional match-day experiences, and maximise revenue streams.
However, the impact of CRM systems extends far beyond just one sport. In this blog, we’ll explore how CRM technology is reshaping fan engagement and driving revenue across a variety of sports, from basketball to tennis, and beyond.
Building Fan Loyalty Through Data-Driven Engagement
Building loyal fans goes beyond the match day experience. By using data, clubs can really get to know their supporters with what they like, how they engage, and what matters most to them.
For instance, it could be that after buying tickets, a fan gets a follow-up email with personalised content such as match highlights, interviews of their favourite players, or exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. This frequent interaction converts casual fans into more loyal ones by keeping them engaged beyond the game.
A great example of this is ACFC’s strategy of leveraging the power of HubSpot CRM to deepen relationships with its diverse and growing community. By gaining access to all that data, ACFC is equipped to enhance how it interacts with fans, sponsors, and stakeholders. The CRM platform’s capabilities enable the club to streamline marketing and sales operations.
WeDoCRM’s tip: Invest in predictive analytics. By understanding the trends in fan behaviour, you can know what fans want before they do, and make the fan experience seamless and more exciting, the options are endless with data at the core of it all.
CRM Tech and Match-Day Experiences
Matchday – the thrill, the excitement, the roar of the crowd! But what if we told you CRM technology could turn that excitement up to 11? From personalised ticketing to in-stadium engagement, CRM allows clubs to enhance the fan experience in ways that were previously unimaginable!
Imagine getting a personalised reminder about your upcoming match, tailored just for you. Maybe a 10% off voucher to your favourite merchandise shop or a VIP experience in the stands? I takes all your fan data and turns it into a match-day experience that doesn’t just stop at the final whistle.
CRM for Football Clubs: No Matter Your Size or Budget
CRM isn’t just for the big leagues; it can be used with smaller clubs and even local football teams too. Whether you’re battling it out at the bottom of the league or trying to grow your fanbase, CRM can be the tool that helps you stand out and compete.
Of course, the game is the focus, but let’s talk about money for a minute. CRM isn’t just about sending irrelevant emails and texts to fans, it has to be strategic.
Have you ever thought about offering exclusive merchandise to fans who attend every match? Or what about sending a discount to those who’ve been to three games this season but haven’t bought that scarf yet? That’s the power of CRM (and we love it) turning every fan interaction into an opportunity to grow your revenue. And yes, it’s all about the ROI, the bigger sponsorship deals, higher ticket sales and more merchandise moving off the shelves.
Expanding CRM Strategies to Other Sports:
It’s not just about football either, take the Salesforce and Formula 1 partnership. Their innovative 5-year collaboration aimed to revolutionise fan engagement while driving sustainability.
Major League Baseball (MLB) has integrated CRM systems with Ticketmaster to improve ticket sales and enhance fan experiences. By analysing purchasing data and fan preferences, MLB can offer personalised promotions, discounts, and targeted communications, ensuring fans receive the most relevant offers. They are revolutionising fan personalisation!
The National Football League (NFL) partnered with Salesforce to enhance its fan engagement efforts through personalised experiences and improved data analytics. They are a prime example of how a business has adopted CRM, artificial intelligence and data analytics in numerous ways to enhance fan engagement, improve player health, and boost the game’s business.
New Zealand Rugby adopted CRM technology in partnership with SAP to improve fan engagement and streamline its operations. SAP has the expertise, solutions and scale necessary to create a more efficient, connected, and innovative technology infrastructure for NZR.
It’s a clear demonstration of how vital CRM technology has become for achieving commercial success across the sports industry.
Make CRM Work for Your Club
It’s not just football that can benefit from CRM, other sports are jumping on the bandwagon too! Whether it’s rugby, basketball, or even tennis, CRM strategies are flexible enough to work across various sports. Whether you’re a local club or a global brand, the principles of CRM remain the same: understand your fans, engage them personally, and turn relationships into revenue.
Also don’t forget the power of loyalty programmes. A CRM system allows you to reward fans for their engagement.
WeDoCRM’s Tip: We recommend a point-based rewards system, a discount on future tickets, or VIP access to events. All these things can really drive fan loyalty and generate more of that revenue!
Why Our Insourced CRM Services Are a Smart Play for Football Clubs
While some clubs may choose to manage their CRM systems in-house, using a CRM agency (like ours) can be a smart and cost-effective choice for many (and we’re not just saying that!) At WeDoCRM, we offer specialised, insourced CRM services that allow all industries to leverage our expertise, save costs, and scale their CRM strategies as needed. You can see our success stories where we have done just that for brands like GoHenry, MoneySuperMarket, Volvo and many more.
With our insourced services, you gain access to experienced CRM professionals who know how to drive results. We handle everything from data analysis to campaign optimisation, ensuring you get the most out of their CRM systems while you get to concentrate on strategies to win those matches! This not only saves on staffing and training costs but also provides the flexibility to scale CRM efforts as the club grows.
Take your CRM Strategy to The Next Level
We believe that the beauty of CRM is that it’s not just about today; it’s about building for the future. So are you ready to take your CRM strategy to the next level? Get in touch with us today, we’re here to ensure your success.
Want to learn more about why CRM is the future of football engagement? Download our CRM Football Whitepaper here.
