Superfans in sport are not as rare a sight as you may think. There’s always that one guy leading the chants, going to every game or being the life of the party in the stands. Do the teams benefit from their presence and activity?
The short answer is yes, although being a distinctive superfan can sometimes even bring trouble to those dedicated individuals. However, the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. If you want to learn why you should focus on your superfans and how to do it, we have some insight, as well as stories about the most famous superfans in the world.
Identifying Your Superfans
Not all teams have superfans like the New York Jets’ Fireman Ed or the Chicago Cubs’ superfan Ronnie Woo-Woo. While some superfans will be boisterous and impossible to miss, there are types of fans who buy their season tickets and don’t miss any matches, but might otherwise keep a lower profile. Even if no fans are sporting special accessories and leading the chants on your team’s games, that doesn’t mean you don’t have superfans.
For example, have a look at your social media — there are indeed fans who engage with your content, who always comment and facilitate discussion. People who regularly attend games are also easy to identify. They are your superfans, and rewarding them for their loyalty can be rewarding for your team, too.
Offering a Loyalty Program
Your fans aren’t supporting your team for the rewards it might bring, but it’s certainly a good incentive and a friendly approach to nurture loyalty. One way of doing that is through loyalty programs. If you can make it into a win-win situation — providing increased revenue for the team while making your superfans feel appreciated — then it can be one of the best things you can do for your team’s future.
Make sure that your loyalty program operates on a system that’s fair to all fans while giving the most significant rewards to those who are most loyal. Purchasing season tickets is always an excellent parameter to go by, but there are other things you might reward and even stimulate. For example, if you want better engagement on social media, all you have to do is figure out what a valuable reward for encouraging that may be.
Combining Loyalty Programs with Great Fan Experience
Ultimately, the most successful loyalty programs rely on more than offering incentives and rewards. When you manage to pair it up with providing the best fan experience out there, then you’ll know you’re on the right path.
Of course, there are different ways of accomplishing that. The most recent rising star and the future of fan experience is the team app. Most fans spend a lot of time on mobile devices, so provide them with an app that delivers the information they crave. Contextual prediction gaming that nurtures their competitiveness, along with trivia that’s entertaining, is one of the most valuable assets of any team.
With Fanisko Engage, you get a way to enhance your existing team app and provide your fans with the most engaging experience. It’s certainly something your superfans will appreciate, and it can help with your efforts to create a valuable loyalty program. For more information on our platform and its features, visit our website.