Whether you’ve been to a dozen NFL games or just one, you know how memorable it can be to attend a match-up in person.
In the Digital Age, people yearn for ways to share their experiences with others via social networking websites, text messages and mobile photos. NFL CIO Michelle McKenna-Doyle knows this, and she’s making a valiant effort to transform the sharing process – at least within league boundaries.
Recently, McKenna-Doyle spoke to CIO Magazine about her strategy to simplify social networking for people who visit stadiums for games. McKenna-Doyle noted a new partnership with Extreme Networks, a Wi-Fi service company, which will help facilities offer Wi-Fi connectivity to fans who want to discuss their experiences via mobile devices.
“Nothing can replace the immersive experience to be surrounded by fans,” McKenna-Doyle told the magazine. “But the at-home experience has continued to get better and better and couch-gating has become very popular.”
In turn, McKenna-Doyle wants to make sure that people who are actually in attendance have a way to reach out to fans who don’t have tickets to the big game.
Getting the word out
Just because you aren’t the CIO of the NFL doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be trying to get people to talk about your company. Social media has become a platform for sports leagues, health insurance companies and everything in between.
The question is how can you get people to spread the word about what you’re sharing? Social networking is somewhat of an art, whether you’re trying to appeal to a stadium full of fans or a different target audience.
Take your own staff, for example – how can you get them to share your company’s posts on social sites? As the CIO, you have the opportunity to get the wheels turning by offering accessible Wi-Fi throughout the office. Offering your employees mobile devices such as tablets to stay connected socially can also help your initiative.
Establishing a foundation for social sharing is key as you look to propel your insurance company into the Digital Age.
Before the next kickoff you watch, consider your own sharing habits – will you be tweeting about the game? Are you going to text your friends? Observing your own behavior can give you a better idea of how to fuse mobile technology with your social networking strategy in the workplace.
