March Madness is more than just a basketball tournament; it’s a cultural phenomenon that captivates millions. For brands and sponsors, this presents a unique opportunity to engage with a passionate audience, boost sales, and elevate brand awareness. By leveraging the excitement of the tournament with well-crafted promotions, businesses can create a winning strategy.
Engage Customers On-Site with Geofencing
One of the most effective ways to capitalize on March Madness is by driving foot traffic to physical locations. Geofencing technology allows you to target customers within a specific radius of your bar, restaurant, or retail store. By requiring customers to be on-site to make picks in a bracket or other contest, businesses can boost in-person engagement and sales. This method not only draws fans in but also keeps them in your establishment longer, increasing potential revenue.
For example:
- Bars and restaurants can use geofencing to require customers to be on-site to participate in bracket contests.
- Offer a free drink or appetizer to everyone that picks the winner as a reward for visiting and staying in your establishment.
Event-Based Rebates: A High-Stakes Incentive
Create excitement with an event-based rebate promotion. Imagine the buzz if customers knew that if their local team made it to the final four, they could receive a rebate on their purchase during the tournament. This high-stakes incentive ties your brand’s success directly to the performance of a team, creating a memorable and engaging campaign.
For example, retailers or online stores could offer a rebate on all purchases made during the tournament if the local team reaches the final four. This type of promotion will generate conversation, earned media and attract new customers.
Digital Engagement: Brackets and Beyond
In today’s digital world, online engagement is key. The sources suggest several ways to engage customers online during March Madness:
- Online Bracket Prediction Contests: These are quick and easy to set up. Participants can register and complete brackets online, allowing for broad participation. Consider offering different prize levels such as gold, silver and bronze to fit your budget.
- Mobile App Integration: Add a March Madness bracket game to your existing mobile application to increase engagement and encourage downloads.
- Digital Gamification: Utilize text, email, or your website to activate basketball-themed games to drive engagement. Offer instant wins and prizes to create a fun and rewarding experience.
Custom In-Game March Madness Promotions
Stand out by running a custom March Madness bracket promotion with a life-changing prize. For example, consider the “Carmex $75,000 Half Court Shot”. This concept could be modified to a basketball themed promotion that fits your brand, and with prize coverage, a large prize can be offered without taking on the financial risk. Some other fun ideas include:
- Around the World: Randomly selected fans will have the chance to shoot five 3-pointers from five different locations around the key.
- Shot Sequence: Challenge fans to hit a lay-up, a free throw, a top-of-the-key and a half-court shot within 25 seconds.
Prize Coverage: Amplify Your Promotions
The key to offering large and attention-grabbing prizes is to use prize coverage. With prize coverage, brands and sponsors can offer prizes up to $100,000,000 for a low, fixed cost. This not only minimizes financial risk but also allows for more ambitious and memorable promotions. SCA is a trusted partner for this type of coverage.
By offering significant incentives and prizes, you can shape customer and fan behavior and create a buzz around your brand.
March Madness offers a powerful platform for brands and sponsors to connect with their audience, drive sales, and enhance brand visibility. By utilizing strategies such as geofencing, event-based rebates, digital engagement, and prize coverage, your business can make a slam dunk this March. By partnering with SCA Promotions, your business will be able to implement many creative and engaging promotional opportunities during the tournament.