That is my social media buddy Jim Long in the photo above. As a cameraman for NBC news in Washington DC who covers the White House, he has got to have one of the coolest jobs in the world. He also goes on press junkets all over the world covering the First Lady, Hillary Clinton and others.
And he is very active on social media.
One of the things I love about Jim is all the “behind the scenes” photos he shares on Twitter and Google+. One of his recent photo galleries can be found here. Almost every morning, he “greets” me by posting a photo of the sunrise over the White House or a Foursquare check-in at his favorite coffee place or just a quip about life in general. It almost always makes me smile and makes me feel like I am standing right there with him.
I think he enjoys his job even more because he knows how much his fans out here appreciate him sharing the unique behind-the-scenes view he has. I think he even spends a good part of his day dreaming up new ways he can entertain us out here, which makes his job even more fun. Like putting on a tournament year after year, tedium can creep into any job. Looking for ways to make the work interesting keeps it fresh and new every day.
Our advice: People love to see how things work! If you are wondering how you can use your Facebook page, twitter account or Google+ account to enhance your tournament, look no further than what you are doing day-to-day. Show your guest teams, sponsors and coaches what you do each day to pull the tournament together.
Carry a smart phone and Flip camera with you wherever you go. When you visit a local restaurant or shop that sponsors your soccer tournament, check in on Foursquare and give them a shout out. Mention their sponsorship and your tournament name. The photos and tweets you share could be as banal as saying you are getting coffee or as serious as showing you on the phone with a soccer coach working out a complex scheduling problem.
Showing the process behind the scenes invites your guest teams in, but it also shows them how much work goes into putting on a great event. Your sponsors and advertisers will appreciate their contributions more, especially the additional subtle exposure you are giving them.
PHOTO: Jim Long, used by permission. He blogs at Verge New Media.