Every spring, people around the world get excited to watch or participate in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, which is known as March Madness. This tournament consists of 68 college basketball teams that compete in a single elimination process that consists of seven rounds, which determines who the national champion is.
This tournament has been taking place since 1939 and continues to grow a larger audience every year. Due to the number of viewers that follow the tournament, March becomes a prime time for business owners to take marketing opportunities and brand deals to expand their company.
National Audience
March Madness is one of the biggest sports events that occurs in the United States and has an enormous national following, similar to the Super Bowl. The thing about these famous sports events is that the fans are extremely dedicated. These fans include a wide range of people, such as sports lovers, college students, families, and sports betters who all have a strong passion for the game.
The elimination process for this tournament is known to create suspense and unpredictable outcomes, which keep the audience consistently engaged during the whole month of March. As long as there is a large audience of fans that continues to watch the games, the more doors of opportunity open for sponsors, brand deals, and campaigns for businesses.
Committed Fans
March Madness isn’t just about the love for the game; it’s about the activities and traditions that are attached to it. Some popular activities that take place during this month are sports brackets. It’s a friendly competition where friends, coworkers, and families compete against each other to predict what teams will make it through to the championship. It’s an interactive way to bring people together outside of just watching the game. Sports betting is another activity that people like to take part in to compete with others and earn money in a fun way.
These dedicated fans make it an ideal time for companies big or small to advertise their content, fans will remember which brands were associated with the tournament. When the fans are deeply invested in watching, they are more willing to support them due to their connection to the game.
Marketing Opportunities
March is the best month to participate in different marketing opportunities. Businesses can be promoted through social media, campaigns, advertisements, or brand partnerships. These are all ways that you promote your business and gain a larger audience. The smart way to share your brand deals is by gearing it towards March Madness fans, and making content that shares the theme of basketball will create more sales faster.
Klaviyo states, “The tournament runs for just 3 weeks, and customer interest peaks and fades quickly as teams get eliminated. By the time you manually create custom images, build omnichannel campaigns, and segment your audience, the moment might already be gone.”
Make sure to be up to date on the games because this tournament is fast-paced and consistently changing, which can either be a good or bad thing. If you consistently post content and promote your business during March, you will gain a bigger audience. Just make sure to get in as much content as you can before the opportunity ends.
Media Attention
Everyone on social media during March is talking about what is going on in March Madness; it’s the hot topic of conversation for everyone. Besides social media, people speak about it on news platforms, podcasts, and sports networks because there is always something new to talk about with the daily tournaments occurring.
If you are an influencer on social media, March would be a great time to post some content related to basketball and the fans. It can be as simple as sharing a meal that you can cook for game day, specialized merch you can wear to the games, get ready with me videos explaining what team you support, or covering a local sports bar to watch the game with.
There are endless opportunities to get more attention through your social media platform this month. Be creative, think out of the box, and post consistently because you only have one month to build up your platform!
Final Thoughts
March is a month filled with new marketing opportunities, and March Madness will open up new doors of opportunity for your business. Creating sponsorships, advertisements, and content will push your business in the right direction to gain growth, a large audience, and new consumers. Stay on top of the tournament and remember to have fun while making content that relates to the madness of March!
FAQ
What businesses should market during March Madness?
All types of businesses should take the opportunity to market their brand during the month of March Madness. It doesn’t matter what kind of business you are, big or small!
How long is March Madness?
March Madness begins March 15 and continues until around April 4, lasting about one month.
Is there a certain team to advocate for?
It doesn’t matter what team you are in support of as long as they are still in the tournament. Generalized content about March Madness is better because it gives you more ideas to talk about, vs only focusing on one team.
