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Looking for advice on selling to sports centres and sports venues

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FinanceBizWiz

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Aug 9, 2018
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Hi guys,

I'm looking for people's advice, ideas and suggestions for selling to sports centres and sports venues.

I have an app that sports players will be using for their team management and part of the app is going to be an area (a bit like a directory) for sports centres and sports venues to list their business and sports offering on. There is going to be a minimal fee paid per annum for being on the platform. The charge is so minimal that I'm hoping will make most sports centres give it a try at least but also too little for it to be worth travelling to each venue and talking to the manager and persuading them that way.

I am familiar with most online advertising methods but not sure if this is the correct approach to take as a 'sports centre or sports venue manager or decision maker' might be hard to target? I am thinking of an email marketing approach but unsure if this will be effective.

I would be open to any advice and or suggestions that anyone can give about obtaining sales form a customer base like the...

Thank you.
 
What’s your USP?

What makes your app different to the dozens of existing products? Even the local youth rugby team already uses an app to manage the players, fixtures, training and everything else.
 
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fisicx said:
What’s your USP?

What makes your app different to the dozens of existing products? Even the local youth rugby team already uses an app to manage the players, fixtures, training and everything else.
Click to expand...
How does the USP or if your local rugby club uses an app determine the best method marketing to the sports clubs or venues?
 
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Because you need to approach them with a reason so switch from their existing software.

Just about all clubs and venues will already be using an app of some sort. Your job is to show then why yours is better. You can do this with a visit, email, advert, cold call or anything else. Unless you you have something quite stuning to offer all of your marketing will be a waste of time.

And even if you do get them interested, the first thing they will want to know is can you migrate everything from their current solution to the new app. I know this because I was part of a project in Germany that had an sports app.
 
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fisicx said:
Because you need to approach them with a reason so switch from their existing software.

Just about all clubs and venues will already be using an app of some sort. Your job is to show then why yours is better. You can do this with a visit, email, advert, cold call or anything else. Unless you you have something quite stuning to offer all of your marketing will be a waste of time.

And even if you do get them interested, the first thing they will want to know is can you migrate everything from their current solution to the new app. I know this because I was part of a project in Germany that had an sports app.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response. I’m sorry, I’m not sure I explained it well enough from the off... The app isn’t for the sports clubs or sports venues, the users are the players. Not players of a sports club as such but more for casual sports players such as recreational games organised by a group. For example a group of people who hire a football pitch and play football or a group of people who hire a sports hall and play badminton. The sports clubs just pay to list on the app within the directory area. As there are sports players using the app the sports clubs are exposed to the app users and likely to book a facility etc.

I am not trying to convert the sports clubs to use the app as a software or anything like that. I’m also not trying to get them to make a switch of any kind. There is software and apps around where players can books pitches and courts which may have a slight similarity but it is not the same and no reason to ‘switch’ as such as they would just be gaining more exposure for their business.
 
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FinanceBizWiz said:
The app isn’t for the sports clubs or sports venues, the users are the players. Not players of a sports club as such but more for casual sports players such as recreational games organised by a group.
Click to expand...
OK. So you have three issues:
1. Selling the idea to sports clubs
2. Marketing the app to players
3. Convincing players your app is better than Google for finding a pitch.

All three are going to be very hard. Marketing to sports clubs and venues isn't easy - they are inundated with offers - and they won't be interested in paying for a listing.

Players already know the local venues and search engines, social media and local networking sites make it easy to find places to play.

So while your app may be useful I doubt it's ever going get much traction - there is just way too much competition.

I'd begin locally. Add all the local venues yourself then contact all the local teams and offer the app. Don't even think about monetising until you know the idea has legs.
 
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It is chicken and egg. Why would sports players download your app unless it has a comprehensive list of venues and why would venues pay for a listing unless your app has thousands of users?

I'd suggest that you load the details of as many venues as you can in order to built up a user base at which point you can consider charging for services such as enhanced listings.

Otherwise, I think you'll fall down at the first hurdle when a venue asks how many active users will see the listing you are requesting payment for.
 
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mattk said:
It is chicken and egg. Why would sports players download your app unless it has a comprehensive list of venues and why would venues pay for a listing unless your app has thousands of users?
Click to expand...

Because the app has other features that make the app appealing for the sports players. Features that are primary and secondary to the list of venues. The venues would pay a very minimal fee for listing as users will be primarily on the app using the other features but for a very small fee would be exposed to those users.

Although very kind for people to give their views and opinions on their thoughts and views of if it will work or not (even though they are unaware of the full business model), only 1 person has actually answered the original question I created this post for.
 
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FinanceBizWiz said:
Because the app has other features that make the app appealing for the sports players. Features that are primary and secondary to the list of venues. The venues would pay a very minimal fee for listing as users will be primarily on the app using the other features but for a very small fee would be exposed to those users.

Although very kind for people to give their views and opinions on their thoughts and views of if it will work or not (even though they are unaware of the full business model), only 1 person has actually answered the original question I created this post for.
Click to expand...

great - however the clubs and facilities will ask how paying you money improves their profit.
so far you do not appear to be selling them anything in return for their money. presumably before being listed in your app they get people using their facilities. including the people who would for whatever reason download your app,

what are you offering extra to what is already available/
 
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Tell us more about the app and we can suggests ways to market the thing.

At the moment you don’t appear to have anything players or venues either want or need. And forget about monetising the app, that’s just not going to happen.

It’s like you saying you have a sports widget you want to sell but then not telling us what sport it’s used for.
 
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Most sports centers are part of larger groups, eg local authorities, so target those first. That way you're "selling" to 50 - 100 centres at a time, not just one.

Pick up the phone and talk to people, in the time you spent writing your posts you could have called David Lloyd, Virgin Active and your local council.

But they won't spend any money without you having a user base so get that first then they'll start calling you.

If your app was used by 1m amateur footballers each week, they will be queuing at your door. If you've got 50 users, no one wants to be listed, even if its free.
 
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