For sports fans, “March Madness” is an excuse to watch a lot of college basketball that is full of upsets and excitement. For marketers, it represents an opportunity to capitalize on revenue opportunities. Some of the brands doing it best this year are:
Buffalo Wild Wings – This is a somewhat obvious brand that would join in on the fun, but I mention them because they are doing a really good job creating a multi-prong campaign. Timely and relevant commercials: Buffalo Wild Wing’s created their own #WingWisdom ads related to the NCAA Sweet 16, bandwagon fans, overtime and the finals. In-store promotions: When customers visit the restaurant, they can compete in games for a chance to win over 1,000 prizes including tickets to the Final Four. The menu is also promoting the four regions hosting tournament games by incorporating regional flavors.
NBA – Sometimes seen as a direct competitor for viewership, the NBA actually embraced the NCAA tournament by running ads this month. TV and digital campaign: Each ad features young and veteran NBA stars including James Harden, Paul Pierce, Tim Duncan and Russell Westbrook. The players are seen in action on the court and then after making a big play, it reverts them back to their college alma maters. Dick Vitale, former college basketball, NBA coach and current ESPN sportscaster is also featured.
Seasons Pizza – One of our favorite clients, Seasons Pizza, has also joined in the fun with a “Pizza Madness” campaign featuring a simply “mad” deal – a $5 Medium Cheese pizza during the entire NCAA tournament. Digital campaign: The $5 deal is being featured on the website, across social media, via email, digital and social ads. Real-time content, March Madness themed Tuesday trivia is being posted. A Photo Madness Giveaway was also created to encourage customers to post pics enjoying Seasons pizza during the tournament for a chance to win awesome prizes. What do you think?
Which brands have stood out to you during March Madness?
