Top 5 NFL Performers in Social Media

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers have perhaps the most formidable social media presence of any NFL team.  Maybe not in sheer number, but in interaction and creativity.  With over 3.6 million Facebook fans, 740k Instagram followers, and 718K Twitter followers the 49ers have their communities just like their defense … on lock.  They have the reach, the relevance, and the content that fans can’t get enough of.   You can track progress of their new stadium through a live feed and directly purchase tickets from their Facebook fan page.   They may not have the biggest overall Facebook fan page, but they make up for it by providing unique experiences for fans on many social media fronts.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys command 7.8 million Facebook fans and 881k Twitter followers, which is formidable for any team or brand.  The so called “America’s Team” have a special feature called Tailgate Nation community that does a good job bringing fans together both online and off.  Many contests and giveaways keep their massive community happy.

 New England Patriots

Patriot’s territory stretches from Connecticut to Maine, with some of the most diehard fans in the country.  The Patriots have almost 5.3 million Facebook fans and 913k Twitter followers, making the Pats formidable contenders.  They are heavily involved and engaged with their communities.  Their digital tailgate sponsored by Dunkin Donuts provides high engagement with their fans.  Community managers do a good job interacting and highlighting fans to truly make them feel like they are part of the Pats family.

Baltimore Ravens

With over 2 million fans on Facebook and 458k Twitter followers, what their social media presence lacks in size it makes up in intensity.  Through programs like The Ravens Rep Superfan, they provide users unique content which in turn they incentivize sharing by winning prizes.  This promotes brand exposure and opens them up to people that may not necessarily be into football.   This also amplifies their reach. When 1 million fans share and 10 people from each person’s community see the content, it is already multiplying into 10 million users consuming the content.  If the content is viral enough it may be amplified to further levels.  The social media of the Baltimore Ravens is almost like a tribe mentality in marketing.  A small group of passionate people that become brand advocates.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins fans are another example of a smaller community with a high level of passion. They command almost 1.7 million Facebook fans and 333k Twitter followers.  The team does cool things like having Google Hangouts with players and an alerts system set up to send the latest news and updates directly to a fan’s cell phone.  They do the basic things well also like utilizing branded hashtags, featuring fans on accounts, and communicating with fans.  Don’t let the Super Bowl drought of this team fool you, they have some of the most passionate and engaged fans on social media.  Using social media to stay in touch with fans and give them a personal experience really makes fans invest in the brand more.  They feel as though they are part of the team and that emotional connection is important in any company or brand.