Local Marketing Preferred Partner
Earlier this year, we announced a new partnership with Hearst Media. Hearst will be our preferred partner for digital marketing services including Google pay-per click ads, paid social media advertising, and targeted display (programmatic) ads and more. The team met with several digital agencies, including some that were already being used by franchisees in our system. After reviewing the options and presenting the front runners to the Marketing Advisory Council, we feel confident in recommending Hearst as our preferred partner.
All franchise partners can take advantage of the corporate rates that SSF has negotiated. Along with the discounted management fees, this partnership also provides franchisees with a dashboard for reporting, ad tracking capabilities, and a monthly meeting with a customer performance manager. Franchisees can customize their audience and set their own goals. Hearst’s team will provide suggestions on spend and strategy. They will also be working with our national agency to share data and learnings. In using Hearst, you will have access to tracking on your website.
Hearst’s negotiated management fees are listed below. If you already have a contract with Hearst, they have agreed to edit the existing contracts to match these negotiated rates:
Google PPC: 20% management fee
Display (Programmatic): 30% management fee
Social Media Ads: 30% management fee
Many franchise partners have already seen success using Hearst’s services. As a reminder, this is an optional partner you can use for local marketing.
If you are interested, you can reach out to soccershotsadvertising@hearst.com to get started.
The Power of Localization in Social Media Marketing
Incorporating user-generated content (UGC) into your posts is an effective strategy for your social media efforts. Learn more by clicking the link below.
Meta 101: How to Make an Ad
Want to learn all about creating and managing Meta ads? Get a head start with our first instalment of Meta 101, featuring a complete how-to guide for navigating the ad creation process.
Click below to learn more.
Do You Need Your Logo in All Pieces of Content?
Discover this hot topic in social media creation and learn when to include logos or let your content shine on its own. Click below for a comprehensive guide to best practices.
How to Change Time Zones in SOCi
If you’ve had issues with content not posting at the time you selected, follow the directions in the guide below to make the appropriate updates to your SOCi account.
Analytics Dashboard
We know that visibility into Google Analytics has been asked for by many franchise partners. Due to Google’s restrictions of limited views, this has not been something we’ve been able to offer in the past. The team has worked with our national agency to build out custom views and are eager to share that you now have the option to purchase a dashboard that will provide you with Google Analytics for your local website.
This dashboard will show website traffic, bounce rates, page views & engagement, session duration, and more. We hope these analytics dashboards will provide franchise partners with more visibility into their local marketing efforts. These dashboards have been tested by the Marketing Advisory Council.
There is a one-time fee associated with each dashboard. This is a pass-through cost which goes directly to our agency partner to cover the cost of building the dashboards. SSF does not make anything from this fee. The cost is $500 for the first territory and $200 for each additional territory added to the dashboard.
For more information, check out the video below. The video will provide an overview of how to use these dashboards. Please reach out to marcomm@soccershots.com if you are interested.
Proper Online Branding & Usage
As a franchise system, it is important that we all utilize the same practices when it comes to using logos and brand colors correctly across all social media platforms. View this quick guide to reference these topics as approved by our brand guidelines.
TikTok Ban
The favorited app TikTok is currently under scrutiny by the U.S. government and is making its waves through the news. Check out the most up-to-date information about the potential TikTok ban in the U.S. and learn how you can navigate this probable change with your local marketing strategy.
Why I Coach Series
We want to showcase your amazing coaching staff on our corporate social media pages! Submit a video of your coaches for our Why I Coach series, explaining why they chose to coach for Soccer Shots.
Please keep the following in mind when creating your video:
Vertical, good quality video format
No editing - including text, filters, stickers, and music
Be in branded apparel/uniform
Film in a quiet area
Submit your videos to Cristen Metzger, Digital Marketing Manager, at cmetzger@soccershots.com
Portland Local Photoshoot
At the end of August, the Marketing team completed their first local photoshoot with the help of the team in Portland. Photos and videos can be found in SOCi under Social > Libraries > Portland – Local Photoshoot.
As a reminder, the goal of these local shoots is to get visuals from across the country. We are currently discussing next steps for continuing these local photoshoots in the future.
Taking Advantage of Website Capabilities
Our website reskin was designed to bring a fresh look, improved SEO and additional capabilities. Your new local pages were planned and designed with consumer habits in mind. Be sure to view the data map below to understand the capabilities you have to showcase your local business.
Recent Updates in Social Media Marketing
As a franchise system, it is important that we all utilize the same practices when it comes to using logos and brand colors correctly across all social media platforms. View this quick guide to reference these topics as approved by our brand guidelines.
An Uprise in Instagram Page Suspensions & How to Prevent Them
With the recent rise in suspended Instagram profiles, learn what warning signs to watch for and the preventative steps you can take now to secure your social media pages.
Peachjar: Community and School Outreach
Peachjar is a digital flyer management system designed to help parents search for activities in their schools and communities. The platform allows for organizations to upload flyers of their events, and parents can search for these flyers in “School” and “Community” sections.
Pricing is set by a per-school or school district basis. Visit the pricing page for more information.
Digital flyers can be personalized and downloaded off the Print Store by following All Products > Flyers. Flyer options include season promotions, enrollment, evergreen and more.
Flyers can also be found in Canva by following Projects > SS Templates > Digital Flyers. Contact your FBC for Canva login instructions.
SOCi Tools to Optimize Your Google My Business SEO
Make the most of your Google My Business SEO with the help of SOCi. Learn more about SOCi's simple yet effective tools available to you to help your listing appear toward the top of the search bar.
2024 Summer Olympics Playbook
The 2024 Summer Olympics kick off on July 24! Check out the Playbook below for ideas and assets to promote the Summer Olympics in your local territory.
Please reach out to Chris Cappella, Franchise Marketing Manager, at ccappella@soccershots.com with any questions.
2024 Back-to-School Playbook
With summer break winding down, it’s time to ramp up for back-to-school activities. Check out the Playbook below for some ideas on how to market this time in your local community.
Please reach out to Chris Cappella, Franchise Marketing Manager, at ccappella@soccershots.com with any questions.
National Coaches Day Playbook
National Coaches Day is approaching on Sunday, October 6. View the playbook below for ideas and assets to showcase your amazing coaches.
Please reach out to Chris Cappella, Franchise Marketing Manager, at ccappella@soccershots.com with any questions.
Trunk or Treat Materials
Materials to help you promote Trunk or Treat or Fall Fest events are available. You can find a poster, treat tags, email banner, and social graphics.
Please reach out to Chris Cappella, Franchise Marketing Manager, at ccappella@soccershots.com with any questions.
Evergreen Marketing Materials
Evergreen (generic) marketing materials are now available on the Print Store. You can find these assets under All Products > Evergreen. The following assets are available:
6x4 Postcard
8.5x5.5 Postcard
Flyer
Half Page Flyer
Posters (large & small sizes)
Variable message email banners
Canva Design Tips
Graphic design plays a crucial role in shaping a brand’s identity and conveying its message to the world. It’s more than just aesthetics; it’s about creating a visual language that resonates with your audience, communicates your values, and distinguishes you from competitors. To achieve this, understanding the fundamental principles of graphic design is essential. These principles serve as the foundation for effective design, ensuring that every element, from color choices to typography, aligns with your brand’s goals and speaks clearly to your audience. Without these core principles, a brand’s visual presence can become fragmented, confusing, and less impactful.
Each month, we’ll be highlighting a different graphic design principle. Click on the link to learn more.
On Brand
Check out the one-sheet below for tips on our next graphic design basic: creating an “on-brand” asset.
Click on the link to learn more.
Seasonal Holiday Marketing
As we enter into the holiday season, let’s discuss seasonal marketing, how our holiday policy comes into play, and how to navigate celebrating the holidays with your audience.
Now Available – Canva Design Tool for Soccer Shots Brand Approved Images
Canva is the top-leading graphic design website across the globe with tools to create great graphics for our Soccer Shots brand. We’re excited to provide you with access to the new Canva account created for the Soccer Shots community with brand templates and design elements to create eye-catching, brand-approved content as well as translation services. This Canva account has been tested by the Marketing Advisory Council.
To gain access to the account, reach out to your respective FBC team member to receive login credentials.