March Madness email campaign tips, ideas & subject lines
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2024 5:14 am
Ever wondered why March Madness-themed emails flood your inbox every year?
This three-week US phenomenon features 68 college teams battling it out from noon till night. But it’s more than just basketball; it’s a social and cultural fest that marketers shouldn’t miss out on.
Many current NBA stars had their moments of glory as buy Phone Number List college basketball players during that tournament. That includes Stephen Curry, who led Davidson to an Elite Eight appearance, and Anthony Davis, who won the title with Kentucky.
Steph Curry with the Davidson Wildcats in 2009 (Source)
Steph Curry with the Davidson Wildcats in 2009 (Source)
Big names like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar competed in the NCAA and won tournaments before becoming NBA legends.
Michael Jordan during his college years – 1983 issue of The Sporting News magazine (Source)
The event is filled with excitement, fun, humor, and historical moments, giving fans insights into who could be the next top NBA draft pick.
It’s safe to say that Americans look forward to this event, and the numbers prove it. In 2023, 10 million viewers tuned in to the March Madness basketball tournament (Source).
How significant is this event for Marketers?
With millions of people watching this event, marketers invest a good amount of money in promotions and ads during the tournament. In 2019 alone, 910 million dollars were spent on national TV advertising.
Bar Chat showing National TV advertising spending during the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship (March Madness) from 2015 to 2019
Bar Chat showing National TV advertising spending during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship (March Madness) from 2015 to 2019
Also, according to data from Interpret, March Madness fans have a higher tolerance for ads than the general public, not to mention the huge amount of ads and user-generated content posted on social media during the event.
So, without further delay, here are the best tips and ideas for a successful March Madness email campaign.
Use trademarks and copyrighted terms cautiously
When creating an email campaign around March Madness, marketers should be cautious about using protected terms like:
March Madness
The Big Dance
NCAA
Final Four
Elite Eight
Sweet Sixteen
The NCAA trademarks these terms, and using them for promotions without permission could lead to legal issues. You don’t want to make it look like you’re officially linked or use these terms to boost your brand without the NCAA’s permission. The key? Get creative in talking about the tourney without stepping on trademark toes. Learn more about these trademarks on the NCAA’s official website.
Make the emails relevant to your target audience
March Madness ads and promos are usually about connecting with basketball and sports fans in the US, especially with TV ads during the games. But email marketing is a bit different.
You must remember that players’ and fans’ families and friends get roped into the excitement, too, even if they’re not big on sports. Since games run from noon to late, it’s hard for them to miss it, making it important to consider a broader audience in your email campaigns.
If you’re reaching out to folks who aren’t really into sports or basketball, adjusting your emails to catch their interest is key. Take IK Multimedia, for example: in one of their March Madness campaign promos, they smartly played on the “Madness” vibe to connect with the tourney buzz, but really, they were hyping up a massive sale on their music software for their main crowd – musicians, not basketball fans.
This three-week US phenomenon features 68 college teams battling it out from noon till night. But it’s more than just basketball; it’s a social and cultural fest that marketers shouldn’t miss out on.
Many current NBA stars had their moments of glory as buy Phone Number List college basketball players during that tournament. That includes Stephen Curry, who led Davidson to an Elite Eight appearance, and Anthony Davis, who won the title with Kentucky.
Steph Curry with the Davidson Wildcats in 2009 (Source)
Steph Curry with the Davidson Wildcats in 2009 (Source)
Big names like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar competed in the NCAA and won tournaments before becoming NBA legends.
Michael Jordan during his college years – 1983 issue of The Sporting News magazine (Source)
The event is filled with excitement, fun, humor, and historical moments, giving fans insights into who could be the next top NBA draft pick.
It’s safe to say that Americans look forward to this event, and the numbers prove it. In 2023, 10 million viewers tuned in to the March Madness basketball tournament (Source).
How significant is this event for Marketers?
With millions of people watching this event, marketers invest a good amount of money in promotions and ads during the tournament. In 2019 alone, 910 million dollars were spent on national TV advertising.
Bar Chat showing National TV advertising spending during the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship (March Madness) from 2015 to 2019
Bar Chat showing National TV advertising spending during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship (March Madness) from 2015 to 2019
Also, according to data from Interpret, March Madness fans have a higher tolerance for ads than the general public, not to mention the huge amount of ads and user-generated content posted on social media during the event.
So, without further delay, here are the best tips and ideas for a successful March Madness email campaign.
Use trademarks and copyrighted terms cautiously
When creating an email campaign around March Madness, marketers should be cautious about using protected terms like:
March Madness
The Big Dance
NCAA
Final Four
Elite Eight
Sweet Sixteen
The NCAA trademarks these terms, and using them for promotions without permission could lead to legal issues. You don’t want to make it look like you’re officially linked or use these terms to boost your brand without the NCAA’s permission. The key? Get creative in talking about the tourney without stepping on trademark toes. Learn more about these trademarks on the NCAA’s official website.
Make the emails relevant to your target audience
March Madness ads and promos are usually about connecting with basketball and sports fans in the US, especially with TV ads during the games. But email marketing is a bit different.
You must remember that players’ and fans’ families and friends get roped into the excitement, too, even if they’re not big on sports. Since games run from noon to late, it’s hard for them to miss it, making it important to consider a broader audience in your email campaigns.
If you’re reaching out to folks who aren’t really into sports or basketball, adjusting your emails to catch their interest is key. Take IK Multimedia, for example: in one of their March Madness campaign promos, they smartly played on the “Madness” vibe to connect with the tourney buzz, but really, they were hyping up a massive sale on their music software for their main crowd – musicians, not basketball fans.