In The Stands With Lewis Howes

Lewis Howes is founder of the Sports Executives Association and SportsNetworker.com. He is also co-author of the LinkedIn success book, LinkedWorking: Generating Success on the World’s Largest Professional Networking Website.

We sat down with Lewis to learn more about his take on Sports & Social Media.

FanFeedr: You run the Sports Executives Association and SportsNetworker.com, in addition to having co-authored “LinkedWorking.” From your vantage point, why is there such a great deal of attention being paid to the marketing aspects of social networking and sports as opposed to the fan interaction side of it?

Lewis Howes: I think it starts with networking among professionals because you need to learn how to use the tools on a personal level first. It helps to take that knowledge and then apply it to fan interaction. I think there are more and more successful examples of teams and organizations using social media to interact with fans. Look to teams at VaynerMedia and DigitalRoyalty for some industry trends in that regard.

Are they different things? And how?

LH: Sure, but many of the same principles still apply. Be transparent, engage, provide value.

In your LinkedIn book, you point out how to use LinkedIn effectively. Can you point to athletes who are using Facebook effectively? How?

LH: Shaq is dominating on Facebook, check out his fan page and follow what he does and you will do great on Facebook.

Are there any athletes with a prominent role on LinkedIn? Is that the right milieu for them?

LH: Right now I know Curt Schilling is pretty active, and there are some other pro athletes who communicate through my pro athlete networking group on there as well.
 
Is there anything that we should ask you that we haven’t?

LH: I’ve been just been really excited about launching the Sports Executives Association (SEA). That’s been in the works for a long time and it’s fun to see it finally come alive.

Almost last but not least, FanFeedr connects people to their favorite teams and players. Please give us your top three players and teams, in any sport. This has to be definitive, and Lewis Howes-branded, for 2010.

LH: LeBron James is a mutant and is from Ohio. Bryan Clay is amazing because he is the worlds greatest athlete and used to be an All-American Decathlete. Also a big fan of Lance Berkman as he is super funny and I used to train with him in Houston before the NFL draft.

Teams: Cavs, Ohio State Buckeye’s football, and the Cleveland Browns.

Tell us something about you that no one else knows.

LH: I’ve never been drunk in my life, but I enjoy a good double shot of Baileys on occasion :)

Thanks to Lewis for the interview. For more more info, feel free to check out LewisHowes.com.