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If you're not branding yourself, you can be sure that others will do it for you. Our ELEVATION Sports Marketing team has conceived, developed and managed brands for a wide range of individuals and businesses of all stages, sizes and industries. We understand that a brand is much more than a name, logo, and tagline. Simply put, your brand is its own living, breathing reflection of you and/or your organization. It is a set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, combined, account for the perception of who, what and why you are. We believe the keys to a brand's success are self-awareness, transparency, authenticity, and accountability.
For us, branding is the ideal starting point for client engagements because your brand serves as the driving force of everything that we do. Upon helping define or re-define your VISION, VALUES, MISSION and STRATEGY, which are the four core elements of your brand, we create a Brand Elevation Plan that provides a clear approach with tactics, services, tools, timelines and budgets for optimal execution and evaluation.
NAMING | TRADEMARKS | URL REGISTRATION | LOGO DESIGN | COPYWRITING | PERSONAL BRAND PROFILES | BRAND ELEVATION PLANS | BRAND MANAGEMENT | BRANDED CONTENT
Can you see the forest through the trees? Do you recognize both the challenges and opportunities ahead? Are you thinking and working proactively, or reactively? Does your strategy reflect the four core elements of your brand? Can your employees and partners articulate your plan? Are they encouraged and empowered to execute it? Do you have that "big idea" that will take your brand and business to the next level?
ELEVATION Sports Marketing works with athletes, companies, organizations and events to develop strategies to help you rise above your competition. We see things that others miss, offering our deep geographic experience and sports industry expertise to provide imaginative, innovative solutions that will increase the value of your business. We work collaboratively with our clients to design, develop and deploy brilliant plans. We define our success by your success.
ASSESSMENTS | SALES AND MARKETING ALIGNMENTS | BRAND BUSINESS PLAN ALIGNMENT | EXECUTIVE COACHING | SALES PRESENTATION AND TRAINING | IDEATION AND INNOVATION SESSIONS | BUDGET AUDITS AND COMPS | COMPETITIVE MARKET ANALYSIS | PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Great ideas are only valuable if they are successfully executed. Matching plans and projects with the right creative solutions and personnel is critical. The creative process of developing, producing and distributing compelling content is hard enough, so there's no sense making it more difficult with inexperience and inefficiency. Our talented team of content producers at ELEVATION Sports Marketing have skill-sets that span all types of content, across all mediums.
Guided through research and the four core elements of your brand, we produce content that is designed to reach the right people, in the right way, at the right time, with the right message. We are accustomed to collaborating with agencies and agents that also represent our clients to ensure all produced content meets everyone's expectations. Regardless of the medium, we'll craft content that effectively builds your brand and tells your story in a compelling manner, without the fluff to quickly deliver the goods at a lower cost.
CREATIVE DIRECTION | WRITING | GRAPHIC DESIGN | STORYBOARDING | SCRIPTING | PHOTOGRAPHY | FILM AND VIDEO | AUDIO AND MUSIC | EDITING | PRINTING | DIGITAL | WEB AND APP DEVELOPMENT | EXPERIENTIAL
Social media has quickly become a staple in sports marketing. A major channel that provides an accessible tool for athletes, companies, organizations, and events to connect and interact with their fans and followers. Despite its prevalence and relative ease-of-use, this new medium requires a significant expertise to plan and produce posts that effectively build brands and drive business. From simple audits and analytics to full-service social management with a strategic content calendar and robust paid social advertising campaigns, our social media services are designed to meet your specific requirements and objectives.
Beyond simply engaging an audience, we develop and manage editorial calendars with timely content that is designed to entertain, educate and inspire your fans and followers. Our social media team at ELEVATION Sports Marketing operates without any idle resources to expedite the development cycle and reduce costs.
AUDITS | STRATEGIC CONSULTING | EDITORIAL CALENDARS | PAID ADVERTISING | EARNED EDITORIAL | REMARKING AND AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT | SOCIAL MEDIA LISTENING | WEBSITE INTEGRATION | SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT | ANALYTICS AND REPORTING
As your partner, we're on-call to provide a broad range of public relations services. Our in-depth knowledge of your brand enables the ELEVATION Sports Marketing PR team to be your passionate advocate, and authentically tell your story. We're able to quickly identify your needs and interests, and provide the services necessary to achieve your goals. Whether you are an athlete, company, organization, or event, we will make sure your public relations efforts are aligned with your brand's vision, values, mission, and strategy.
We’ll help you define success and measure results with all of your key audiences, and across all mediums. Our public relations approach is focused on engagement, education, and empowerment. We earn attention and motivate action for brands by placing people, places, cultures and relationships at the heart of everything we do. We’re dedicated to help you rise above your competition, and reach your full potential. We understand that your brand is the most valuable asset of your business and we’ll work diligently to promote and protect it.
BRAND REPUTATION MANAGEMENT | MEDIA RELATIONS | MEDIA KITS | PRESS RELEASE AND MEDIA ALERTS | PRESS CONFERENCES | ARTICLES AND BLOG POSTS | COMMUNITY AND FAN RELATIONS | SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT | THOUGHT LEADERSHIP | RETAIL ACTIVATIONS
Our ELEVATION Sports Marketing events team understands the difference between good events and great ones. We’ll work with you to plan and produce an event that makes a great impression on your audience while effectively representing your brand. As George Will once said “sports is the toy department of life” and there is no better environment than sports to create memorable events.
No, we don’t do weddings or bar mitzvahs. Sports and lifestyle events in the Midwest is our singular focus. Whether your event is large or small, our local knowledge and relationships will be very valuable. The Twin Cities is the proud host of numerous local, regional and national sports events from the Super Bowl, Final Four, X Games and Ryder Cup to the Twin Cities Marathon, Loppet Ski Festival and U.S. Pond Hockey Championship. And, we’re home to teams in all major professional leagues: Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Minnesota Twins, and Minnesota United FC.
In addition to the world-class stadiums, arenas, restaurants and venues in the Twin Cities, we also offer our own entertainment space that includes a large lounge, board room and bar area topped by a swanky rooftop deck with incredible views of the Minneapolis skyline. This space is ideal for private luncheons and dinners, workshops, networking events, cocktail parties, team retreats, and meetings (capacity: 250 indoor-outdoor, 150 indoor only). We also offer access to an exclusive list of athletes and entertainers that will engage, encourage and educate your audience. Rooted in our understanding of your brand, we can conceive, develop and manage your events in a manner that eases your mind and allows you to focus on entertaining your guests. Look to us as your go-to resource. We’ll help you shine when it matters most.
PLANNING AND PRODUCTION | SPORTS EVENTS | GOLF EVENTS | CHARITY EVENTS | IN-STORE EVENTS | WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES | RETREATS | SALES EVENTS | ATHLETE APPEARANCES | CAMPS AND CLINICS | TICKETS | ACCOMODATIONS | GIFTS AND PREMIUMS
ELEVATION Sports Marketing will assist your brand with the design and implementation of field marketing programs to create undeniable bonds with people. Community-based live events and environments provide an ideal opportunity to connect brands and consumers through shared passions. We deliver core field marketing services to help you create a strong presence and influence. Think of us as your “grass roots” partner that will roll-up our sleeves and help you win in the trenches.
We are not a national, catch-all, do-everything field marketing services provider. We work exclusively in the Twin Cities and throughout the Midwest with a focus on sports and lifestyle events. If you want to build your brand in or around sports events in our region, then we’re your guys (and gals). Our knowledge of the local landscape, businesses, teams, facilities and fans will help ensure that your brand is promoted in the most meaningful and cost-effective manner.
STRATEGIC PLANNING | EVENT SELECTION | RETAIL ACTIVATION | MERCHANDISING | PRODUCT PLACEMENT | TOURS AND ROADSHOWS | GUERRILLA CAMPAIGNS | STREET TEAMS | STAFFING AND TRAINING | CONSUMER RESEARCH | PROMOTIONS AND PREMIUMS
ELEVATION Sports Marketing media team works closely with brands to build strategic, creative and lasting connections with sports and lifestyle enthusiasts across all mediums, budgets and objectives. We specialize in leveraging local athlete endorsements and creating cultural content that is authentic and on-brand. Our local knowledge, access to lists, and data analytics enables hyper-targeting to maximize your ROI.
We know the history of local media pricing and rates, so we can negotiate the best rates and plan the best schedules for your media purchases. You’ll regard us as a trusted friend and partner, not a vendor. Exercising established relationships with local media outlets, with expertise to leverage media as part of a broader sponsorship when applicable, we can devise and optimize media plans of all shapes and sizes, to stretch budgets and ensure best results. It’s all about posting the right content on the right platforms at the right times.
STRATEGY AND SCHEDULING | CAMPAIGNS | ATHLETE ENDORSEMENTS | IN-STADIUM/ARENA ADVERTISING | SPONSORSHIPS | SOCIAL | TV | RADIO | PRINT | ONLINE | MOBILE/DIGITAL | TRANSIT | BRANDED CONTENT | NATIVE ADVERTISING | DATA ANALYTICS AND LISTS | PARTNERSHIPS
Our team at ELEVATION Sports Marketing can handle everything from traditional sports sponsorships at the local team and event level to athletic and lifestyle events that require an authentic, hands-on approach. Based upon the four core elements of your brand and your business objectives, we will help guide you through every step of the sponsorship evaluation and negotiation process. Our brand-driven process allows us to play matchmaker between athletes, companies, organizations and events with shared values, passion and purpose.
As with all other services we provide, our sports industry knowledge, independent status, and local relationships will allow you to rise above the clutter, maximize your assets, and build a strong brand in the marketplace. Whether it’s developing your sponsorship strategy, selecting on-brand sponsorship platforms, evaluating and valuing potential sponsorships, developing creative concepts and strategic plans for activation, or forging win-win partnerships, our team provides unbiased, independent strategic counsel and innovative solutions to help you increase brand equity and maximize ROI.
PLATFORM EVALUATIONS AND SELECTION | NEGOTIATION AND ACQUISITION | PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION | ATHLETE ENDORSEMENTS | APPEARANCE | LICENSING | NAMING RIGHTS | RIGHTS HOLDER NEGOTIATION | BRANDED CONTENT | PRODUCT PLACEMENT | SPONSORSHIP CONSULTING
ELEVATION Sports Marketing has a constantly growing and evolving portfolio of speakers who offer unique and interesting commentary with sports themes that are applied on a variety of timely topics. Based upon your specific objectives, we’ll help select a compelling speaker(s) for your event based upon shared values. In addition to sourcing highly focused, localized and relevant outside speakers, we can also help you create presentations and provide training to become an exceptional public speaker. And, if you need someone to help plan, promote, coordinate and host your event, we can do that too. We have an exclusive space in Downtown Minneapolis for gatherings of 10-250 people.
John Montague, President of ELEVATION Sports Marketing, is available to deliver an "Elevate Your Brand" presentation that covers the best practices of building stand-out brands in today’s increasingly cluttered, information-drenched world. And, more specifically, he shares practical ideas on how to apply the best practices of branding on both an individual and organizational level. In this highly-rated and acclaimed presentation, your audience will learn about how the four core elements of your brand, vision, values, mission and strategy, can drive a plan that serves as a guide for all decisions and actions. A well-built and executed brand serves as a self-fulfilling prophecy. You’ll learn how to build a unique, authentic brand that will take your business to new heights.
CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS | CORPORATE | SCHOOLS | LEAGUES AND TEAMS | EVENTS | ATHLETE APPEARANCES | PRESENTATION DEVELOPMENT | SPEAKER TRAINING
Like the scoreboards and clocks in sports, there are simple measurements for the performance of your marketing. The ELEVATION Sports Marketing research and analytics team can help you utilize data, customized analytics, and innovative tools to enable better returns on your sports marketing investments. From sponsorships and advertising to events and field marketing, our proprietary Marketing Value and Performance (MVP) scoring tool will rate your spending versus market rates and averages. We’ll show you how advanced market research, consumer targeting and engagement, and cost-effective sponsorship and media plans are indeed possible. We’ll measure the impact of your campaigns and programs, from impressions and brand awareness to conversions and sales lift, with relevant market info that will empower you with knowledge.
In order to target consumers based upon their interests, behaviors and location, we have access to a multitude of data sources to create the most current and relevant prospect lists available. By combining the science of marketing analytics with technological innovations, we can help increase the effectiveness of campaigns. We’ll define your target customers by analyzing a variety of demographics and psychographics then identifying hidden connections in the data to predict consumer behavior. Regardless of the channel, from direct mail to social media, we’ll help you target consumers with a higher likelihood of buying your products and/or services to improve your bottom line.
360-DEGREE EVALUATION | ANALYTICS | CUSTOMIZED MEASUREMENT | MARKET ANALYSIS | ROI ANALYSIS | SURVEYS | PREDICTIVE MODELING | CONSUMER TARGETING | LISTS
Our capabilities are proven and finely tuned from decades of experience in the sports and lifestyles industry. We leverage our deep knowledge, relationships and industry relevance to deliver positive, efficient outcomes for every engagement. If you’re poised to sell a business, our team can help from making a symbiotic match and coaching you through the sale to a successful close. If you’re ready to buy or invest in a business, our sports and lifestyles industry knowledge will help you make the best decisions. And, if you’re looking to start a new business, we can help with everything from business plans and branding to funding and strategic partnerships.
As with all other services provided by ELEVATION Sports Marketing, we customize our plans and processes to align with your strategic goals. Our measure of success is in achieving outcomes that significantly increase brand equity and business value for our clients. We filter out the noise and cut out the fat to get things done, strategically and efficiently. With full respect to your vision, values, mission and strategy, we work diligently to make the right deals.
STRATEGIC ADVISORY | MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS | BUSINESS PLANS | BRANDING | START-UPS AND SEED CAPITAL | RECAPITALIZATION AND GROWTH CAPITAL | VALUATIONS | VENTURE SELECTION | VENTURE CONSULTING | PARTNERSHIPS
