Olympic Baseball  by Michael Dudash

Summertime and the living is easy-and so is advertising and marketing if you know how to play the game.

Baseball is America's game and professional minor league baseball is its most affordable and family friendly version.  It can also be an affordable and effective way to advertise and market your business.

Signs, banners, programs, and scorecards bearing your business logo and information are well know ways to advertise but the minor leagues have many other ways in which you can gain recognition.  Teams usually have auxiliary entertainment to go along with the game such as pitching and batting contests, races, promotional giveaways, T-shirt cannons and more that allow your business tie-in.  Would you like to thank clients, court homeowners in a new territory or thank your referral sources?  Become one, or the only sponsor, of a game.  Or buy a block of tickets and have your group, and yourself, recognized by the team's announcer.  At an average of $8 for each ticket your investment can gain you literal visibility and lots of word of mouth buzz.  Before and after advertising of your group's night at the ball park will stretch that recognition.  Tie in your group night with a charity and benefit even more people.  Many teams have ties to charitable organizations or you can work with your own favorite cause.

Newsletters, broadcast spots and appearances by mascots are other ways to promote your business.

Professional minor leagues focus on being the hometown teams and welcome working with local businesses and organizations.  How do I know this?  I happen to be married to the owner of Blue Thunder pro ball (McKinney, Texas), the 2007 championship winner of the Continental Baseball League and have seen how the partnerships benefit the businesses and the communities they serve.  So take your business out to your local minor league team's games and make this your winning season.

Oh and did I mention that many teams have a Fantasy Player Position?  It makes a great charity auction item or prize drawing.  Talk about generating BUZZ!