SAM WATSON
Advertising and Social Media Strategy
Various Campaigns I produced, all on one page.

Learning Matters
Problem
A nonprofit in Nashville, Learning Matters, Inc. provides tutoring to children with learning disabilities. The most common of these disabilities is dyslexia. To fundraise, Learning Matters puts on a 5k, 10k and one mile dyslexia dash. I was hired for the summer to advertise the race and draw in more runners.
Learning Matters
Solution
Learning Matters was struggling to garner registrations because the community was largely unaware of the race. While those who know about Learning Matters did register, most in Nashville didn't know about the race. To solve this, I created multiple ads that were promoted through social media and email, while also coordinating with partners and sponsors throughout Nashville.
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These ads (as seen in the "projects" page) implemented humor and gave the race and Learning Matters a more youthful, fun image. Additionally, by reaching out to gyms, bars on Broadway, and everywhere in between, I was able to secure popular Nashville destinations as sites for print advertising. In a few cases, these partnerships became sponsors.


Learning Matters
Data
The results were positive despite the challenges. Over 100 more participants showed on race day, which, for a race this size, was impressive. For reference, both Learning Matters and St. Jude held races in Nashville that day, and St. Jude has significantly more resources. Conditions were also an issue, as it was pouring and windy. However, runners still showed and ran.

Lorena
Problem
Lorena, a small town in central Texas, is having difficulty bringing in visitors from Waco. They want visitors of all ages, which calls for a broadened advertising campaign. This campaign highlights the town's two burgeoning businesses: the Village Lamp Lighter and the Boujee Bean. The campaign goal is to provide growth through an integrated marketing campaign.
Lorena
Solution
The integrated marketing campaign focuses on the two businesses' Instagram and Facebook accounts, as well as print, promotional products and radio ads. Pairing with this strategy, the Village Lamp Lighter will produce a podcast about downtown Lorena, romanticizing the place they call home.
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The Boujee Bean's Instagram will post three times a week, alternating between stories and posts. Paid Facebook ads will reach a wider audience in the region, and turning Instagram into a business account will help track analytics.
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The Village Lamplighter needs an Instagram account, a focus on paid Facebook advertising, posts three times a week and utilization of both stories and normal posts. The podcast will unpack the history of the Lamp Lighter and Lorena. It goes all they way back to 1896 and highlights why the town is so special.

Promotional items focus on the town's slogan: "It's a Lorena Thing!" This will be produced for each business alongside typical branding. T-shirts, tote bags, stickers, water bottles, contractor pencils, coffee mugs and wine mugs should be covered with the slogan.
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As for print advertising, flyers, stamp cards and brochures will be produced. A video has been made showing each business, its owners and employees, and Lorena's scenery for social media.

Lorena
Data
This campaign has not been implemented yet, but it will be measured through Instagram and Facebook analytics, as well as listens in Podcasts and increases in the businesses' customer lists.

Main Event Waco
Problem
The Waco location for Main Event Waco is a successful arcade, food and entertainment complex. However, they wanted to expand their target demographic. Having been unable to draw in corporate parties and college students, They asked my team to help.
Main Event Waco
Solution
To solve their problem, we recommended paid media on the Baylor Lariat website, Yelp advertisements and paid Instagram ads. Beyond that, Main Event should create a business account to track analytics, purchase sponsored posts with a goal of 10k impressions and post three times a week.
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Pairing with this, improving distribution and diversity for promotional items, participating in more sponsorships, and implementing additional advertising to promote publicity should draw in this missing demographic.


Main Event Waco
Data
There is no data for this advertising campaign yet, as it has not yet been implemented. However, if implemented, it will be measured using social media analytics, attendance from corporate outings and student organization outings.

Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Problem
The Texas Sports Hall of Fame is successful but lacks a significant social media following. This limits their reach and weekly visitors.
Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Solution
To grow their social audience, I managed the "This Day in Texas Sports" social media campaign. I'd post a graphic along with some information about what happened on that day. I conducted research about the event to find information and pictures for the particular event. This process transpired every day from September 2022 to December 2022.

Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Data

Twitter: Over four months, their Twitter following grew from 1,987 followers to 2,244 followers.
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Instagram: Their following grew from 589 followers to 698 followers.
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Facebook: Their Facebook following grew from 3,254 followers to 3,521 followers.
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Overall, TSHOF's social channels grew at an expedited rate while the "This Day in Texas Sports" campaign was active.
Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Problem

The Hyannis Harbor Hawks have become decreasingly relevant in the past ten years in the Cape Cod Baseball League. With the hiring of a new GM and a new Team Operations Director, they hope to re-brand their organization. Part of this is pivoting their social channels and increasing engagement. Much of the league was safe on their social channels, and Hyannis wanted to take risks and be different. The rest of the league catered to older demographics, while Hyannis wanted to tap into a younger, evolving audience.
In a league dominated by tradition, Hyannis sought to innovate.
Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Solution
As the person who ran their social media, I inserted humor into their Twitter formula. In turn, the organization stuck out because they were different, taking risks and de-formalizing the CCBL Twitter space. Tweets took shots at other teams, showcased highlight videos incorporating film and music, and delivered updates in humorous ways. This engaged their audience.
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On Instagram, the approach centered around sleek presentation and maintaining a "cool" image. In the past, they kept up with the rest of the league rather than focusing on building the Harbor Hawk brand and improving their Instagram page. Through stories, highlights and videography, that would change.
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Facebook was an afterthought, simply used to store albums and provide scheduling updates. Other
than that, it was not heavily used.









Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Data
All social channels grew between June and August, Twitter being the most successful account. At the beginning of the summer, they had barely 6,000 followers on the platform. On my last day, the Harbor Hawks had 6,992 followers. That jump–nearly 1,000 followers–was the most in the entire league and the most the Harbor Hawks had seen in a season. The once digitally dormant organization now had the single most impressionable social account on Cape Cod.
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To contrast, the Instagram grew, but not at the rate the Twitter did. As the team won throughout the season, more people gravitated to Instagram. It was improved , but it grew at a slower, consistent rate no matter the Instagram content. When the team won, likes, views, and comments flooded in. If they lost, little to no change. However, they gained over 500 followers, a significant improvement over the previous summers' meager 267.