I read this marketing report so you don't have to.

I’m always looking for marketing resources and, if you’re a registered seller in our ROD Seller’s Group on Facebook, I LOVE to share them with you, too. I came across this report, called “Eliminating Complexity for a Frictionless Marketing Experience.” Trust me on this one – you probably don’t want to read through the whole thing, so I did it for you. Here are my takeaways:

“Many marketers are struggling to find the right amount of time and resources to be able to do their jobs well.”

Simplifying your marketing tasks can help you manage your time better and reduce stress.

Simplify Your Marketing Tasks: Create a simple checklist for your weekly marketing tasks. Focus on the most important activities like posting on social media, updating your sponsors, and engaging with fans.

How Sponsors Use This Insight: Sponsors are also looking to streamline their marketing efforts. They appreciate partners who are organized, efficient, and working with the processes and goals they have in place.

What You Should Do: Show your sponsors that you are dedicated to being a true partner by making their jobs easier. Assist them with their marketing efforts by providing ready-to-use content, such as pre-written social media posts and professional images. Offer to analyze data and share insights that can help optimize their campaigns.

 

“59% of survey respondents are currently increasing or planning to increase their use of data insights to make marketing decisions.”

Use data to understand what marketing activities are most effective and focus on those.

Focus on What Works: Look at your social media analytics to see which posts get the most engagement. Spend more time creating similar content that resonates with your audience.

How Sponsors Use This Insight: Sponsors rely on data to measure the return on investment (ROI) of their marketing efforts. They want to see analytics that show how their sponsorship is performing.

What You Should Do: Think beyond basic performance metrics by implementing creative solutions that clearly demonstrate the ROI of your race programs. Consider using coupon codes to track sales linked to your efforts, collecting fan data for targeted mailing lists, and providing detailed insights into the demographic reach of your audience.

 

“48% of survey respondents say they are working to develop new in-house marketing capabilities and talent.”

Continuously improving your marketing skills can help you better promote your racing program.

Learn and Improve: Dedicate a small amount of time each week to learning about marketing. Watch free online tutorials or read articles on social media marketing.

How Sponsors Use This Insight: Sponsors are investing in their marketing teams to stay ahead of trends and improve their strategies. They value partners who are also committed to learning and growth.

What You Should Do: Show your sponsors that you are proactive about improving your marketing skills. Stay ahead of the algorithms and marketing trends by researching and continuously improving. The best way to show your sponsors that you’re learning is by putting what you learn into practice.

 

“54% of respondents have contracted new external partners, such as agencies, consultants, and vendors, over the past two years.”

Building strong relationships with sponsors can provide valuable support for your racing program.

Build Relationships with Sponsors: Companies are prepared to work with third-parties to meet their marketing goals, and that could be in the form of a motorsports partnership. Ask about marketing goals and think about how you could turn something you're doing already, like attending an event or reaching a certain demographic, into an opportunity for a paid marketing partnership.

How Sponsors Use This Insight: Sponsors often work with external partners to enhance their marketing efforts. They look for reliable and effective partnerships.

What You Should Do: Be prepared to work with third-party media teams or marketing consultants. Your relationships with these vendors are just as important as the one with your sponsor. Make sure you understand when you should be working with the vendor and when you should be working with your contact at the company – each will have different information and responsibilities.

 

“88% of survey respondents agree that when marketing channels are well managed, it creates a better experience for the consumer.”

Building meaningful connections with your fans can help build a loyal following and attract more sponsors.

Engage with Your Fans: Build meaningful connections to your fans through defined and aligned values. Share behind-the-scenes content and personal stories to make your fans feel connected to your journey. Make them the star of your show whenever you can.

How Sponsors Use This Insight: Sponsors want to be associated with brands that have a strong and engaged following that will also relate to their brand. They know that fan engagement can lead to higher brand loyalty, and oftentimes, more sales.

What You Should Do: Understand and articulate your core values and the values of your fanbase. These shared values can be powerful marketing tools, often more effective than traditional metrics alone. Align your marketing strategies with these values to create authentic, resonant campaigns that deeply connect with your audience. Additionally, ensure that these values align with those of your sponsors. This alignment will strengthen partnerships and create cohesive and compelling marketing efforts that benefit all parties involved.

 

“89% say it's more important than ever that marketing play a strategic role within organizations.”

Make sure your marketing efforts support your overall racing goals to stay focused and effective.

Align Your Marketing with Your Goals: Set clear, achievable goals for your marketing efforts, such as increasing your social media followers or securing a new sponsor. Track your progress and adjust your strategies as needed.

How Sponsors Use This Insight: Sponsors integrate their marketing efforts with their overall business strategy. They look for partners who can align with their strategic goals.

What You Should Do: Understand your sponsor’s business goals and show how your partnership can help achieve them. Tailor your marketing efforts to align with their objectives, not with your wants or needs. The best partnerships center around creative, collaborative solutions to business problems.

 

“Marketers can't rest on the old way of doing things anymore. The consumer is changing very quickly, competitors are popping up quickly, new cultural phenomena are occurring quickly.”

Being flexible and willing to try new things can help you stay ahead in the competitive world of motorsports.

Be Adaptable and Innovative: Experiment with different types of content, like videos, live streams, and stories. If something doesn’t work, learn from it, and try something new.

How Sponsors Use This Insight: Sponsors are constantly looking for innovative ways to reach their audience. They value partners who are creative and adaptable.

What You Should Do: Ditch traditional advertising tactics and offers of exposure. Instead, think of creative ways to reach your audience. Offer experiences and engagement tactics to your fans that drive value to your business partners without feeling like a sales pitch.