Racer Update #1

I am so excited you've expressed interest in Racer on Demand. As a reminder, Racer on Demand is a two-fold resource for racers. Firstly, we're building a fan-facing merch marketplace where you can partner with us to have merch drop shipped every time a fan places an order. You get money from every sale. Secondly, we're bringing you resources to build your race programs, your social media presence, your fan following, and your partnerships. It's all about growing YOU.

We've been galivanting across the US to attend the King of the Hammers races, but we were still plugging away at getting Racer on Demand off the ground. I've got a bunch of updates for you, as things are moving quickly while we get this venture launched. Here's some updates:

• Before we left Wisconsin, we finalized a HUGE partnership which will get your merch in front of the entire fanbase of Champ Off-Road. I can't say too much on this, yet, but just know that we're working hard to make sure your fans can easily find you.
• We're working with industry partners across motorsports, from marketing to business to race parts, to bring you discounted resources to build your programs, fan bases, and race vehicles. We made some great connections while we were in California, and we're bringing those connections home to you.
• We had a LOT of time in the RV to brainstorm what topics are going to be important as you learn to lift your program to new heights. We've got over a year's worth of weekly blog posts for you, and I think you're going to find them not only thought-provoking and insightful, but actionable and impactful.
• We are on-track to launch the merch marketplace in May, before the first Champ Off-Road race. That means you'll start your race season with an online storefront to market to your fans and a growing skillset to build your program throughout the year.

What are the next steps for you, as a racer? We'll be onboarding racers in waves. We're going to start out with some drivers we know really well from the Champ Off-Road series. This is important because we know they'll tell us if something sucks. That way, once we get to people we don't know that well, it's going to be an easy, streamlined experience. That being said - be glad if we don't tap you first. It probably means you're going to have an easier time onboarding. If you race in a series outside of Champ Off-Road, hang onto your seat for a bit. We're going to launch with Champ, work out the bugs, then scale outward to other series' in due time. We'll continue to support you with marketing resources in the meantime so you can build your program while you wait for us.

There's a few things to be thinking about and working on prior to onboarding with Racer on Demand. Here's what we'll need when it's time to build out your racer page:

• I'm going to need a headshot of you. You don't need to send it now, just have it ready for when we reach out to onboard you. I need a high-quality (read "not blurry") photo where you're making eye contact with the camera. Please make sure no one else is in the photo with you and you're not blocked - no kids in your arms, no arms around a friend, etc. Added bonus if you're in your race suit or wearing your merch, but it's not required.
• I'm going to be really picky about this - as you'll learn, branding is everything. Racer on Demand stands for quality, especially as it relates to representing our racers. Make this headshot count!
• I'll also need a picture of your race vehicle. Same rules apply - high quality photo, no people standing in front of the vehicle, and make it count! I'll attach reference photos of Chris and Dave Van Den Elzen - this is what we're building for each of your pages, so you understand what the vision is.
• Lastly, but honestly the most important thing: Start thinking about your brand - and I don't mean your logo. What's the difference between a logo and a brand? Check out this easy 1-minute read from marketing genius, Seth Godin. It's called "Is it a t-shirt brand?" If you like that, check out another quick blog post from him titled "The brand is a story, but it's a story about you, not about the brand."
• I'll need a short bio from you, and this is your opportunity to define your brand. What do you stand for? Why would someone connect with you? What makes you relatable? Who is your audience? We'll be talking about these topics at length, but start thinking about it now. Once you have your brand defined, you can work with our designers on a logo if you need one. It should represent your brand, not BE your brand.

I hope that gets you off to a great start! More updates to come soon, but for now, keep thinking about your brand! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out here, on Facebook, or on Instagram. 

Do you have friends who race in the Champ Off-Road series? Send them to this page and/or have them sign up for updates here.

Together, we're revolutionizing the racing industry and transforming the way racers and fans interact.

Amanda