Sports Marketing Machine Podcast

Jeremy Neisser
  • 5.0 (9)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

If you're a sports executive or digital marketer working to fill seats, drive ticket sales, and grow your fan base, the Sports Marketing Machine Show is for you! Award-winning sports marketing veteran host, Jeremy Neisser brings with him over 21 years of experience in sports marketing and shares We'll cover all aspects of marketing including digital advertising, social media strategy, branding, customer relationship management, and how to best use analytics to measure success. With interviews from experts in digital marketing and sports industry veterans, you’ll be sure to find some helpful tips on how to engage more with your fans – all while having fun learning. Tune into Sports Marketing Machine for tips and advice on how to grow your fan base and sell more tickets. 

  1. 2D AGO

    151 - Why Your Meta Ad Creative Isn’t Built to Scale (And What to Fix)

    Send a text If you're still running one “hero ad” and hoping it scales, you're already behind. In this episode, Jeremy breaks down why Meta’s evolving algorithm has made single-creative campaigns obsolete—and why sports teams must shift from building one good ad to building a creative system. You’ll learn how to structure multiple angles around one game, how to think in buyer motivations (not demographics), and how to create a “creative menu” that actually drives ticket sales. Key Topics Covered Why “What’s the best ad format?” is the wrong questionThe myth of the one perfect ticket-selling adHow Meta’s reduced targeting options change everythingThe “menu problem” most teams don’t realize they have5 psychological ticket-buyer motivations for the same eventWhy frequency spikes and CPM increases aren’t budget problemsHow to build 8–10 creative variations from one gameUsing ChatGPT to generate angles, hooks, and copy fasterWhy warming ads matter (AIDA framework explained)The difference between boosting posts and building strategyTimestamps 00:00 – The myth of the “one killer ad” 02:40 – Why buyers aren’t all motivated by the same thing 05:50 – The ice cream shop analogy (creative variety explained) 06:11 – 5 angles for the same Saturday Night Fireworks game 08:30 – Why Meta won’t scale one message anymore 10:44 – How to practically build multiple creative angles 11:51 – The AIDA framework and warming ads 13:00 – Simple 4-step creative system for teams 15:19 – Stop boosting. Start building a creative menu. The Big Idea: You Don’t Have a Targeting Problem. You Have a Creative Problem. Most teams run: One graphicOne hype videoOne captionOne boosted postThat’s vanilla ice cream. But your fans don’t all buy tickets for the same reason. Some buy for: Family memoriesSocial nights outDate nightsCorporate hostingWhen you run only one angle, Meta finds one pocket of people, frequency climbs, CPM increases, and performance plateaus. It’s not a budget issue. You ran out of angles. The Creative Menu Framework For one game: Write down 5 reasons someone would attend (motivations, not demographics).Create 2 angles per motivation.Make sure visuals are different (faces, scenes, tone, format).Let Meta run long enough to optimize (not 48 hours).That’s 8–10 ads from one event. That’s scale. Jeremy references the classic AIDA model: AttentionInterestDesireActionNot every ad converts immediately. Some warm. Some build trust. Some create demand. If you shut off non-converting ads too quickly, you kill the top of your funnel. Call to Action If this episode helped shift your thinking, share it with someone on your marketing or ticket sales team. Because the teams that move from one creative to a creative system are the teams that will scale ticket sales in 2026 and beyond. Links mentioned:  Sports Marketing Machine powered by Revelocity Sports  AIDA Framework vi Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedIn Sports Marketing Machine on Instagram Book a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

    17 min

  2. FEB 7

    150 - How to Track Marketing When Meta’s Reports Tell a Different Story

    Send a text If you’re spending money on Meta ads but don’t fully trust the numbers… you’re not crazy. In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down why Meta’s reporting often doesn’t match ticketing reality—and what sports teams should track instead. You’ll get a simple, no-nonsense framework for measuring marketing performance using real revenue, not modeled guesses. Key Topics Covered Why Meta’s reports and your ticketing software rarely line upWhat Conversion API (CAPI) actually does—and what it doesn’tThe difference between optimization data and reporting truthWhy your ticketing system and bank account are the real scoreboardA simple framework to track marketing without attribution dramaNew Customer Acquisition Cost (NCAC) explained for sports teamsHow Average Order Value (AOV) and Revenue Per Buyer reveal buyer qualityWhy judging ads every 48 hours leads to bad decisionsHow to evaluate marketing weekly (and ROI monthly or by homestand)Timestamps 00:00 – Why teams don’t trust their marketing numbers02:16 – How this episode connects to Meta strategies & budget planning04:37 – How Meta actually matches purchases (and why it breaks)06:57 – CAPI helps optimization, not reporting accuracy09:18 – Meta is better at finding buyers than explaining them11:36 – Why attribution falls apart in real fan journeys12:04 – A simple, spreadsheet-level tracking framework13:58 – Measuring ROI the way owners and GMs actually understand16:11 – NCAC: the metric that removes attribution arguments18:31 – AOV vs. Revenue Per Buyer (offer strength vs. buyer quality)20:40 – What to stop over-obsessing about immediately23:00 – Final framework: delivery engine vs. scoreboardCore Framework (This Is the Money Slide) Use Meta as a delivery engine. Use your ticketing system as the scoreboard. Track: Real ad spend (including agency fees)Real ticket revenueNew Customer Acquisition Cost (NCAC)Average Order Value (AOV)Revenue per buyerRepeat purchase behaviorIgnore: Platform-specific ROAS argumentsModeled attribution fightsDay-to-day emotional decision-makingCall to Action If this episode helped you, share it with someone on your team. The fastest way to kill “marketing isn’t working” conversations is getting everyone to agree on one scoreboard—your ticketing data. Links mentioned: Sports Marketing Machine powered by Revelocity Sports  Episode 135 - Simplest Way to Justify Your Marketing Budget Episode 147 - Meta Ads Strategies That WORK in 2026 Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedIn Sports Marketing Machine on Instagram Book a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

    24 min

  3. JAN 31

    149 - What Is P-Max? (And When Agencies Use It to Hide Weak Strategy)

    Send us a text Performance Max (P-Max) is showing up in more agency proposals—but most teams don’t fully understand what they’re buying.  In this episode, Jeremy Neisser breaks down what P-Max actually is inside Google Ads, why it sounds so attractive to sports teams, and how it’s often used to hide weak or undefined marketing strategy. You’ll learn when P-Max can help, when it hurts, and the critical questions teams should ask before letting automation take the wheel. Key Topics Covered What Performance Max really does (in plain English)Why P-Max is an execution layer—not a marketing strategyHow messy data causes P-Max to optimize for the wrong winsThe danger of blended audiences and lost message controlHow agencies use P-Max as a reporting smoke screenWhen P-Max actually can work for sports teamsWhy segmentation and funnel clarity still matter in an AI worldHow to spot red flags in agency P-Max proposalsEpisode Chapters 00:00 – Why Performance Max keeps showing up in agency proposals02:47 – What P-Max actually is (and how it works)05:36 – Why automation without strategy is dangerous08:58 – How P-Max steals credit and inflates “conversions”11:49 – When Performance Max can make sense for teams14:39 – Strategy over automation: the real takeawayKey Takeaways Performance Max is often used to mask weak strategy, not enhance strong ones.Automation simplifies execution—but it doesn’t replace thinking.P-Max is only as smart as your data (and most teams’ data is messy).Blended audiences lead to blended messaging—and wasted spend.If you can’t explain who’s buying and why, P-Max is a blindfold.P-Max works best as a supporting channel, not your entire plan.Clear funnel logic beats “AI will figure it out” every time.Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedIn Sports Marketing Machine on Instagram Book a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

    18 min

  4. JAN 26

    148 - Allocating Budget to Lead Generation

    Send us a text In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine podcast, Jeremy Neisser discusses the often-overlooked aspect of lead generation in sports marketing. He emphasizes the importance of allocating a portion of the marketing budget to grow the fan database, rather than solely focusing on immediate ticket sales. Neisser outlines effective strategies for lead generation, including involving sponsors, creating compelling offers, and implementing follow-up plans. He also provides insights on budgeting for lead generation and the long-term benefits of building a larger audience. Takeaways Most teams allocate 80-90% of their budget to single game ticket sales.Lead generation should be a key focus for sports teams.Growing your database is essential for long-term success.Lead generation is about capturing fan information, not immediate sales.Involving sponsors can enhance lead generation campaigns.High perceived value offers attract more participants.Follow-up is crucial after lead generation campaigns.Budgeting for lead generation should be a priority.Teams should think strategically about audience building.Lead generation is an investment in future ticket sales.This episode makes the case that lead generation isn’t optional—it’s a core revenue strategy. Teams that dedicate real budget to list growth lower future ad costs, stop burning out their database, and give sales teams warmer leads to work. Whether sponsor-powered or self-funded, the key is high perceived value, simple opt-ins, fast follow-up, and intentional segmentation. Teams that treat lead gen as an investment—not an expense—build momentum that pays off all season long. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lead Generation in Sports Marketing 02:35 The Importance of Growing Your Database 05:52 Lead Generation Strategies and Sponsor Involvement 08:42 Creating Compelling Offers for Lead Generation 11:54 Follow-Up Strategies for Lead Generation 14:37 Budgeting for Lead Generation in Sports Marketing 17:51 Key Takeaways and Action Steps Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedIn Sports Marketing Machine on Instagram Book a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

    23 min

  5. JAN 17

    147 - Meta Ad Strategies That Work in 2026

    Send us a text Meta ads didn’t “break” — they evolved. In this episode, Jeremy explains (in plain English) what actually changed inside Meta over the last few months and why the old playbook of tight targeting, lookalikes, and lots of small campaigns no longer works. If you’re trying to sell more tickets in 2026, this episode gives you a clearer, simpler framework built around creative, behavior, and momentum — not guesswork. Key Topics Covered Why Meta Platforms knows less about fans — and why that’s not a bad thingHow privacy changes permanently weakened interest targeting and lookalike audiencesThe shift from labels (sports fan, parent, local) to behavior-based learningWhy creative now does the targeting — not audience checkboxesHow too many small campaigns quietly kill performanceWhy fewer campaigns + more creative = better resultsThe real minimum budgets Meta needs to learn and optimizeHow sports teams can let fans “self-identify” through engagementEpisode Chapters 00:00 – Why Meta ads feel broken right now01:03 – What actually changed inside Meta03:28 – Why interest targeting is fuzzy (and always will be)05:49 – Why lookalike audiences are slower and less predictable08:03 – The biggest shift: Meta learns from behavior, not labels10:14 – Creative as targeting: showing moments, not audiences12:14 – Campaign structure mistakes teams keep making14:24 – The new Meta mindset: clear beats clever15:39 – Homework, next steps, and final takeawaysTactical Takeaways Stop asking “Who should we target?” — start asking “What moment are we showing?”Let Meta learn from scroll-stopping content, not assumptionsConsolidate campaigns so Meta gets enough data to optimizeFeed the algorithm with real fan experiences, not generic graphicsClarity sells tickets better than clevernessCall to Action If this episode helped clarify where Meta ads are actually heading, share it with someone on your team who’s frustrated with paid ads right now.  And if you want to pressure-test your current Meta setup, head to the website and book a quick call — even if it’s just to sanity-check what you’re running. Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedIn Sports Marketing Machine on Instagram Book a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

    17 min

  6. JAN 10

    146 - 13 Marketing Predictions for 2026

    Send us a text Marketing predictions are everywhere—but most don’t help sell tickets. In Episode 146, Jeremy Neisser shares 13 practical marketing predictions for 2026, filtered through one question: does this sell more tickets, or is it busy work? This episode focuses on controlling the buying moment, personalization, signal-based marketing, and why the revenue loop replaces the funnel. Key Topics Covered Personalization as a ticket-sales differentiatorCreative as the new media buyerSignals over pixels (Buyer data)Saves, comments, & DMs as buying intentZero-click checkout & social sellingData reclamation from marketplacesFirst-click ownership as a revenue KPIWarm audiences vs. cold acquisitionChapters 00:00 Introduction  01:08 Personalization  04:31 Creative as Media Buyer  06:51 Signals Over Pixels  10:34 DMs as Soft Leads  12:56 Zero-Click Checkout  15:15 Social Selling  18:04 Data Reclamation  19:58 First-Click Ownership  21:26 Warm vs Cold  23:49 Per Persona Campaigns  25:10 Marketing as Inside Sales  26:35 Revenue Loop Supporting Links https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-advertising-changes-2025/ https://www.jonloomer.com/understand-meta-advertising-8-episodes/ https://www.jonloomer.com/interactions-post-engagement/ https://www.emarketer.com/content/social-commerce-2024 https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/social-commerce/ https://www.brightedge.com/resources/webinars/owning-the-first-click https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/search/brand-vs-non-brand-search/ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/secondary-ticket-market https://baymard.com/lists/cart-abandonment-rate https://baymard.com/blog/checkout-usability https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2015/03/02/retargeting https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics https://www.facebook.com/business/help/146787991656572?id=561906377587030 https://hbr.org/2016/07/ending-the-war-between-sales-and-marketing https://www.forrester.com/blogs/b2c-marketing-and-sales-alignment/ https://www.meta.com/business/help/1438417719786914 Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedIn Sports Marketing Machine on Instagram Book a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

    30 min

  7. JAN 7

    145 - Where I Was Right & Wrong On My Marketing 2025 Predictions

    Send us a text In this episode, Jeremy Neisser reviews his previous predictions for sports marketing and fan engagement for 2025, assessing where he was right, where he was wrong, and what the implications are for 2026. He discusses the impact of AI and personalization, the shift towards membership models, the rise of short form video, the importance of user-generated content, and the challenges of holistic attribution. He also delves into the complexities of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in sports, donor engagement strategies, and the significance of focusing on fan quality over quantity. Key Themes Covered AI & personalization (where it works and where it doesn’t)The continued shift from season tickets → membership modelsShort-form video becoming the backbone of ticket marketingWhy creative is now the targetingThe messy reality of attributionNIL’s impact on ticket sales and sponsorshipsDonor engagement at scaleWhy fan quality matters more than fan quantity Takeaways AI and personalization are crucial for sports marketing success.Membership models are replacing traditional season tickets.Short form video has become essential for engaging fans.User-generated content builds trust and engagement.Holistic attribution is challenging but necessary for understanding marketing impact.NIL has complicated the landscape of college athletics.Donors seek meaningful engagement beyond transactions.NIL platforms need to simplify for small market teams.Focusing on fan quality leads to better outcomes than quantity.Auditing marketing strategies is essential for future success. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Self-Audit of Predictions 01:01 AI and Personalization in Sports Marketing 03:54 Membership Models and Fan Engagement 05:46 The Rise of Short Form Video 08:04 User-Generated Content and Micro Influencers 09:28 Holistic Attribution Challenges 13:11 Navigating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) 16:31 Donor Engagement and Experience 18:54 NIL Platforms and Market Scaling 20:20 The Importance of Fan Quality Over Quantity 22:13 Conclusion and Advice for 2026 Links Mentioned in This Episode Episode 95 – 12 Marketing & Fan Engagement Predictions for 202580/20 Principle (Pareto Principle)Sports Marketing Machine Strategy Call Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedIn Sports Marketing Machine on Instagram Book a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

    24 min

  8. 12/31/2025

    144 - 13 Marketing Lessons Learned in 2025

    Send us a text The marketing landscape changed fast in 2025—and sports teams felt it in their revenue. In this episode of the Sports Marketing Machine, Jeremy Neisser breaks down 13 real-world marketing lessons that directly impacted ticket sales, renewals, and average order value. No trends, no platforms, no vanity metrics—just the decisions that actually showed up on the revenue report and matter heading into 2026. Key Topics Covered Why buying friction quietly kills impulse ticket salesHow revenue exposes bad marketing faster than engagement metricsWhy timing beats messaging when it comes to conversionsThe costly mistake of choosing clever over clearHow personalization (not tech) drove higher salesWhy owned channels became the safest revenue engineHow creative replaced targeting in paid mediaWhy familiar offers outperform “new and shiny” ideasBundles vs. discounts—and why bundles winThe overlooked revenue power of single-game buyersHow promotions train (or damage) fan behaviorWhy retention quietly became cheaper than acquisitionHow top teams turned marketing into a revenue system, not a departmentEpisode Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Why these aren’t trends, platforms, or vanity metrics01:30 – Lesson 1: Buying friction kills impulse sales04:53 – Lesson 2: Revenue exposes bad marketing07:15 – Lesson 3: Timing > messaging09:07 – Lesson 4: Clarity always beats cleverness10:54 – Lesson 5: Personalization as a revenue lever13:32 – Lesson 6: Owned channels = owned revenue15:28 – Lesson 7: Creative became the new targeting17:24 – Lesson 8: Familiarity sells faster than novelty19:20 – Lesson 9: Bundles beat discounts20:17 – Lesson 10: Single-game buyers as a growth engine21:42 – Lesson 11: Promotions train fan behavior23:09 – Lesson 12: Retention beats acquisition25:00 – Lesson 13: Marketing as a revenue systemCall to Action If this episode sparked an idea—or exposed something you need to fix—reach out at sportsmarketingmachine.com or connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn. And if alignment still isn’t happening between sales and marketing on your team, this episode is required listening. Why This Episode Matters The teams that won in 2025 didn’t shout louder or spend more—they reduced friction, showed up at the right moment, personalized their offers, and aligned sales, marketing, and data around revenue. These 13 lessons are your blueprint for turning marketing into predictable ticket sales in 2026. Links mentioned: Episode 140: Mystery Park Promo that Sold 700 Tickets Episode 137: Make Your Black Friday/Cyber Monday Offer So Good!  Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedIn Sports Marketing Machine on Instagram Book a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

    31 min
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About

If you're a sports executive or digital marketer working to fill seats, drive ticket sales, and grow your fan base, the Sports Marketing Machine Show is for you! Award-winning sports marketing veteran host, Jeremy Neisser brings with him over 21 years of experience in sports marketing and shares We'll cover all aspects of marketing including digital advertising, social media strategy, branding, customer relationship management, and how to best use analytics to measure success. With interviews from experts in digital marketing and sports industry veterans, you’ll be sure to find some helpful tips on how to engage more with your fans – all while having fun learning. Tune into Sports Marketing Machine for tips and advice on how to grow your fan base and sell more tickets. 

Information

  • Creator
    Jeremy Neisser
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    151
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sports Marketing Machine Podcast
  • Show Website
    Sports Marketing Machine Podcast