Though I am already lucky enough to have a job in sports that I love, I never stop trying to accumulate industry knowledge or competitive intelligence, if you will. Below are the top 100 ways I’ve found and/or witnessed others using to help further develop their career in sports. The first 90 have are all related to Twitter, either examples from my experience or a resource I use frequently. The final 10 are more the meat and potatoes of my advice!
100. Check out the book @Breakintosports through ticket sales by Mark Washo
99. Stay motivated each and everyday @gitomer
98. One of the best resources out there @SBJSBD
97. Continually work on your writing skills, or launch a blog like @MOgulnick
96. Know the breaking news out there @espn
95. Work on editing skills or help edit for others like @mollyosu
94. Personal branding guru has great tips all the time @danschawbel
93. Find the buzz of the sports underworld @Deadspin
92. What’s sports radio doing locally? @670TheScore
91. If the Olympics come, opportunities will come with it @PatrickSandusky
90. Be a part of conversations like @JoshFienberg
89. Mascots tweet too @Southpaw
88. Relate with bands that entertain at your stadiums/ballparks @umphreysmcgee
87. Stay in touch with your roots @IowaCubs
86. Know what minor league teams are up to @WolvesTicketGuy
85. Maintain your hobbies, be yourself @runnersworld
84. Find passionate people in sports @JimLoria
83. What do agents think about teams & their client’s @RosenhausSports
82. Always have great resources at your fingertips @SportBizNews
81. Television production insight @jasonromano
80. Know what local NCAA programs are up to @NU_Sports
79. Obtain personal references like @JeremiahZimmer
78. Sports Law perspectives @Sports_business
77. Recent sports TV ratings @Ourand_SBJ
76. Stay up on Twitter news @mashable
75. Communicate your brand better @QuintCareers
74. Recently launch football league @UFLFootball
73. Recently launched women’s football @MyLFL
72. Impress people or find conversation starters @Sports_Stumpers
71. Advertised as the point of value between sport and fans @SportFanConnect
70. Promote others work in sports you enjoy @BrianDryfhout
69. Learn about the Olympic Bid process @2016olympicbid
68. Social media junkies are great networkers & resources @zaibatsu
67. CNBC’s best sports biz resource @Darrenrovell1
66. See what conference’s @GaryVee is speaking at
65. Refine your design skill like @lmarkchisox
64. Activ8Social @dcSportsGuy
63. Read @mcuban’s blog
62. See what people are betting on @sportsbetting
61. Take a few lessons from @pennypower
60. Read reporters you enjoy @trippmickle
59. See what local celebs are doing to promote themselves @BillyDec
58. Gather insight from unique sources @MoveTheSticks
57. Create a following like @THE_REAL_SHAQ
56. Be an innovator, challenge convention @fastcompany
55. Tune in to new sports TV shows @joebucklive
54. Meet fans through tweetups like @MeganDosCuatro
53. Know what the NFL Network is up to @richeisen
52. Great Sports Illustrated insight & news @SI_PeterKing
51. Stay up with Labor issues in sports @SBJLizMullen
50. Observe how the Oakland A’s interact with fans @ticketservices
49. See how teams in your market are interacting with customer’s @HawksCustCare
48. Learn what venues are up do and what’s coming to town @unitedcenter
47. Find beat reporters for team info. @scottmerkin
46. Know what’s rocking in your city @LiveNation
45. Be bilingual @OrgulloSox
44. Know author’s of ticket selling strategies @RonGoch
43. Interact with athletes @PGA_JohnDaly
42. Catch breaking news and scoop @SI_JohnHeyman
41. Observe how athletes are creatively using Twitter @ochoNFLcinco85
40. Start your own groups feed @ChiSportBizPros
39. TWIXPLODE yourself @SeanMalarky
38. Know who’s been traded @transactionlist
37. Comment on blogs @TylerDJohnson
36. Utilize Sports Job search engines @WorkInSports
35. The CEO behind the #1 sports job posting site @John_Mellor_CEO
34. Earn a press pass via Social Media like @Peter_R_Casey
33. Stay in touch with former co-workers @tcq20 & @brianekst
32. Know what’s going on in the secondary ticket market @StubHubTickets1
31. Always be willing to learn from others @LewisHowes
30. Stay on top of sponsorship trends with @sponsorpitch
29. Find an online presence @sportsnetworker
28. Learn what networking groups in your area are doing @ChicagoAfterWrk
27. Observe how athletes use twitter for business @GrillCheese49
26. Follow official tweeters of teams you’d like to work for @InsideTheSox
25. Be accepting of networking advice @frankagin
24. Learn from those working with athletes & social media @ajv
23. See what sports agents are blogging about @Darren_Heitner
22. Follow the leagues you’re interested in @MLB
21. Industry leader in sports careers & fairs @MarkTudi
20. Always realize the PR side of things @Pubslide
19. You’ll need MoJo @missrogue
18. Learn what Media analysts do @ryanstephens
17. Master the elements of personal branding like @chrisbrogan
16. Be inspired @ZigZiglarQuotes
15. Know those who frequent sports networking events @rscibetti
14. Locate blogs you enjoy & learn from @Sportsinfo101
13. Foster professional relationships that induce creativity @judelarose
12. Constantly seek sales advice @800poundgorilla
11. Learn from one of the best Social media sports consultants @DigitalRoyalty
10. LinkUP with Lewis Howes on LinkedIN
9. Buy Lewis & Frank’s book called LinkedWorking
8. Manage your Facebook profile professionally or don’t utilize it to find a job.
7. Find groups relevant to what you are looking to accomplish on LinkedIN, participate and network within them.
6. Demonstrate leadership by starting your own niche group on LinkedIN
5. Have a complete LinkedIN profile that represents you
4. Drive people to your twitter from Facebook & vice versa
3. Drive people to your LinkedIN profile via Twitter & again vice versa
2. Use YouTube when applicable, makes people feel like they know you a bit already
1. Be Yourself, Be creative and Be professional
Love that you found a way to mix some of your fellow contributors in Tyler!
Very informative! Thanks!
You post definitely was one of the ideal points of my Wednesday. I had been on Yahoo looking for something completely unrelated when the title caught my interest. I’m thankful I took the time to read your post! Feel free read my sport articles should you get some free time!