Copywriting Tips For the NFL Football Season

"He's at the50...he's at the 40...he's at the 30..."

Anyone with even a remote interest in the NFL could complete this sentence. It's cliché, but like many pop-culture reference clichés, it's hardwired into our collective. And football clichés can help deliver the message.

It's September, so that means - football season is upon us (I'll do a seperate post for the global 'futbol'). And so is the season of promotions for beer, car, jewelry, holiday seasons (dust off those Halloween and Thanksgiving promos that didn't make it last year), gadgets, etc., across all media and social channels. Which is exciting from a content standpoint because you have lots of options to choose from: Video, social media, blogposts, web content and (if you're of the fortunate ones) television. And don't think, 'we'll, we've dont it last year, it's all the same as before.' It's not. There's a new Super Bowl champion. A new Madden game (who's on the cover? New players on new team. A lot of juicy info you can take advantage of.

In any case...the long wait is finally over...in living rooms across the US, robot cleaners are fully charged, placed strategically, ready to literally sweep into action to clean up potato chip crumbs and other assorted snack leftovers on Sunday evening. Which means that for copywriters and other content creators, the field is ready for the new football season. So...are you ready for some football copywriting and content writing? Do you have an a file of football related subject lines, emails, push notifications, etc.? Well, you better huddle up, because it's almost kickoff time!

The thing about this ad is, as good as it is, they might as well have put Superman in it.

From banners to print-ads (yes, they still have those) to billboards, TV ads to viral videos to social media content to various game related tips, there's a ton of copywriting and content to create. Ready to huddle up your creativity? Here are some copywriting tips for the NFL football season:

• Know your football lingo - and use it:

Question: Do you know what 'Omaha, Omaha' means? If not, it's time to brush up on your football knowledge. ASAP.

Football basically jas its own language. Whehter short copy, blogging, or posting on Instagram, not only don't you want to look like a bench warmer, but like with other topics, if you don't know when to go by the playbook or call an audible, you'll be in trouble. For example, do you know what 'possession' means? if you don't it's not that good (but if you do, you I just gave you a freebie for Halloween. You're welcome). Fortunately, the NFL conveniently has a terms glossary you can refer to at need.

Examples? 'Don't fumble your opportunity...'

'When your this close to the goal line...'

'Hurry, before this offer is punted to the next customer'

'This holiday season, don't get caught on the sidelines

'Keep your campaign from being offside!'

'Why settle for a business field goal when you can score a touchdown?'

• Keep it short

Like football plays that don't last more than a few seconds, footnball-themed copywriting shouldn't be long

• Keep it humorous

Football + humor = marriage made on turf. It's almost as old as the AFL/NFL merge.

• Mix in some classic football quotes, such as:

You are what your record is.

Excuses are the tools of the incompetent

If you are afraid of confrontation, you are not going to do it very well.

The hardest thing to do is work hard when no one is watching

Adversity is an opportunity for heroism.

There are plenty, plenty more of great quotes. Make them relevant to your copywriting or other piece of content.

Just a bit of imagination. That's all you need.

• Be glued to the sports social media:

Things move fast in the NFL, so you want to keep paces so if someone makes an incredible catch, or fumbles on the 1-yard line, or someone pours a Gatorade on the wrong person, you'll be there to take advantage of it and even post on social media asap. Remember the old adage about the early bird...? Yes, the birds didn't play football, but that saying still holds true.

Does the message fit the product?

• Football trivia:

Football fans love football trivia. A social media platform would be a great place to throw out NFL related trivia.

• Watch football!

  Yes, even if it's not your cup of frappuchino. But you know, it's football. (Or at least, hightlights. That will certainly help - that's what YouTube's for).

• Fact check (if someone screws up a football fact, you'll be hearing about it - and not in a positive way).

By the way, remember this famous Oreo Dunk in the Dark tweet:

It's fascinating, and instructive, on how it came to be.

P.S.

Potato chips can be a nice addition, but not necessary, for your creative brainstorming sessions. Just sayin'. It is, after all, football season...?