I am thinking of going ahead and making a facebook account. I really want to make the goal of it to make people see footbag and hopefully show interest in it. Has anyone one had any success in sparking interest in friends or friends of friends by putting footbag related things in their facebook? I'm not too familar with facebook, but I think you can put videos and pics and stuff.
Please share what you have done, or any ideas that you might think could help achieve my goal. My goal is to actually get some people interested in playing here in Corpus Christi, TX. Currently i'm alone pretty much. I've taught 2 friends some things like atw, mirages, legovers, and other things. They don't show interest anymore really though. Currently I might be getting a new friend to start learning.
facebook and footbag
facebook and footbag
Greg Solis
I manage a footbag fan page, which I set up recently because there wasn't one and I thought there should be. It has 486 fans, which has been growing every day since it started and facebook rates it 5 out of 5 for post quality.
There are also heaps of interesting demographics that it gives you as an admin. I might post them up sometime if I have time.
I also share lots of footbag related stuff on my profile which usually gets good responses, although hasn't convinced anybody to play.
Regarding the facebook fan page, I think the key thing is to keep actively making posts so that it attracts attention and because every time somebody "likes" something or comments it shows up with all their friends, so definitely helps the spread a lot. It's also good to post a wide variety of stuff because from the people who are fans who I know, lots aren't freestylers, or even play footbag at all, so it's important to remain engaging. Not that I can imagine a significant number of people removing their fan status, but if you can engage them then I'm sure they're more likely to think about footbag and even start playing.
Obviously it was a lot easier to find content when Worlds was on then it is now, especially because I try to mainly post videos that I think non-freestylers would still find impressive - so not handycam tripod videos where you can't really see the bag.
There are quite a few footbag groups on facebook, but most of them aren't very active or at all, so they're not really helping in promoting footbag much.
When I hosted a party to watch the webcast of the worlds finals and invited all the members of my footbag club facebook group, somebody continued to invite all their footbag friends and the event ended up with hundreds of people attending (although really there were only 6 of us who came round to my place and watched it from 2am until 6 or 7am). Great story. And then I found $10 just sitting on the ground.
There are also heaps of interesting demographics that it gives you as an admin. I might post them up sometime if I have time.
I also share lots of footbag related stuff on my profile which usually gets good responses, although hasn't convinced anybody to play.
Regarding the facebook fan page, I think the key thing is to keep actively making posts so that it attracts attention and because every time somebody "likes" something or comments it shows up with all their friends, so definitely helps the spread a lot. It's also good to post a wide variety of stuff because from the people who are fans who I know, lots aren't freestylers, or even play footbag at all, so it's important to remain engaging. Not that I can imagine a significant number of people removing their fan status, but if you can engage them then I'm sure they're more likely to think about footbag and even start playing.
Obviously it was a lot easier to find content when Worlds was on then it is now, especially because I try to mainly post videos that I think non-freestylers would still find impressive - so not handycam tripod videos where you can't really see the bag.
There are quite a few footbag groups on facebook, but most of them aren't very active or at all, so they're not really helping in promoting footbag much.
When I hosted a party to watch the webcast of the worlds finals and invited all the members of my footbag club facebook group, somebody continued to invite all their footbag friends and the event ended up with hundreds of people attending (although really there were only 6 of us who came round to my place and watched it from 2am until 6 or 7am). Great story. And then I found $10 just sitting on the ground.
My fan page is called "footbag" but it has a link to footbag.org in the about, and I post a lot of stuff from there. Mine is the one with 487 fans as of this post -
Iron Clad Ben
- Superior Precision Bionics
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I think you gotta cover all your bases, and Facebook is one of them. For the Austin club I promote on Myspace, Twitter, Facebook and we have our own webpage. Admittedly I don't use them as much as I should (especially since I've been injured it makes no sense to invite people to sessions when I can't play) Different people prefer different media (I know a ton of people who have deleted their MySpaces and only use Facebook). I would say try to cover all of the bases.
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PoisonTaffy
- Egyptian Footgod
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Ah so you're the voice behind "Footbag", Jeremy. Now the "American centric" comment on Penske's fire video makes sense! 
(this was said jokingly, I'm not trying to open a can of worms on this thread)
I've posted a video and a few pictures related to footbag and non footbaggers commented on them, so I could say it helps with recognition, but if that's the only goal of you opening a facebook account, I'd say you're wasting your time. Hack in public and invite people to join your circle. Hands on experience is infinitely better than a 300x300 video for 2 minutes out of a thousand a person sees every week.
However, do open a facebook account because it'll connect you to and help you stay in touch with all the footbaggers who have facebook, there are many of us.
(this was said jokingly, I'm not trying to open a can of worms on this thread) I've posted a video and a few pictures related to footbag and non footbaggers commented on them, so I could say it helps with recognition, but if that's the only goal of you opening a facebook account, I'd say you're wasting your time. Hack in public and invite people to join your circle. Hands on experience is infinitely better than a 300x300 video for 2 minutes out of a thousand a person sees every week.
However, do open a facebook account because it'll connect you to and help you stay in touch with all the footbaggers who have facebook, there are many of us.
"Childhood is short, immaturity is forever"
Roy Klein
Roy Klein
-
ShredOnLawn
- Atomsmashasaurus Dex
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- Joined: 11 Mar 2005 12:44
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I got a facebook account a month or two ago for Footbag purposes.
I am the primary organizer for footbag now in the Toledo, OH area. It all started with myself and my friends, but we eventually started breaking things in.
I know all my "friends" on facebook are now aware of footbag in general.
It helped me to establish a new Footbag organization at my college.
I have connected with some new kickers across the nation.
My brother takes pics of us playing that I use to post up.
I also use it to post a lot of our kick session times, although attendance is still lacking, you cant stop trying. I've gotten a couple people to stick.
(I'm bringing 6-7 people with my to NYJ in Chicago this year so something must be working).
Real interesting story, a reporter from Toledo's newspaper actually found our footbag page and contacted me in lead of a possible story. Thought it worth a mention.
I have also started stitching so its a chance for people not on modified to check it out. A lot of people have asked and i point them in the right directions. I know most people wont get into the sport, but i think it starts with spreading awareness.
~Donovon
I am the primary organizer for footbag now in the Toledo, OH area. It all started with myself and my friends, but we eventually started breaking things in.
I know all my "friends" on facebook are now aware of footbag in general.
It helped me to establish a new Footbag organization at my college.
I have connected with some new kickers across the nation.
My brother takes pics of us playing that I use to post up.
I also use it to post a lot of our kick session times, although attendance is still lacking, you cant stop trying. I've gotten a couple people to stick.
(I'm bringing 6-7 people with my to NYJ in Chicago this year so something must be working).
Real interesting story, a reporter from Toledo's newspaper actually found our footbag page and contacted me in lead of a possible story. Thought it worth a mention.
I have also started stitching so its a chance for people not on modified to check it out. A lot of people have asked and i point them in the right directions. I know most people wont get into the sport, but i think it starts with spreading awareness.
~Donovon