Dependent on what team you are rooting for in this year’s Super Bowl (#SB44), you might be surprised to learn who is winning on the Social Media field of play. When Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton Manning faces off against New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees, you might want to check out some of the stats and trends surfacing on the social networks before placing your final wager.
After the Saints won the NFC Championship Game on January 24, 2010, against the Minnesota Vikings in the Superdome, fans from all across New Orleans, including fans who were exiting the game, started a Mardi Gras-style "Who Dat" on Bourbon Street with modified lyrics, chanting, "Who Dat, Who Dat, Who Dat in the Super Bowl!" in reference to the Saints advancing to the Super Bowl for the first time ever in their (at the time) 43-year history. Will this emotional contagion also spread throughout social media channels and sway the odds over to Saints?
Let’s take a closer look at the stats…
YouTube Videos
According to Yahoo Search, almost 92 percent of song searches were for the "Who Dat" theme song and its catchy lyrics, whereas there was a ‘silent minority’ looking for the "Colts Fight Song." Who Dat’s YouTube video which can also be purchased at iTunes has passed the 500,000 view mark and is one of a dozen remixes available.
Advantage: Saints
Facebook
offers one of the best ways for teams to engage with their fan base, so
which team is making the most of it? You can visit the Saints’ Facebook page and the Colts’ Facebook page
to see that as of February 7, the Saints fans came in at 116,932 vs
300,888 fans for the Colts. There are several unofficial pages, but
since the Saints appear to be missing the opportunity to engage
Facebook users in an official capacity, this may have been a major
fumble.
Advantage: Colts
Digg
As of January 26,
which team has seen the most activity on Digg? According to Digg’s
search tool 1,549 Colts articles have been submitted, with only eight
being promoted to the front page and three receiving more than 500
diggs. That compares with 1,645 articles submitted, 11 promoted and two
with 500+ diggs for the Saints.
Advantage: SAINTS
While
there is no official Twitter accounts for either team, there are
several unofficial Twitter profiles for each managed by fans and media
sites. The Colts’ @Colts_News profile registers 10,260 followers while the @TheSaints fan account is showing 7,325. According to Adam Sherk,
a search and PR strategist "Twitter-athletes.com currently lists
profiles for six Colts players and 15 Saints players…plus Kim
Kardashian," which he counts as a “spokesperson” of sorts. So based on
these mixed reviews, I would say the evidence is inconclusive.
Advantage: None
So
down to the wire (with no more time-outs),and if I was a betting man, I
would have to say it’s a very close call – but the winner according to
these stats, is the "WhoDat" team from New Orleans, by a social media field goal!
Let
me know if you’ve found any evidence to the contrary… but please
supply us with some verifiable statistics and URLs of the Web sites
that back up your claims and post in the comment section below.
P.S.
The other factor that leverages odds in favor of the Saints is based on
the classic Rock Band that will entertain at Half-Time. Who dat you
ask? Why, it’s "The Who," themselves… that’s who!
P.S.S. For those that just tune into the game for the commercials, after kickoff, check out the YouTube Ad Blitz
where commercials will be uploaded as they air and fans will be able to
vote for their favorites in real-time. Twitter-powered rankings of the
ads will also available for viewing on the BrandBowl 2010 site. And for those that want a peak at my Top Five Super Bowl commercial picks, check out, "Top Five Super Bowl XLIV Commercials – Sneak Peaks."
