Marketing Plan

First thing you need to do is...........slow down and take a breath.  Second you need to realize there really isn't a specific way to get this done.  The end result of generating interest in your son is to be seen by the coaches of the schools he can realistically play for so be honest with yourselves. 

Become a firm believer of the KISS method - Keep It Simple Stupid - to stay away from info overload that is counter productive.  Have your son email the coach with a short introduction - who he is, grad year, positions played etc.... - then have he will need to specifically ask what the coach would like from him.  Some want video; some don't so it helps to know who does.  Now if you send a video to a coach who doesn't want video it's not going to hurt you but why burden someone you want to impress with something they don't want?

Next find out what showcase(s) they will attend and go to them.  At the showcase walk up to them and introduce yourself.  Once again follow KISS just to make an impression.  Then go out and perform.  Another route similar to this asking about camps and going to them.  Just be seen by the people you want to be seen by and then it's now your talent doing the talking.

Recruiting is nowhere near as hard as people make it out to be but it's also something that can worry you to death.  The key things to remember about recruiting are these

1.  Be seen by the coaches you want to be seen by

2.  Ask those coaches where they are going to be so you can be there as well

3.  Know your roles in the process - Kids do the work and initial contacts / parents direct and supervise but shouldn't be an active part until it's time to talk money.

4.  Realize these coaches are dealing with nervous kids so it's going to be hard to turn off a coach toward a recruit as long as they interact with coaches in a mature manner

5.  Actually have the talent / academic skills to be successful.

The keys to controlling items 1 - 4 is practicing before contacting the coach just like practicing is what allows item 5 to be successful as well.

Hope this makes sense and helps.

Good luck

coach2709,

 Thank you, very helpful info you have given us. I know my son has interest in schools in SC, NC & WV and we are getting camp info from them but now we need to find time to get down there to them say in Dec / Jan, June / July ,etc..  10 hour drive one way...

  Even without the school even having interest in him but maybe just as a camper for the weekend...could be tough to find out with really has interest and who doesnt..

 Thanks again for the helpful info. going to take that deep breath here in a few minutes, just one more letter to finish.... ha ha ha

Joe

Sounds good and sadly it is expensive.  Make sure he is wanting to play college baseball because he wants to play - not because of the prestige of getting a scholarship.  At the end of the day you're going to spend tons and tons more money than what you will ever get out of a scholarship for baseball.  Some people I've dealt with in the past are so caught up in getting that scholarship it just wasn't worth the amount of money put into it.  Not saying that's what you're doing but more of a warning to not let it happen.

Also - if you don't mind - let me ask you about this statement......

just one more letter to finish

Who is doing the work on this - you or your son?  This is something your son needs to do.  Coaches can tell when this is done by a kid or an adult.  What impression do you and your son want to give this coach?  A) that you're kid isn't able to do the work on his own to better his future or B) you're a helicopter parent who will always hover over your son.  Don't get me wrong you need to be part of this process but more of a guidance and help them phrase how to say things and be supportive but it needs to come from the players.  College coaches know parents are part of the process and appreciate the ones who help and guide but it's not a good thing if it's perceived that your son is not doing anything on this.

Hopefully, I'm just reading too much into a statement you wrote tongue in cheek and if so then I apologize.  But we get all kinds of people on here who say and pose crazy things.  

BTW welcome to the board.  I just realized that you haven't really posted that much.

Make sure camps are prospect camps and not just training camps schools use to finance their spring trip.

I love the name of a marketing plan because that is what it is, however, recruiting process has to be owned by your son and you are his assistant.  I can also tell you from lots of experience the best marketing programs are targeted. Shotgun plans don’t work. I would:

1. Discuss academic desires of your son and what major he is interested and his academic interests. (forget baseball for a minute)
2. Discuss school profiles does he want a big school or small school, locations, etc. (again forget baseball)
3. What level of player is he? Get an honest assessment, not you, but someone else. PG, pro coach, scout, etc.
4. Based on his skills make up a list of possible baseball programs. You need to do research on the programs, coaches, players, etc. This list should include D1-D3 programs even if he profiles as a D1 player.

Note: Notice there are no fancy marketing flyers, discussion of camps etc. This is all a lot of work and will take you and your son several months of discussion, review of US News college reports, Princeton, etc. You and your family will also discuss what you can afford and what works best for you. You must realize that he may not get scholly money so plan on paying the full bill.

1. Now merge the lists and make up a target list of schools that fits both profiles. His target list should be in the range of 25-35.
2. Now the marketing begins and keep it simple. First the email account must be your sons. You can make up a simple profile sheet of him, forget fancy graphics, etc. Have him draft an introductory email and you proof everything that goes out.  The profile should have references at the bottom with phone numbers, HS coach, travel coach, pro scout.  Again forget the fancy stuff no videos, etc.
3. Have a You tube account set up for videos if requested.
4. You will start to get some responses, some will be real and some will be “come to my camp”
5. Now you should have his schedule worked out with what events he will go to. Go to the ones that your target schools attend. If he wants to go to UNC, then don’t go to events they don’t attend.
6. This is now the point to figure out what his schedule will be notice you are probably 3-6 months into the process before you are trying to figure out where he goes.
7. The rest of the process is figuring out who is real and who is not and the back and forth meetings, showcases, events, etc. This is where you have to manage the travel budget etc.
8. In this whole process keep stressing academics because the fact is that there is 10X  more money available for academics than athletics. For this you need another plan and I have to get to work.

As coach says keep it simple. Fancy flyers raise suspensions of coaches.If they are interested you will know!

Hope this helps and good luck!

"What level of player is he? Get an honest assessment, not you, but someone else. PG, pro coach, scout, etc."--BOF

This one is very important.  Get an honest assessment and that will help zero-in on the level play that will match his ability.  Most coaches want to see the skill with their own eyes so camps and tryouts are good outlet for that.  Be careful, you could spend a lot of money a D1 Top 10 school's camp and your son is DIII at best.  Be realistic, target the right schools that are looking for his skillset (LHP/1B/speedy OF/etc) and get in front of those coaches.  There are some quality travel teams that help with this but YOU are your son's best advocate.

BOF -  That is one of the best posts I've read.

But I have 1 little issue.  Point #2 you say to not include any video.  I'd have to disagree.  This would be like sending a note to employer saying "I want to work for you.  Call my references."  But forgetting to attach a resume.  It takes less time to see a kids swing on film then it does to call his coach on the phone.  If they like the swing, then the phone call becomes important.

Listen to Chris Pollard talk about this very topic...

But then again, "marketing" is not an exact science.  So there is no right or wrong way.

Rich

www.PlayInSchool.com

You could be right Rich, but because so many spam filters take out links (and attachments) that I think for first contact take your profile document (word, pdf) and cut and past it into the email with no attachments. 

Also just because you don't get a response from a program don't give up. You could have miss-typed the email, it could have gone in the bit bucket. The coach was busy, overlooked it, etc. 

No one way is right, other than having a plan and working it. Just going to events and hoping a coach notices you is guarantee for failure except for tier 1 players. 

BOF - 

Good stuff.

I've found that so peoples fear of "NO" sometimes paralyzes them.  Instead of communicating early & often, they put it off.  

Personally, I'd rather hear "NO" today than 6 weeks or 6 months from now.

"NO" is good information.  Helps you target "market".  Whoops, there's that bad word again.  Remember just a few short years ago when "marketing" a player was frowned upon.  I guess the "Old Timers" that used to say "If you are good enough, they'll find you" are beginning to catch up.  

Being proactive is important.  Networking is important.  Sitting on your couch waiting for your phone to ring could be disastrous.  So naive.

Rich

www.PlayInSchool.com

Thanks for all the great pointers here, I see  KISS is going to be best option so far.

@ coach, my son does put some letters together then I draw up a few and we try to come up with one that works.. At times I will have time to put a letter together then show my son and he will make corrections or retype it.

 I am also into photography this is my second full time job, ha ha

So that is why I am I thinking "marketing plan' with photos , video, etc.

 My son has been to a few prospect camps, at one school camp  they  said he is a small D1, than at another one about 5 months later one school camp letter said he is a DII or DIII  walk on.. ( so I guess he had a bad day at the office and didn't catch one of his five ground balls that he showcased ) does that make him a DII or DIII walk on.?

 we are on schedule for PG and looking to make a few more camps that have his schools of interest in it. but that is key ' the schools of interest'

Of course he wants to play ball in college, his grades are very good.

taking ACT in December.

I know schools get 100's if not 1000's of letters, by the time they read  my sons letter he would have retired from his full time job at McDonalds with an IRA to boot.. ha ha ha joking...

That is why I was thinking marketing plan with a twist of photos / videos not just a letter on the bottom of 200 other...   and of course he NOT 6'3" NOT throwing 95

but he is a stand out player in his class and loves for the game of baseball.

He doesn't want to miss the train to baseball at the next level... College.

  This summer he is going to be playing with one of the top summer travel teams in the area. its a 3 hour drive.

Thanks again and sorry for the long reply.

Joe

Joe,

My advice is for your son to focus on a few places where the coach has a plan for him. This means he needs to take a personal interest in a program where he fits. Coaches/scouts  see talent regardless how a player actually performs at an event. They look at swings, footwork, arm strength, speed, etc. You have no idea how many times I have seen parents worry about a player flubbing a ball, not making solid contact, etc. It only means something to parents. Based on your comments I would really focus on a place where he fits which is likely a DIII level and possibly DII. Find a JC option as a backup also. Go back and read the thread on JC’s here and see how difficult that option can be. Fancy flyers and pictures are not going to do anything but turn off a coach IMO. They look for TALENT.

College baseball is VERY HARD, and the talent levels are incredible. You will not know it until you experience it.

I just got back from a fall scrimmage and there were nearly 50 kids all working their bu tts off trying to earn a spot on the team. I could not get over how big and strong these kids were. The short stop at the end of this year will be a 4 year starter, and was a summer league all-star in one of the top summer leagues in the country. No one is going to take his spot. So this leaves second open to the other MIF players. The starting second baseman is a Soph who displaced an all-league Sr last year during the season.  No one is going to displace him. So all of the middle infielders were realistically playing to be a backup to the two starters and hoping to get a starting spot next year.  This is what your son will be fighting for once he gets to college. Fancy flyers and the such are not going to get him on a team, only talent and hard work.

....Oh and BTW this was a DIII. (granted one of the top in the country and frankly the only difference between this team and a D1 was likely the pitching and a couple of stars)

This is what your son is facing. I can’t stress to you how important for him to find a place he fits. 

Good luck!

You're very welcome.  Good luck with your son!