Episode 49 of the DSMSports Podcast w/ Ross Tucker, NFL Broadcaster and Podcaster

Best Of...Ross Tucker on theDigital and Social Media Sports

Podcast

Ross Tucker, former NFL player and now a NFL broadcaster and host of the Ross Tucker Football, Fantasy Feast Eatin', and Even Money podcasts, was the featured guest on episode 49 of the DSMSports Podcast.

What follows are some snippets from the interview. Hear the full episode on www.DSMSports.net or find it on iTunes and Stitcher.

Enjoy...

@njh287DSMSports.net


PodcastRoss's background and career path

Grew up in Wyomissing, PA and playing football and aspiring to be a sportswriter or broadcaster → Became a better player than he anticipated and ended up attending Princeton to play football → Did internships between school years and accepted a job at Lehman Brothers before making the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent



Podcast

Ross's background and career path

→ He deferred his Lehman Brothers job for a year during his first season in the NFL → Continued doing internships in the offseason during his NFL career, not preparing himself for a career in media, however (after doing a podcast and writing for ESPN).”



Podcast“I actually deferred my Lehman Brothers job because

I thought 'Eh, this might just be one year [in the NFL],'...I looked at every year like that, so every offseason I would get a different internship...I kind of leaned away from the media thing because it seemed like that's what (everyone else) was going to do...

I noticed that seemingly the best jobs in the broadcasting industry typically went to the guys that were the best players, but that just wasn't me...”



Podcast

Ross attended the first-ever NFL broadcasting boot camp before his last NFL season

“I came away from that thinking (that) a lot of guys could talk on TV or the radio, but not a lot of guys could write...I thought 'What if I'm the first or one of the only former players that actually writes about what it's really like?'...I thought that could be my niche, my competitive advantage.”



Podcast

Ross mentioned this idea to (Sports Illustrated NFL Senior Writer and Founder/Editor of TheMMQB) Peter King and, after getting hurt with the Redskins, began writing for The MMQB while on Injured Reserve

→ “My career was essentially over, but that (injury) triggered a lot of media opportunities (SI, Sirius XM radio, Comcast)...Since then, I've had a million different media gigs, started the podcast...”



Podcast

Ross took on a lot of media jobs and wrote for ESPN, before also co-hosting an NFL podcast → “I literally had no idea what a podcast was (when they asked him to host one)...I started doing the podcast for a few years (with ESPN)...”

Ross took the podcast solo after leaving ESPN and started the Ross Tucker Football Podcast, as well as two others (with one more to come) Even Money (football betting odds and tips) and Fantasy Feast Eatin' (fantasy football).



Podcast

“I absolutely love the podcast medium for a lot of different reasons. The flexibility. I can put the live (advertising) reads in when I want to. It's not as rigid. I don't really have a boss, I'm kind of on my own.

We talk about what I want to talk about, we get the guests on that I want to get. The positives are it's all on me. The negatives are it's all on me.”



Podcast

On leaving ESPN and building the Ross Tucker brand

“It was exciting, but it was also nerve-wracking. At ESPN, I had a contract and would get 'x' amount of dollars per podcast no matter how many people listened. It was turnkey for me...It was not really heavy lifting for me...



Podcast“It was exciting to know I was actually going to own

something and the podcast was going to be my baby. I was really fortunate that I had done a nice job at ESPN on behalf of the advertisers...

They had really seen significant results when they used me over at ESPN, so I was able to get them with basically introductory pricing on the podcast. So I was able to have revenue from day one.

It was a start-up business, but not really a start-up business in the sense that I had established myself in the industry and I had established myself with those particular advertisers.”



PodcastOn migrating his ESPN audience to his eponymous platform

“I tried as much as I could to get people to follow me on social media, so they would know about the new podcast. But there was a drop-off in numbers from ESPN. That is just such a big platform over there...but slowly and surely, I am building it back to up where I want it to be.

It's a lot, now. I do have a sales agency...but I do a lot of the sales myself. I have to do the outline for the podcast I have to get the guest. It's definitely a lot more work, but it's also more rewarding personally and professionally.”



Podcast

Helpful tool: Tagging people in Twitter photos, can tag up to 10 people

and they'll be notified, you'll be on their radar (of, again, potentially ten people in a single tweet, no characters used!)



PodcastHow Ross uses digital and social to reach, mobilize, and

engage his fans

“One of the things I really love about podcasts is this community that I have...the Tuck-Heads, this is my crew, this is my people. TV gigs, radio gigs, writing gigs – those will come and go over the years. But I feel like my podcast listeners, that's my community...that I hope to foster for years to come. So they are my top priority...

Plus, my competition is really the podcast at ESPN and NFL.com and they just have gigantic platforms...I don't have the platform that they have, so I really need my listeners to spread the gospel of being a listener of my podcast.”



Podcast

Plus, not being associated with ESPN and the NFL, I'm able to do some things and say some things that I don't think that they are, but also they don't have as much advertising (as his podcast) because they look at (podcasts) as a way to continue to engage with customers that frequent their other platforms...it's not really an additional moneymaker for them...

When my competition doesn't have much advertisement, that makes it tough for me to...strike the balance.”



Podcast

“There is always that balance of revenue versus content for me, which is a good problem to have. The other issue would be that no one wants to advertise and then I wouldn't be able to do it...

A lot of my advertisers are direct response advertisers, so they know exactly how many of my listeners go to their website and use the code...So I'm really heavily dependent on (listeners) to support the podcast, take advantage of the offers, and use the (promotional) codes.”



PodcastOn whether he utilizes his independent position to feature

the less mainstream NFL content

“It's not...I don't really look at (ESPN, NFL) competition when I'm (coming up with content)...I just try to do something that I think is interesting because, usually, if I think it's interesting, then the listeners are going to think it's interesting, as well...”

[Ross tells a great anecdote with background on the recent podcast featuring his wife speaking about being the wife of an NFL player]



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“In terms of the competition, what's interesting about it is, there isn't really any other podcast I'm aware of that features a former player like me...other (podcasts) do a great job, but it's just different...They can't have the perspective that I have on most things.”



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On the importance of having an engaged community that supports and trusts him

“Trust is gigantic, which is why I don't take on an advertiser unless I check them out first and believe in them...I believe in these things (and use them all)...that trust is really important...



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“In terms of (answering) email, I want to be interactive with the audience and I want to provide them with value. So, if they're going to take the time to use one of my sponsors, then I'm going to reward them for that. You support me, then I'm going to support you...I think that's a fair deal and, evidently, so do the listeners.”



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Share-able stat: One-third (33%) of all Americans 12 years of age or older now

say they have listened to at least one podcast. [Edinson Research, May 2015]



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The most unusual “Ask Ross” question that Ross has ever received from a fan

“Probably people either wanting to stop by my house or grab something to eat where I live. As much as I love my listeners, it's always a little interesting when you don't know someone personally...”



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Ross's favorite guest he's ever had on the podcast and why

“It'd probably be pretty bad if I didn't say my wife, yeah?...I (also) really enjoyed Herschel Walker, he's a really interesting guy...Probably my wife because I think that's an aspect of the NFL that people don't really delve into. And that's probably the most positive feedback I can remember getting from a guest in a long time.”



PodcastOn why NFL linemen (like Ross) make the best broadcasters

“A couple of reasons...Other than quarterback, offensive linemen have to be among the smartest and most knowledgeable (players) on the team just because of the nature of blocking schemes and defensive adjustments.

Also, I think offensive linemen are usually the most appreciative and the most down-to-earth. So, if they get a broadcasting job, they're excited about (and) put their heart and soul into it. But they also don't think that they're great because they haven't been told they're a star their whole lives.”



PodcastThe most talented teammates Ross has ever had

Two guys –

LaVar Arrington, who Ross played with in Washington: “He's as gifted as anyone I have ever been around, but, unfortunately, the injury bug caught him.”

Jason Peters → “He was a 320-pound practice squad tight end when I was with him in 2004 with the Buffalo Bills and it's just amazing to see the career he has had. The first day they moved him to offensive line was unbelievable to watch.”



PodcastAn NFL player or media member that Ross thinks uses social

media well and why

“I like people that...really provide good nuggets for whatever it is that their focal point is. A guy like Joel Corry (@corryjoel), who writes for CBSSports.com. He is a cap guy, a contract guy (and) I enjoy his stuff...

Another guy I started following recently is Joe Banner (former Eagles and Browns team President) Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13)...(He is) actually very honest and outspoken on Twitter.”


http://www.twitter.com/corryjoel

http://www.twitter.com/JoeBanner13


Podcast

On the future of the Ross Tucker brand and its outlets

“I'd like to see the continued growth of the podcast. Whether that's adding more and different sports that maybe I don't host or just continuing to grow the (ones) I have...

One of the real positive podcasts is I do it from home (And it doesn't require travel)...I'm always open to the TV stuff and video and radio. But top number one priority is to continue to grow and maybe have the biggest NFL podcast out there.”



PodcastThe best press box meal of all-time according to Ross

Ross names two:

“Green Bay always has a ton of great stuff, including brats, and I'm a sucker for brats...Brats and mashed potatoes...”

“Surprisingly to me, Tampa. The Tampa Bay Bucs is terrific. A ton of delicious options and there was a Bananas Foster section that I hit up three times.”



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Ross's Social Media All-Star to Follow

@KyleBrandt [Ross's college roommate] → “If you like the intersection of sports and Hollywood...He's a producer for Jim Rome

Andrew Brandt @ADBrandt → “I enjoy his take on the

business side of the NFL.”


http://www.twitter.com/KyleBrandt

http://www.twitter.com/ADBrandt


Podcast

Where to find Ross and all of Ross Tucker podcasts and media

@RossTuckerNFL on Twitter and RossTuckerNFL on Facebook, RossTucker.com

@RTFPodcast on Twitter for the main football podcast,

Podcasts: Ross Tucker Football podcast, Even Money Podcast Fantasy Feast Eatin', and one more...


http://www.twitter.com/RossTuckerNFL

http://www.facebook.com/RossTuckerNFL

http://www.rosstucker.com/

http://www.twitter.com/RTFPodcast


Podcast

Thanks so much to Ross Tucker for joining the Digital & Social Media Sports podcast!

For more info on the podcast, check out DSMSports.net and follow me @njh287


http://www.dsmsports.net/

http://www.twitter.com/njh287

Documents

Episode 49 of the DSMSports Podcast w/ Ross Tucker, NFL Broadcaster and Podcaster