In last week’s edition of gsport Twitter Space Thursday, host Oarabile Diphoko chatted to Head of PR at Levergy Jessica Porter, as she chatted about the sponsorship space and working with Telkom to uplift netball in South Africa.
Speaking on what Levergy does as a company, Porter stated: “We connect brands to people through the things that they love and what they are passionate about. We strive to help brands become more relevant, commercially stronger and producing standout work across the sport, entertainment and lifestyle space. Over the years we have become one of South Africa’s passion marketing agency which includes anything from sponsorship structures, to activations and PR amongst other things.”
With Levergy being a PR company they have many partnerships with other big name brands such as the likes of Telkom, who are also in partnership with Netball South Africa. Porter explained more about the work the company has been doing with the telecommunications giants.
“One of the biggest things Telkom prides themselves with is the netball sponsorship. It is more than just a sponsorship in women’s sport. They are providing opportunities and a platform for young South African’s to not only showcase their talent but also be part of a network that allows them to thrive. They take further than just being pro athletes, they really start at grass root level and help develop the younger generation. Brands always have to make sure they’ve got that consistency in the space.
Looking at how corporations can help close the visibility gap, Porter declared:
“From a PR lens, we are way past the stage where we push a campaign and that’s where it ends. People see right through it and can see if you are really committed to it. The main thing is consistency. You can’t do a splash in the pan campaign showing your support for women in sports, it needs to be an ongoing initiative. Corporations need to start showing tangible investments. It is more than just sticking a brand to a player’s shirt and hoping for the best. Brands need to connect with their audience in order to drive that positive messaging.”
When it comes to athletes who would love to land sponsorship deals or get to work with a reputable company on a campaign, Porter said:
“Social media is such a powerful tool. However, it is not a one size fits all for everyone. You need to know your audience and who you ultimately want to appeal too. Brands look out for athletes who have found real engagements with their audience. This kind of interaction makes you authentic to yourself and to your audience. Being authentic allows you to show off your success and helps you acknowledge your challenges. As an athlete you need to remember you are more than just a sports person. You are an inspiration to so many people. Your success, honesty and authenticity guides the next generation. When you approach an agency, you have to be able to say this is who I am, I know my worth and partner with an agency that believes in your potential.
Wrapping up the conversation Porter vocalized Levergy’s plans going forward:
“We have just launched the #StandTall campaign with Telkom for the Netball team which is a build up to the Netball World Cup. Essentially it is about taking their fundamentals and commitment by inspiring the South African youth to be part of sports. It is about trusting yourself knowing that you have the talent to truly succeed. Everyone has a story to tell.”
Click here to listen to the full conversation!
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