Frost Advisory #358 -- How To Love On Your Listeners, From The Chicago Cubs

by John Frost, Goodratings Strategic Service

You know the story.

108 years without a World Series championship. The lovable losers. The "Friendly Confines" of a ballpark named after a chewing gum magnate. "Let's Play Two" and "Holy Cow!"

When the Chicago Cubs recently received their World Series rings they did something remarkable. Instead of inviting the typical three piece suit sponsors and local aldermen, the Cubs invited just regular ole fans to award them their rings.

There was "the father whose kids all have Cub-themed names. A cancer survivor. A season ticket holder who saved the paper after Ernie Banks' debut and later got him to sign it.

Calling it 'the memory of a lifetime', president of baseball operations Crane Kenney said involving the fans in the ceremony was the team's way of saying thank you for never giving up, despite the Cubs giving them ample opportunity to do so." USA Today Sports

The winners were selected from more than 1,500 video nominations on Twitter using the #CubsRingBearer hashtag, which was shared more than 10,000 times overall.

How does your station make your fans feel like stars? How do you give them an experience they'll share with their friends?

All those times you've had an artist in the studio have you ever considered inviting your station's biggest fans to sit right next to you?

Those dozens of concerts your station sponsors every year, have you ever considered choosing one of your biggest fans to introduce the band? Or to sit on stage? Or on the front row? Or be on the post-concert show?

Have you considered inviting your most viral social media fans to join you in pre-concert All you can Tweet seats so they can share with thousands of others about their special experience?

I reckon 108 years of not winning gives you plenty of time to think about how to appreciate your fans.