Promoting Part I

We have talked about promoting yourself through camps, combines, and film. Now I want to talk about how to use all of these things to promote yourself directly to colleges.

Sure great performances at a camp or combine will get you recognition, but why allow the recruiting sites or media outlets at these events to be the only ones talking about you? Why not do it yourself? Not every program subscribes to a recruiting service, and many newspaper prep writers (who happen to vote for the all state teams that colleges DO pay attention to) don't subscribe to the recruiting sites either.

So in part one lets talk about getting yourself some recognition from the newspapers. Of course not every paper in your state cares what you did on Friday night because they have their own area to cover, BUT when it comes time to put the all state teams together...the more writers that know your name the better.

So how do you get your name to them? Well in Florida (and I'm sure in other states...you can do a Google search to find out) the Florida Sports Writer Association makes the all state selections. I looked up their web site by doing a Google search, and found a list of all the member papers including the email addresses of the prep writers.

Every Friday night or Saturday morning after I had tallied my son's stats from the previous game (we watched the game film every Friday night...as should you since you're taping them ...I hope) I would email his numbers to all of the prep writers on the FSWA member list.

I would also email them whenever my son's performed well at a camp, combine, or received an accolade for being an outstanding player.

Be honest and don't lie to the papers...they can double check with the high school coach about your son's numbers. You may be a few tackles or yards off from the school's numbers, and that's expected but to just purposely make up stats will get you in trouble.

Your goal should be to get your son's name out there every chance you can to these papers. Don't let a single writer get by that doesn't know his name. When all the state selections come around he will at least be in the discussion...assuming he had a great season.

This is one area where parents often don't think about promoting their child. They're always intent on sending things to schools (and that's good) but they forget about the prep writers. The more press the better. There's a link to the FSWA to the right of this blog. Search to find out how, and who votes on a particular state's all state teams, and follow the advice above.

You can also include a link to your child's highlight video in your emails. This allows the writers a chance to see him for themselves.

The next blog will cover promoting to colleges themselves. As always you can ask a question by leaving a comment or sending an email to: RecruitingInsider.Mark@gmail.com.