Mike Silzer is a Soccer Coach & Social Media Expert. Silzer manages the social media and content creation for Troy HS Girls Soccer which has amassed 200,000+ followers on Instagram, as well as promoting the female game to a wider audience.
How did you initially get involved in social media marketing?
8 years ago I took over the Troy Girls Soccer Program and I started social accounts for the program.
Which accounts do you currently manage?
Over the past few years I have worked with soccer brands, schools, soccer clubs, soccer influencers and soccer micro influencers to manage their page or teach them how to grow their brand.
Did you foresee the Troy Girls Soccer accounts growing to this extent?
From the beginning my goal was to do my best for the program. I wanted to be an example for other female soccer programs. The purpose of the page is to highlight the the program and inspire anyone involved in the female game.
During the past 8 years, I was fortunate to have mentors that were in the social media industry. I had experts who could answer my questions or brainstorm on ideas. In addition, I would study and learn on my own.
What are the common mistakes you see accounts make on their social media?
Personal Accounts: Players forget that they are their own brand. If a player plans on playing soccer at the next level or going to university to get a degree… their social media should reflect their goals. Get rid of the “fake” accounts with your friends - if what you say or what you do is not appropriate for others to see, don’t say it, don’t post it or don’t do it in the first place.
Team Pages: A common misconception is that you have to have a good program to post on social media. Any team at any level can be successful on social media. The players are the main characters of your stories. You can create content that has nothing to do with wins and losses.
What key advice would you give to a soccer organization starting a new social media account?
The goal is to have your social media match or exceed the quality of your organization. Don’t worry about followers, likes and views. Create content that represents who you are and create content that attacks your ideal client in the most concentrated space.
What direction do you see social media marketing going in?
We have seen a huge shift over the past few years into short form content. I believe this will continue to be relevant in 2023. The content I think will be evergreen is educational content.
Companies and brands are always looking for influencers to promote their products however I believe that micro influencers will be more sought after in 2023.
Any recommendations for soccer training accounts to follow?
There are so many great accounts, here are a few:
@jonerfootball - Lee Jones and his staff (Australia) create excellent content on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter and in App (great for players, trainers & coaches)
@itrain_soccer - Luis Leon (Stockton, CA) creates simple but effective training exercises that you can do on your own
@alexramostraining - Alex Ramos (New Jersey) creates excellent educational content - especially his content for attackers
@firststrikesoccer - Bradley Mulvey (Los Angeles) soccer trainer that works with youth - professional players. His content shows his training sessions
@sc9strikercoach - Scott Chickelday (England) excellent content for Strikers
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