• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is open through Nov. 6 Learn More

The Ringer’s Julie Phayer on Life as a Social Media Professional

Julie Phayer - Social Media - Sports

Subscribe: iTunes | SoundCloud

Julie Phayer didn’t set out to work in social media. In fact, her degree from Chico State is in event management — a degree that, for the most part, is on the completely opposite spectrum from social media.

After taking a few classes and going through a volunteer project, Phayer decided to change her course. That change led her to a marketing minor and a role with the campus bookstore. After graduation, she was without a job for six months, a move that was intentional because she didn’t want just any job, she wanted to work in sports. By chance, a digital marketing assistant role at the Warriors came open and six years later, Phayer had three championship rings and a lifetime of memories.

Now at The Ringer, Phayer takes you through her career up until this point, the move from the Warriors to The Ringer, and the state of social media as we head into 2019.

Edited highlights appear below:

On Getting Her Start in Social Media (11:54)

“I always wanted to be an event planner, but I wanted to be in the sports world still. I pictured myself working March Madness and other big sports events. After doing a few event classes and all of the required volunteering, I realized that it wasn’t for me. At that point, I picked up a minor in marketing and worked at our campus bookstore doing digital marketing there. After graduation it took me six months to find a job, but I was so dead set on finding the job that I wanted doing digital and sports. An opening for a digital marketing assistant at the Warriors opened up and I guess I did pretty well because they made me an offer and I was there for six years.”

On Her Strategy at the Warriors (16:19)

“I was born in the East Bay, so I had been a Warriors fan my entire life. Being able to be the voice of the social and use that as a way to bring the fans closer to the team was my dream job at the time. It was also kind of the foundation for my strategy. The Warriors have always had a passionate fan base and knowing that I had the ability to make fans feel like they were seeing things that no one else was seeing was key. It was really about doing any little thing to make fans feel closer to the team that they’re already so passionate about.”

Social on the Sidelines is Presented to You By:

On Going from a Team to a Publisher (30:56)

“Going from a team to a publisher has been a very huge transition. It’s been one of the best challenges because the approach to everything is just so different. The amount of content being pushed out every day is such a high volume, but it’s also also high quality. The biggest challenge so far for me has been just seeing so many good pieces come out and wanting to give them the attention they deserve. It can be tough having so much good content to push out and finding the best ways to distribute everything in the most creative and engaging ways.”

Want more content like this? Subscribe to our daily newsletter!

On Breaking Through as an Employee (43:40)

“It’s all about creating your own opportunities. If you know exactly what you want to do and who you want to do for but they don’t have openings, just pitch yourself to them. What do you have to lose? If you don’t see the job you want, go out there and create it. You just have to know your value and know how to make others see it.”

Love what we are doing? Help us grow and get in front of more people by subscribing below and leaving a review! 

iTunes | SoundCloud

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Vanderbilt Commodores fans head to the south end zone as the goal post is taken down by exuberant fans after beating No. 1 Alabama 40-35 at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
opinion

Something New in College Football This Year: Parity

Upsets, surprises. CFB is more fun on the field than the NFL.
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Mission Swing State: College Football’s Political Advertising Battle

Trump, Harris, and the PACs that support them are utilizing the sport.

The Untapped Revenue ‘Powder Keg’ of Women’s NFL Fandom

There’s a “boatload” of money at stake for brands and the league.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

NFL Teams Face Crossroads at Season’s Halfway Point

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) shakes hands while entering the locker room after a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

NIL Director Is the Trendy New Job in College Sports. But the Role Is Chaos

Athletic departments nationwide are hiring for what’s become their most important position.
FuboTV signage
opinion
October 26, 2024

Fubo’s Fight Against Streaming Giants Feels Futile

Fubo notched a legal win, but subs and stock still slump.
October 25, 2024

Inside The Wall at L.A. Clippers’ New $2B Home

FOS went inside the “contagious” energy at the L.A. Clippers’ Intuit Dome.
Sep 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots a three point jump shot over Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) during game one of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center.
October 25, 2024

WNBA Facing 4 Big Business Questions This Offseason

Here’s where the WNBA can consider making upgrades after a historic year.

How the Chiefs Are Prepping for Year 2 of Taylor Swift Mania

The pop star is expected to attend more games this season.
Olivia Moody
August 4, 2021

Colin Cowherd’s New Podcast Network Going All-In On Sports Betting

With sports betting rapidly legalizing, Colin Cowherd’s The Volume podcast network is hiring Olivia Moody, a.k.a. ‘Liv Moods,’ from Bookit Sports.
Actor Vince Vaughn throws out first pitch at Chicago Cubs game
exclusive
December 9, 2022

Vince Vaughn, Greg Olsen’s New Company Eyeing Financing

Greg Olsen and actor Vince Vaughn’s new company has launched first two podcasts.
Sponsored

World Series Delivers High-Demand Marquee Matchup

The hype around the World Series matchup drove ticket prices to record levels—but the Dodgers’ dominance quickly quieted the fervor.
exclusive
May 13, 2021

Cris Carter Scores New Deal With Blue Wire Podcasts

Cris Carter has scored a deal with Blue Wire Podcasts. The Pro Football Hall of Famer will interview star receivers, past and present, on his new “WR1” podcast.
September 24, 2020

Office Hours: Alex Magleby, co-founder and CEO of the New England Free..

Alex Magleby, the New England Free Jacks co-founder and CEO, is bullish on rugby’s future in the U.S. and Major League Rugby.
August 13, 2020

Office Hours: Bart Conner, Owner of Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy and Former..

Bart Conner is the only American male gymnast to win a gold medal at every level of national and international competition.
July 22, 2020

Office Hours: Devon Kennard, Real Estate Investor

Devon Kennard has found success on and off the field with a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio that includes 14 different properties.