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Brand5 Launches First of Its Kind Facebook Page

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Matt Hasselbeck’s Facebook PageWe launched a Facebook Page (membership required) for our client, Matt Hasselbeck. Hasselbeck is the All-Pro quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks.

What’s exciting is that this is the very first page to be created for an NFL player and possibly the first for any US professional athlete from the four major sports (we are still trying to confirm that last fact).

What exactly is a FacebookPage? Here’s how Facebook describes it,

“Every Facebook Page is a unique experience where users can become more deeply connected with your business or brand. Users can express their support by adding themselves as a fan, writing on your Wall, uploading photos, and joining other fans in discussion groups. You can send updates to your fans regularly — or just with special news or offers.”

We are proud to be on the cutting edge with this. Facebook is the hottest thing going right now. It is truly the ‘killer app’ of 2007. With nearly 60 million members and growing, it makes total sense for every brand to get in front of Facebook users. Facebook, moreso than any other social networking website out there right now, facilitates connections amongst its users with similar interests (in this case the popular leader of the Seahawks).

Facebook is incredibly viral. Without any marketing or fanfare whatsoever, nearly 60 users have become a fan of Matt’s page already.

Websites and Amateur Athletes

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There are a lot of “can and can’t-do’s” out there when it comes to athletes and their websites. We here at Brand5 know. We manage websites for two professional athletes (Matt Hasselbeck and Julie Wells).

Athletes are brands. Their names are no different than the name of a company. No one else can use them without the athlete’s permission. Seems like a simple rule, but that doesn’t stop every greedy hanger-on who wants a piece of the pie.

Things are seemingly much more complicated when it comes to college athletes. A recent story involving Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow recently caught our eye. Tebow’s school, the University of Florida, has stepped forward to say that no one can represent Tebow with out Florida’s permission. While it’s not surprising since the NCAA has infinite power, what would happen if Tebow stepped to the forefront and said that he owns his name, not the NCAA and not Florida?

Instances like this are happening more and more. Look for it to bubble over in the coming years as amateur athletes get more and more web savvy, entering college with their own established web presences.