Post by HappyFan on Apr 2, 2017 8:29:20 GMT
Players Find a Balance on Social Media
When So Yeon Ryu arrives in a new city, her first stop is the grocery store. It’s a trip she makes weekly with her mom and regularly shares on social media. It’s become a favorite post for Ryu’s fans.
“First of all I’m Korean, so I have a lot of fans in Korea. I keep in communication with them. I think that’s one of the biggest reason why I keep very active on Instagram or Twitter,” Ryu told LPGA.com. “They really want to know how we prepare for the tournament, how are we swinging and what’s our hobby, what we want to eat.”
Social media has paved the way for professional athletes and sports organization to have conversations with their fans. It’s an opportunity to share their message and build a passionate and invested fan base. Through social media, fans can not only connect with the LPGA but also become part of the story.
During Ryu’s rookie season, she attended a media training session held by the LPGA and said she learned some valuable tips.
“It’s better not to share where you are currently, it is better to tag where you were after you’ve left. Better to upload something in English and Korean, better not to say some political or religious thing,” said Ryu. “It was really fun, and I basically control all my accounts based on their teachings.”
For Ryu, finding a balance is important.
“When I uploaded something very frequently someone will say ‘oh you should focus on golf instead of doing something.' It’s like do I really need to think about other people’s thinking? At the same time that does distract me, so if something is not super special I try not to upload something,” said Ryu. “This week I have my coach beside me so this week I work a lot, so I didn’t really have much time.”
