Top News: March 2019 Race Registration Market Analysis
The endurance industry is built on a diverse set of technology platforms with no centralized data aggregator, making it challenging to estimate the true market. In September 2015 we started a project to continuously evaluate (and update) the size and status of the market.
During that time, we estimate that RunSignup has increased its U.S. market share from approximately 10% to 20-30%, with over 5 million registrations in 2018. How do we draw our conclusions? It’s complicated, but fellow industry nerds can take a closer look at the race calendars, web traffic, and other metrics that we use to study the state of the market.
Best of the Blog: Race Director Resources
Processing Fee Elasticity
Virtually all events now charge processing fees, ranging from a few dollars (RunSignup!) to significant percentages (think: concerts). And yet, consumers continue to purchase experiences, a phenomenon referred to as price elasticity. While our fees are fixed, that doesn’t mean the fees of each race are fixed: some races may want to consider raising their fees as a source of revenue.
RunSignup Symposium Host Hotel
The Host Hotel for the 2019 RunSignup Symposium is taking reservations! The Marriott Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown (soon to be converted to The Notary) is on the National Register of Historic Places, is centrally located across the street from Philadelphia City Hall, and will also house Symposium Sessions. Don’t forget to register, too!
Tough Times for Tough Mudder
As fellow endurance industry professionals, you can take lessons from recent press about Tough Mudder’s financial problems. Take caution with your business model: don’t overextend, understand that the growth of the industry has waned, and don’t take a quick cash bailout.
The Re-Branding Process
Re-branding is hard, so we broke down the process we recently undertook. We’re not just being self-centered: races are often interested in re-inventing themselves, and we wanted to share what we learned. On the topic of re-branding: if you need RunSignup logos, download them here.
Our Most Important March Update
We wanted to reserve this space to congratulate the customer currently leading our annual March Madness pool…but it looks like Bob is currently in first. More of you will have to play in 2020!
Timer Corner
RaceDay Certified Timer Spotlight: Craig Chiger
Craig Chiger, the founder of Start to Finish, has been incorporating RaceJoy’s live tracking as a standard part of his timing package since his certification in January. He first tested the app with a test race, and is now incorporating the technology for every race – regardless of the distance or size.
RaceDay Results How-To
Take a sneak peak at one of the educational presentations from the RaceDay Timer Certification Tour! Matt Avery, RunSignup’s Race Day Product Manager, provides an overview of our open, flexible options for live results, including on the RunSignup race website, a race or timer’s website, the RaceJoy mobile app, and Email and Text notifications.
Save Time. Raise More. Easy!
Updates to Fundraising
Fundraising keeps getting easier! Personalizing the mission is a great motivator, and we have some creative ideas for donation levels and the ability to add images to donation descriptions.
Improvements for fundraising events include the ability to set default fundraising goals for fundraisers who don’t set their own and the option for a race director to grant co-captain access to a fundraising team.
For events with multiple charities, you can now randomize the charity shown for simple checkbox donations at checkout. When enabled, approximately 10-12% of non-donors choose to add a donation!
Upcoming Events
Richmond Race Director Forum
RunSignup is hosting an interactive Race Directors Forum in Richmond in April, in conjunction with the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K, and we’ll be joined there by industry marketing veterans Big Run Media. In advance of the event, we talked to them about the business of marketing races. Join us in Richmond to hear more from them!
Alan Jones Timer Award at RunSignup Symposium
Submissions are being accepted for the newly launched Alan Jones Timer Award to recognize an industry timer who has made an impact on improving the race industry. We’ve long been fans of Alan Jones’ contributions to the industry (and congratulate him on the sale of RunScore), and look forward to honoring his legacy at our annual Symposium. Nominate away!
Bonus Event: Heading out to the RRCA Convention this week? So are we! Stop by and say hello (and bring your questions)!
One thought on “RunSignup March Newsletter”
-
Pingback: Q1 2019 RunSignup Results – RunSignup
Leave a Reply