How the Savannah Bananas Grew Exponentially using Marketing
The Savannah Bananas: How a Fun-Focused Baseball Team Took Over the Internet and Redefined the Game Using Social Media Marketing
In the world of sports, few teams have managed to redefine the game the way the Savannah Bananas have. Since their founding in 2016, the Bananas have transformed from a small baseball team into a global sensation, thanks in large part to their innovative use of social media marketing. By focusing on entertainment and creating viral moments, they’ve managed to capture the hearts of millions and build a loyal fanbase that spans far beyond the baseball diamond.
This viral success didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of a dedicated social media strategy that prioritizes fun, engagement, and experimentation—elements that any business can apply to their own social media marketing efforts.
A Social Media Phenomenon
The Savannah Bananas are not just a baseball team; they’re a social media powerhouse. With over 8.8 million followers on TikTok, 2.4 million on Instagram, and 1.71 million YouTube subscribers, they’ve built a massive online presence that rivals even major league teams. In fact, their TikTok following surpasses that of Major League Baseball’s official account by over a million followers.
The secret to their success? A strategy that focuses on entertaining rather than selling.
According to team owner Jesse Cole, the Bananas aren’t using social media to push ticket sales or merchandise. Instead, they focus on creating fun, shareable content that keeps fans engaged. In a LinkedIn post, Cole explained their approach:
“We are not trying to sell anything. We are not trying to promote anything. Our goal is to entertain and create attention. We believe attention beats marketing 1,000% of the time.”
This approach is a major departure from traditional sports marketing, which often revolves around promotions and sponsorships. By prioritizing entertainment and engagement, the Bananas have built a global audience that eagerly shares their content, helping them reach millions of new fans with each viral video.
How Social Media Transformed the Bananas
When the Bananas started in 2016, they were just a small, local baseball team in the Coastal Plain League. But thanks to their social media strategy, they quickly rose to fame. Their secret? Experimentation and consistency.
From choreographed dances and trick plays to hilarious skits and fan interactions, the Bananas’ content is designed to be fun and shareable. The team focuses on quantity leading to quality, constantly testing new ideas to see what resonates with their audience.
Cole emphasizes the importance of experimentation:
“Quantity leads to quality, and you only learn by doing. Our ability to grow on social media happened solely because of our dedication to posting every day and learning every day.”
This willingness to experiment and learn from failure has been a game-changer for the Bananas, allowing them to create viral moments that keep fans coming back for more.
The Power of Viral Marketing
The Savannah Bananas’ social media success is a perfect example of how viral marketing can transform a business. By creating content that resonates emotionally with their audience, they’ve been able to build a loyal following that eagerly shares their videos.
Professor Jonah Berger’s research into virality highlights that emotions that elicit “physiological arousal,” such as amusement, are key drivers of shareable content. The Bananas have perfected this by focusing on fun, humor, and surprise. Their viral videos—whether it’s a player flipping in the air or a choreographed dance in the outfield—tap into these emotions, making them irresistible to social media users.
This has translated into massive real-world success for the team. The Bananas have sold out every game since 2016, with tickets in such high demand that they had to introduce a lottery system for their 2024 World Tour.
2025: The Next Chapter for the Savannah Bananas
As the Bananas look ahead to their 2025 Banana Ball World Tour, they’re preparing for an even bigger year. On October 3, 2024, the team will host a special event at Grayson Stadium to announce their 2025 tour schedule, revealing every city, stadium, and matchup for the year ahead.
Fans who attend the event will be the first to hear the exciting news—and in typical Bananas fashion, the event will feature all-you-can-eat concessions and plenty of surprises.
The Bananas have already promised that the 2025 tour will be their biggest yet, with “a million surprises” in store. As they continue to push the boundaries of sports entertainment, there’s no doubt that their social media presence will play a key role in amplifying their reach and success.
What Businesses Can Learn from the Bananas’ Success
The Savannah Bananas’ journey from a small local team to a global social media sensation offers valuable lessons for any business looking to build a strong online presence:
- Prioritize Entertainment and Engagement: Like the Bananas, your social media strategy should focus on entertaining your audience rather than just trying to sell. When your content resonates with people, they’re more likely to share it, helping you reach new audiences organically.
- Consistency is Key: Posting consistently is crucial to growing your social media presence. By experimenting with different types of content and learning from what works, you can refine your strategy over time and create viral moments that resonate with your audience.
- Experiment and Learn: Don’t be afraid to try new things and take risks. The Bananas’ success came from their willingness to experiment and fail, learning from each post until they found what worked. Every business can adopt this mindset to improve their social media strategy.
- Use Humor and Emotion: Content that elicits emotional responses, especially amusement, is more likely to go viral. By creating content that makes people laugh or feel inspired, you can build a stronger connection with your audience.
How Rich Ventures Marketing Can Help You Stand Out
At Rich Ventures Marketing, we understand the power of social media marketing and how it can transform your business—just like it did for the Savannah Bananas. Whether you’re a small business looking to grow your online presence or a startup ready to break into new markets, our team specializes in creating fun, engaging, and viral content that helps you stand out.
Our approach is based on the same principles that have made the Savannah Bananas a viral sensation:
- Entertaining, engaging content that captures attention
- Consistency and experimentation to find what works best for your audience
- A focus on building relationships with your followers, not just selling products
If you’re ready to take your social media strategy to the next level, let Rich Ventures Marketing help you craft a campaign that’s designed to get people talking—and sharing.
Want to learn more? Contact us today for a free 30min business consultation and see how we can help your business harness the power of social media marketing.
