SIU / STRATEGY OVERVIEW
THE SOUTH IS OUR STORY · SEASON 2026 / 27

SOCIAL CONTENT
STRATEGY HQ.

A working strategy architecture for Max. Research the fans, build repeatable storytelling series, develop partner activations, plan the calendar and measure what matters. Uniting the South.

THE ARCHITECTURE

FROM PURPOSE TO PERFORMANCE.

Six editable strategic building blocks sit between the club objectives and the delivery system.

01 · THE WHY

CLUB OBJECTIVES

Sporting ambition · stadium sales · partner value · supporters

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02 · THE HOW

EXECUTION SYSTEM

Season calendar · weekly plan · production · delegation

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03 · THE PROOF

KPIs & REPORTS

Monthly report · sponsorship impressions · season review

NEXT ACTIONS FOR MAX

BUILD IT IN ORDER.

0% READY

These are the decisions and research inputs needed before the strategy is ready for approval.

KEY APPROVED SEASON MARKERS
South Island United in action
South Island United players
South Island United kit campaign
Photography linked from the official SIU website; images need internet access and reuse rights should be checked for public campaigns.
01 / STRATEGIC FOUNDATION

CLUB OBJECTIVES.

Leadership defines the outcomes. Max uses these to prioritise content and explain how the social plan contributes to club success.

STRATEGY TRANSLATION

A sporting outcome such as winning the league is not a social-media KPI. Social content can build a winning culture and support fan connection, while sporting performance is owned by the football department.

MAX TO COMPLETE · For each club objective, write the social-media contribution, audience action, target, measurement source and who owns the result.

DECISIONS REQUIRED FROM LEADERSHIP

02 / AUD · BUILDING BLOCK 1

WHO ARE WE REACHING?

Audience strategy must be based on evidence—not assumptions about who already follows the club.

MAX'S ASSIGNMENT: Do not guess what supporters want. Work out who each audience is, what motivates them to watch/share/attend, what stops them doing so, and what evidence supports your view. Start with the club's actual data, then speak to supporters and test ideas. The example that Hurricanes fans value player access is a useful hypothesis to test for SIU — not evidence about SIU fans.
01 · DIGITAL BEHAVIOUR

Look at what people actually watch

In Meta Business Suite → Insights, TikTok Analytics and YouTube Studio, compare the last 30–90 days. Identify the top 10 posts and bottom 10 posts by reach, meaningful engagement, average watch time/retention, shares, saves and non-follower reach. Divide by content type: players, fans, results, matchday, travel, etc.

Record: export/screenshot or link · reporting dates · metric definition · sample size · what it suggests. High views can mean a good hook, not necessarily audience demand.

02 · ASK THE FANS

Find the reason behind the numbers

Run simple Instagram Story polls and a short 5-question form distributed by the supporters group, football clubs and at matches. Ask: What would you like more of? Which player access matters? Why would you follow? What would make you attend? What's stopping you? Include an open comment box.

Record: number of responses, where recruited, exact question, top themes and limitations. Aim to hear from casual fans and non-followers too, not only the loudest supporters.

03 · CONVERSATIONS

Interview actual audience segments

Speak to members of the supporters group, young players, regional clubs, parents, casual sports fans and people who haven't attended. Ask open questions: “Tell me about the last club video you shared” and “What would you like to see behind the scenes?” Compare similarities and differences.

Record: segment · number spoken to · anonymous quote or theme · date · consent/notes. Treat 8–12 interviews as exploratory evidence, not a representative poll.

04 · COMPARISONS & IDEAS

Study what other clubs and sports do well

Look at football clubs and other sports organisations whose content performs strongly. Note which posts get the most engagement, what type of access they offer, how they frame the story and what audience reaction they receive. Use this as inspiration and a test bank — not proof that the same idea will automatically work for SIU.

Record: club examined · post link or screenshot · content type · signs of engagement · what SIU could test. Always separate inspiration from evidence of SIU audience demand.

RESEARCH EVIDENCE LOG

LOG WHAT YOU FIND

Use this area to store the evidence Max finds, where it came from, and how confident he should be in using it. Every audience claim should be traceable.

WHAT TO WRITE IN EACH AUDIENCE PROFILE

Motivation = why they care

Examples to investigate: access to players and their real personalities; feeling represented; family memories; pride in local pathways; world-class football coming to town.

Barriers = why they don't take action

Investigate more than one: don't know the league, travel distance, cost, scheduling, unfamiliar players, limited trust, unclear ticket offer, no connection to the club.

Evidence = how you know

“12 of 34 poll respondents chose behind-the-scenes access, IG Story poll, 19 Nov” is evidence. “Fans want access” without a source is only a hypothesis.

Action = what success looks like

Define a specific behaviour: watch 50% of a video, share with a local club, register interest, visit tickets page, attend a game. Match each action to a measurable KPI.

AUDIENCE RESEARCH & SEGMENT PRIORITISATION

SegmentEvidence/sourceMotivations / barriersDesired actionPriority
03 / BI · BUILDING BLOCK 2

BRAND & IDENTITY.

Define the emotional identity and creative rules so every platform feels like South Island United.

Official South Island United circular crest, Southern Alps and stars
APPROVED CLUB IDENTITY / DESIGN REFERENCE
UNITING
THE SOUTH.
White leads. Black provides authority and contrast. Gold marks ambition and is used selectively. Preserve the complete circular crest with ample breathing room; do not recreate or recolour the badge.
INNOVATION WHITEUNITY BLACKAMBITION GOLD
VIEW OFFICIAL SIU BRAND GUIDELINES ↗
Innovation WhitePrimary · #FFFFFF
Unity BlackSecondary · #000000
Ambition GoldAccent · #C59949
DISPLAY FONT · ROUGH CUT REGULAR
BUILT TO REPRESENT THE SOUTH.

Titles, key statements, campaign headers and codes.

BODY FONT · ARPONA
Our people. Our home. Our journey.

Working notes, descriptions, tables and reports.

USE APPROVED FONT FILES

The portal is configured for Rough Cut and Arpona. If Max’s computer does not have these licensed fonts installed, select the approved .woff, .woff2, .ttf or .otf files below to apply them in this browser. Font files stay locally in Max’s browser; they are never included when exporting a strategy backup.

Uses local installed fonts or browser fallbacks until approved files are loaded.
OUR NORTH STAR

THE PEOPLE'S CLUB
OF THE SOUTH.

Uniting the South. A genuinely South Island professional club: open, connected and community-oriented — a club of the clubs, developing people and creating global pathways for young talent.

01 · COMMUNITY BACKING

FULL STADIUM

Real supporter connection, a great matchday and whole-island participation. A full stadium is a visible expression of community engagement.

02 · FOOTBALL SUCCESS

CHAMPION TEAM

Win the OFC Pro League, aim for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and build pathways for South Island talent. Confident about actions; do not predict results.

03 · BUSINESS SUCCESS

SUSTAINABLE CLUB

Build long-term trust and a financially self-sustaining professional club. Commercial communications must strengthen — never erode — relationships.

THE BRAND SHIFT

FROM → TO

High-performance only→ The People's Club
Detached and inaccessible→ Open, connected, present
One club acting alone→ A club of South Island clubs
Taking players→ Growing people and pathways
Christchurch-only perception→ Every region belongs
UNITE · ELEVATE · CONNECT

OUR VISION

Provide young kids across the South Island with a global pathway. Unite football clubs, elevate the standard of the game and connect people and families. Local impact comes before broad international reach.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MAX

Feature supporters, regional clubs, young people, volunteers and community partners as protagonists — not just players. Show the club doing genuinely good work before promoting it.

THE FOUR CORE MESSAGES

PUTTING SOUTH ISLAND FOOTBALL ON THE MAP

Regional talent belongs on the world stage.

COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL CLUBS

Every club is part of the journey; success belongs to the region.

TRULY SOUTH ISLAND, NOT JUST CHRISTCHURCH

Represent towns, clubs and people across the entire island.

GLOBAL PATHWAYS FOR LOCAL TALENT

From local pitches to professional opportunities.

TONE OF VOICE · APPROVED DIRECTION

HOW WE SOUND

Confident, not arrogant

Be bold about development and actions. Never promise a result.

Conversational & playful

Human, energetic, sometimes funny — not corporate or bland.

South Island rooted, globally open

Celebrate local culture and the squad's diversity respectfully.

Provocative selectively

North–South and David-versus-Goliath rivalry are useful; insults are not.

Ambitious underdog

Show standards, humility, community and hard work together.

BRAND GUARDRAILS

SIU IS NOT CUFC

South Island United represents the South Island in professional international competition. Christchurch United retains its own National League identity and youth academy. They share an organisation but have two distinct outward-facing identities.

THE FOUR-STEP BRAND TEST

1. Good actions — actually do worthwhile things

2. Aligned actions — one message across the club

3. Consistent actions — repeat them regularly

4. Amplified actions — tell the story so people know

WORKING NOTE: These are club-defined positioning statements from the supplied 2025–26 brand strategy, not independent audience research. Max should use them as the creative standard while validating fan preferences on the Audiences page. Visual brand guidelines ↗

THE CREATIVE BRIEF

BRAND DECISION CHECKLIST

MAX TO COMPLETE · Link to the approved design kit, fonts, exact gold specification, logos, motion graphics and content templates. Use the approved SIU identity: Innovation White #FFFFFF (primary), Unity Black #000000 (secondary), Ambition Gold #C59949 (accent). Headings use Rough Cut Regular and body copy uses Arpona. Where licensed font files have not been supplied, browser fallbacks are shown.
04 / CP · BUILDING BLOCK 3

THE THREE CONTENT PILLARS.

Always-on storytelling lenses. Each pillar contains three editable recurring-series ideas. Turn on a series, develop the concept with guided fields, then schedule episodes into the calendar. Every major hub receives a three-week editorial lead-in covering all three pillars.

EDITORIAL PURPOSE ≠ CAMPAIGN PURPOSE

Pillars define what we consistently talk about. Campaigns define an outcome within a time window. A North v South ticket campaign can use an OH player-origin film, an SS regional-pride story and an RL Pacific-league story.

STANDARD FOR EACH PILLAR

MAX TO COMPLETE · Use the three starter series under every pillar: switch on a series to develop it; fill in title, hook, audience, production plan, access, channels, cadence, owner, dates and success measures. Use Schedule to create calendar tasks.
05 / CAM · BUILDING BLOCK 4

CAMPAIGN PLANNER.

Campaigns have an audience, measurable outcome, timeframe, CTA, creative brief and distribution plan.

SA · THREE-ACT NARRATIVE

NEW NAMES. PROVEN CORE. LOCAL HEROES.

Make signings feel like an unfolding story, not a collection of unrelated graphics. Timing must follow confirmed player sign-offs and media embargoes.

ACT 01
THE HEADLINERS

Big new arrivals: who they are, where they have played, the level they bring, and what they add. Launch with high-impact reveals and deeper follow-up films.

ACT 02
THE FOUNDATION

Retained players: stability brings success. Explain the role, growth and value of those continuing from the prior season.

ACT 03
THE LOCAL HEROES

South Island pathway signings: go back to their clubs, former coaches and community; activate junior clubs to share and celebrate.

MAX TO COMPLETE · Create a confidential player reveal register with names, approval owner, filming day, embargo, reveal order, associated community clubs, headline asset, long-form follow-up, partner tag and publication date.
06 / SP · BUILDING BLOCK 5

SPONSORSHIP & PARTNERSHIPS.

Partner value should be planned into the editorial calendar, tracked with evidence and reported with verified impressions—not estimated reach.

COMMERCIAL FRAMEWORK

MAX TO COMPLETE · Obtain the signed sponsor deliverables matrix and the approved list of partners. For each: rights, platforms, guaranteed posts, dates, tags, usage permissions, impressions target, asset owner, approval contact and evidence folder.
Planned sponsor impressions
Recorded sponsor impressions

SPONSOR INTEGRATION RULES

✓ Integrate partners naturally into player/community stories.
✓ Record post URLs and platform-specific impressions.
✓ Count delivered rights against the signed contract.
✓ Secure brand, player, footage and commercial usage permissions.
✓ Distinguish organic, paid and partner-posted reach; avoid double counting.

Official SIU partner names are available on the club website. Confirm active 2027 agreements before assigning deliverables.

WORKSHOP → CONCEPT → ACTIVATION

SPONSOR CONTENT IDEAS BOARD

Max: brainstorm freely first. Each idea can be saved without a confirmed sponsor. Later attach a partner, explain why the content suits their business, then select Build activation to create a deliverable and track it against the sponsor.

07 / FC · BUILDING BLOCK 6

FORMATS & CHANNELS.

Not simply where we post: why the channel matters, whom it reaches, what format works and which action it should drive.

MAX TO COMPLETE · For every channel document audience data, strategic role, content formats, cadence, native platform rules, distribution tactics, success measures and conversion pathways. Use 2026 analytics as the baseline rather than inventing frequency targets.
FormatRoleSuggested channelsWhat Max must decide
Vertical short-formDiscovery and sharingReels / TikTok / ShortsHook, length, native edits, subtitles, CTA
Long-form featureDepth and supporter affinityYouTube / websiteSeries concept, episode cadence, production time
Photo & carouselIdentity and narrativeInstagram / FacebookPhotography standard, sequencing, copy
Matchday liveTimely supporter utilityStories / Facebook / X where suitableRights, approval, live coverage roster
Conversion creativeSell tickets and membershipsPaid Meta / website / emailUTM links, landing page, audiences, spend
Partner contentCommercial obligationsContract-definedTags, branded rights, approval, evidence
08 / EXECUTION · SEASON PLANNER

EDITORIAL CALENDAR.

19 October 2026–13 June 2027. Five hub cycles, three-pillar lead-ins, final-series scenarios and post-season reporting. Click any day or task to edit.

Preloaded items are planning prompts, not approved publication commitments. Dates for circuit windows and the finals are based on the 2027 OFC schedule. Opponent-specific posts and the March home-hub programme must be confirmed against club operations and broadcast rights.

OCTOBER 2026

T−21 DAYS

PLANNING OPENS

OH origin story · SS place/identity · RL host-country/opposition context. Confirm filming & approvals.

T−14 DAYS

STORY DEEPENS

OH characters · SS community activation · RL travel/culture. Launch paid/promotional assets.

T−7 DAYS

CONVERSION WEEK

OH player-led invite · SS matchday/community CTA · RL travel preview. Schedule team coverage.

HUB + AFTER

DELIVER & LEARN

Live match coverage, reactions, daily short-form, sponsor proofs, recap and insights.

MAX TO COMPLETE · Change each task to an actual story with title, owner, platform, production date, deadline, CTA, edit status and publication link. The three-pillar rhythm is a starting editorial check—not an inflexible quota.
09 / EXECUTION · PEOPLE & DELIVERY

DELEGATION BOARD.

Add interns and staff, allocate deliverables, and their names automatically appear against tasks in the calendar.

DELEGATION RULE · Assign one accountable owner per deliverable, even when multiple people contribute. Confirm brief → deadline → first draft → approval → scheduled → published → metrics captured. Review every Monday.
10 / EXECUTION · OPERATING MODEL

PRODUCTION SYSTEM.

A repeatable operating procedure for matchdays, hubs, player access, content approval and interns.

PRE-PUBLISH QUALITY GATE

□ Sporting and personal facts checked; spelling checked
□ Club, OFC and photographer rights confirmed
□ Player, guardian and community consent where required
□ Sponsor tags and contracted credits correct
□ Platform-native edit, captions, subtitles, alt text
□ Publication timing, CTA and measurement link checked
□ Responsible approver and emergency contact identified

WORKFLOW POLICY

MAX TO COMPLETE · Agree on access at training/travel, confidential injury and team-news boundaries, approval SLA, storage naming system, back-up crew and the fallback plan when the club loses or a player is unavailable.
11 / MEASUREMENT · SCORECARD

KPIs & TARGETS.

An accountable framework spanning awareness, engagement, conversion, commercial delivery and production. Baselines and targets are editable.

FunnelCore metricsFormula / evidenceReporting rule
AwarenessReach; views; unique viewers; follower growthPlatform insights; new followers ÷ opening followersBy platform, paid vs organic
Attention3-sec views; avg. watch time; completion rate; shares; savesNative platform retention dashboardsPer format and pillar
EngagementMeaningful interactions; engagement rate(Likes+comments+shares+saves) ÷ reachConsistent definition throughout
ConversionTracked ticket purchases; membership signups; shop revenueUTMs, analytics events, ticketing and ecommerce systemDirectly attributed only, with limitations
CommercialDelivered posts; sponsor impressions; partner valueUnique post links, native platform post insights, signed rightsBy partner; record evidence
OperationsPublish-on-time rate; output mix; approval turnaroundCompleted tasks ÷ due tasks; review logMonthly quality and capacity review
BASELINE FIRST · Set realistic targets after reviewing 2026 figures. Separate targets under club control (posts, delivery, tracking) from outcomes influenced by results, budget and match schedule (tickets, revenue, audience growth). Avoid adding reach across platforms as if it were unique people.
12 / MEASUREMENT · REPORTING HUB

REPORTS & REVIEWS.

Fill monthly performance forms and produce an end-of-season scorecard using recorded values. Edit or export each report.

01 / RECURRING

MONTHLY REPORT

Platform metrics, output, commercial impressions, conversion, what worked, what didn't, what changes next.

02 / END OF CAMPAIGN

END-OF-SEASON REPORT

Season totals, target attainment, hub campaign performance, partner delivery, impact, recommendations and next season's plan.