139: What Is Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)?

Sports Marketing Machine Podcast

Sports Marketing Machine Podcast
139: What Is Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)?
Nov 19, 2025 Season 1 Episode 139
Jeremy Neisser

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n this episode, Jeremy breaks down Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) in the simplest, most actionable way for sports teams. You’ll learn what CRO actually means, which parts of the process you can control, and how small tweaks to your copy, creative, and landing pages can turn more fans into ticket buyers. If you’ve ever wondered why your ads get clicks but not sales, this episode gives you the clarity you’ve been missing.

Key Topics Covered

  • What CRO really means for sports teams and why it matters
  • The difference between controllable and uncontrollable factors (hint: your ticketing software isn’t one of them)
  • How to improve conversion rates through stronger copy, visuals, and offer clarity
  • Why “Buy Tickets” beats “Click Here to Learn More” every time
  • The importance of landing page congruency with your ads
  • Tracking the right metrics: website visitors → buyers
  • How email simplicity boosts conversions
  • Why CRO isn’t magic—it’s math, momentum, and message clarity

Timestamps

00:00 — Introduction: What CRO is (and what it isn’t)
 01:06 — Breaking down conversion rate basics
 03:30 — What you can’t control (ticketing software headaches)
04:00 — What you can control: copy, creative, CTAs, and layout
05:49 — Metrics that matter: website traffic → single-game sales
07:00 — Email mistakes teams make and how to fix them
08:11 — Seasonal conversion rate trends and how to optimize
09:45 — Final thoughts + how to get help diagnosing your sales and marketing performance

Sound Bite Pulls

  • “You only have one offer.”
  • “One offer per landing page.”
  • “They want to buy now.”
  • “CRO isn’t magic. It’s math.”

Social Teaser Hooks

  • “If your ads get clicks but not sales, the problem isn’t the targeting—it’s what happens after the click.”
  • “Sports teams don’t need more traffic. They need more conversion.”
  • “Stop overwhelming fans. One page. One offer. One clear next step.”

Call to Action

If this episode helped you understand CRO in a new light, share it with someone on your team who’s trying to sell more tickets or sharpen their digital marketing. If you want Jeremy to review your sales + marketing performance and uncover growth opportunities, you can always connect at SportsMarketingMachine.com.

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Episode Artwork 139: What Is Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)? 9:32 Episode Artwork 138: Community Survey vs. Fan Survey — The Value of Both 12:56 Episode Artwork 137: Make Your Black Friday Offer So Good Fans Feel Stupid Saying No 21:36 Episode Artwork 136 - Operational Efficiency Playbook: Getting 3% Better with Mike Van Hise 41:26 Episode Artwork 135: The Simplest Way to Build (and Justify) a Marketing Budget 18:48 Episode Artwork 134 - Single Game vs. Season Tickets : How to Move Fans Up the Ladder 24:58 Episode Artwork 133 - Pros/Cons of All-You-Can-Eat Ticket Plans 18:26 Episode Artwork 132 - The 35,000 Visitor Problem: Why More Traffic Can Tank Your Profits 21:25 Episode Artwork 131 – How Meta’s Advantage+ is Wasting Your Budget 15:20 Episode Artwork 130 - How Teams Can Use Nano Banana to Generate More Revenue 18:15 Episode Artwork 129 - How the Florida Everblades Grew Attendance by 27% with Adam Winslow 36:32 Episode Artwork 128 - 3 Changes with Meta That Affect Your Ads (and How to Sell More Tickets Anyway) 24:12 Episode Artwork 127 - 3 Marketing Lessons from Taylor & Travis (That You Can Steal for Your Team) 14:19 Episode Artwork 126: Service-First Selling: How the Texas Rangers Are Redefining Ticketing Success 46:06 Episode Artwork 125 - “I Saw Your Ad—But Didn’t Buy”: Fixing the Fan Follow-Up Funnel 14:45 Episode Artwork 124: Maximizing Your Football Marketing Plan: What to Do When You Can’t Do It All 49:27 Episode Artwork 123 - Top 10 Theme Nights That Sold Tickets & Won Fans 37:26 Episode Artwork 122 – 9 Ways to Use ChatGPT to Sell More Tickets 19:04 Episode Artwork 121 – How Video Content Makes Paid Traffic Easier (and Cheaper) 16:27 Episode Artwork 120 - What We Are Building - Be A Beta Tester 9:07 Episode Artwork 119: Fan Activation, Revenue Growth, and Digital Engagement with Dash's Jonathan Hufnagel 32:02 Episode Artwork 118: Streaming TV Ads for Sports Teams – Simple, Trackable, and Built to Sell Tickets 19:43 Episode Artwork 117 - Good Deal or Bad Strategy? The Right Way to Use Loss Leaders 11:53 Episode Artwork 116 - Data Gold in Youth Programs: What Most Teams Overlook 14:24 Episode Artwork 115 - “We Miss You”: The Email That Brings Fans Back 11:26