Send us Fan MailTrade deals are everywhere in sports—but most teams treat them like “free marketing” instead of what they actually are: untracked investments. In this episode, Jeremy breaks down how trade really works, where it provides value, and why it often fails to drive results. If you’re relying on trade without accountability, this will change how you think about it.Key Topics CoveredWhy trade isn’t free—and how teams unknowingly give up real revenueThe right way to use trade: unsold inventory, awareness, and sponsor amplificationWhy trade is almost always a top-of-funnel channel (not a ticket sales driver)The biggest mistakes teams make: no tracking, no accountability, wrong expectationsHow media partners often deliver leftover or low-value inventoryThe problem with inflated trade value across different market sizesWhy digital add-ons (email blasts, banners) are often overvalued and underperformingHow to treat trade like paid media with promo codes, landing pages, and performance reviewsTimestamps00:00 – Intro: Why trade is everywhere—but rarely measured01:25 – What trade actually is (and why teams love it)02:23 – The “free marketing” illusion03:47 – Why lack of accountability is the real issue04:16 – Where trade actually works (unsold inventory + awareness)05:56 – Budget constraints and why trade is so attractive06:24 – Using trade to enhance sponsorship value08:13 – Creative community exposure opportunities09:08 – Trade = top-of-funnel (not direct response)10:37 – The expectation gap: trade vs. paid media11:07 – The tracking problem (and why nobody knows what works)12:56 – Leftover inventory and bad placements15:18 – Inflated value and market-size mismatches16:00 – Why accountability disappears in trade deals17:09 – The truth about digital add-ons20:31 – How to actually use trade the right way21:22 – What to avoid (high-demand inventory, no tracking)22:47 – Treating trade like real media23:16 – Final takeaways: awareness vs. revenueEpisodes Mentioned:125 - I saw your ad but didn't buy111 - Building Your Marketing Budget Like a FunnelCall to ActionIf you’re doing trade deals and not sure if they’re actually working, let’s take a look. Head over to sportsmarketingmachine.com and schedule a free 30-minute call—I’ll help you evaluate what you’re getting and where you might be leaving revenue on the table.Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedInSports Marketing Machine on InstagramBook a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine