Our office is comprised of Panthers, Falcons and Saints fans, but it’s time to face the music. The NFC South just didn’t produce any Super Bowl contenders this year.

Oh well, we plan to enjoy the big game anyway! Your favorite small business marketers love Super Bowl Sunday for two reasons...

1. IT'S A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

We talk about Super Bowl marketing every year, which may leave some small business owners scratching their heads. Local businesses may not have $4 million to spend on advertising, but there is a lot we can learn from big brands. Pay attention to ad themes:

What is appealing?
What isn’t?
What gets the most attention (shares and media mentions) after the game is over?

TV ad spots are king on Super Bowl Sunday, but the marketing doesn’t stop there. Pay close attention to social media channels too:

How do big brands encourage engagement and content sharing?
How do they use hashtags?

2. FOOTBALL FOOD

As far as I’m concerned, there is one thing that is better than the game and ads combined… THE FOOD. The following are a few of our favorites. Feel free to share yours in the comments section below!

Avoiding the Kitchen

Natalie, Saints fan, and Bailey, Panther fan, prefer to take it easy on game day. Bailey recommends calling Wild Wings. But speaking of wings...

Kendall’s Pick – Honey Sriracha Wings

I’m a proud Panther fan. A lover of both Cam Newton and puns, my 2014 Fantasy teams were affectionately named “Cam Do Attitude” and “Catch Me if You Cam.”

Ingredients:

2 pounds chicken wings

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Sesame seeds, for garnish

For the glaze:

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup Sriracha

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Juice of 1 lime

Directions: Visit DamnDelicious.net for the full recipe.

Jennifer’s Pick - Corn Dip

Jennifer prefers college ball, but she roots for the Falcons on Sundays.

Ingredients:

1 block of cream cheese

1 can of yellow whole kernel corn

1 can of white niblet corn

1 jar of jalapenos

Directions: Soften a block of cream cheese over low heat. When softened, add both cans of corn(drained). Continue stirring over low heat. Add 1/2 jar or so of chopped jalapenos (drained). Add more or less jalapenos based on how much heat you can take. Continue stirring, then transfer to a small casserole dish. Serve with Tostitos Scoops. It's sure to be a big hit, and you can throw it together in less than 10 minutes!

Kaelyn’s Pick - Black Eyed Pea Hummus

Kaelyn is a Georgia native and Falcons fan. Wonder how her Panther loving boyfriend feels about that?

Ingredients:

Frieda's Blackeyed Peas1 (11-ounce) container Frieda’s fresh Blackeyed Peas (found in the produce section)

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus additional

1 large shallot, peeled and finely minced

4 fat garlic cloves, divided use

2 tablespoons tahini (sesame seed paste)

3 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

For dipping: Toasted pita bread wedges, tortilla chips, or vegetables (beet slices, radish slices, broccoli florets, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes)

Directions: Visit ShockinglyDelicious.com for the full recipe.

Cheers to learning lots and eating tons!

A Marketing Guide to Super Bowl Sunday

1. IT'S A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

2. FOOTBALL FOOD

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