Why Athletes Should Care about their Personal Brand

The Problem

You’re supposed to post on social media and put yourself out there. Your brand matters, so they say. But does it, really? Does all of this matter if you already make your money on the field? his idea of keeping up with social media puts unnecessary pressure on you.

Here’s the Thing

You can’t play sports forever. And you’re much more than just an athlete. Your “branding” is unique to you and only you. By establishing a solid brand, you open yourself up to endless possibilities far beyond your playing career.

Although this isn’t a comprehensive list, here are a few goals branding can help you reach:

• Endorsements: The more active you are on social media, the more fans you’ll attract. Brands want to work with creators who have LOTS of followers, and they’re willing to pay you for your influence. By actively engaging on social media and collaborating with brands and products you love, you can amplify your income even while you’re still playing.

• Broadcasting: No one wants to watch (or listen to) a boring broadcaster. When you showcase your personality through social media, interviews and podcasts, fans can see the human behind the athlete. Now you’ve not only proven your expertise in your field, you’re also fun to watch and interesting to listen to.

• Coaching: There’s a lot more to coaching than sports knowledge. Good coaches are leaders, motivators and role models. A solid digital media and PR strategy will position you as a prime candidate to lead the next generation once your playing career is through.

• Entrepreneurship: The hardest part of starting a new business is awareness. Even with a stellar product or service, no one is buying it if they’ve never heard of it. When you build a strong media presence during your athletic career, you will already have a built-in customer base when you start your next adventure.

Did we encourage you to get serious about your branding? Or at least to start thinking about your goals beyond the game?