Written by: Vickie Sullivan | July 14, 2022
Build Your Brand: 2 Strategies You Can Borrow from Star Athletes
NIL (name, image, likeness) deals are putting college women basketball stars on the level with men. This Bizwomen article shares the secret: Use social media following to build brand. As one star athlete said: “I have time to build my brand while an amateur.”
These strategies work beyond the world of sports. Here are two brand-building ideas you can implement:
• Build connection with access. People pay attention to “insider” stories about athletes’ personal preferences and how they prepare for games because they feel like a VIP pass with the cool kids. Ask yourself: What inside scoop can I share? What feels like special treatment (even if offered to everyone) builds strong emotional bonds.
• Leverage clout for good. Another reason why big brands court these young athletes: They’re willing to promote social issues such as food insecurity and inequality. This lends itself to collaborations that help companies promote their social responsibility campaigns. Ask yourself: What can I stand for that benefits the greater good?
Listen: How to Integrate Social Commentary into Your Brand
Those two dynamics—the “insider access” story to build connection, then leveraging that attention for the common good—give you an effective one-two punch to building a brand that can be monetized.
Now Read This: