10 Ways to Build a Brand and NIL Income through Social Media

10 Ways to Build a Brand and NIL Income through Social Media

Craft Your Unique Brand.  Before you start posting, define your personal brand. What makes you unique? Is it your dedication, humor, or behind-the-scenes glimpses? Tailor your content to reflect this, creating a consistent and authentic online persona. This is super important because you’ll want to show prospective business partners how you consistently stand out from the hundreds to thousands of athletes who play your sport and your position.

Show the Human Side. Fans love to see the person behind the jersey. Share moments from your daily life such as training routines, your favorite meals and your downtime. Authenticity builds stronger connections, turning followers into fans. As an athlete, your daily schedule is so busy which means there is a ton of content you can create. For example, in one day you can capture your visit to the training room for treatment, a post-lift breakfast, how you prep for an overnight tournament, and more.

Visual Storytelling on Instagram. Instagram is a dynamic platform because there are so many ways you can share content and cater it to your audience. A few examples include:

1. Instagram Stories: Utilize this feature for real-time updates, Q&A sessions, and exclusive content. Add polls and questions to engage your audience.
2. IGTV: Share longer videos, such as training sessions, interviews, or vlogs. Keep it visually appealing and shareable.
3. Reels: Jump on the short-form video trend. Showcase your skills, create challenges, or simply have fun with the platform.

Tweet Like a Pro on Twitter. A lot has happened with Twitter over the past few months, however, it’s still a platform that you can utilize to build your brand and engage with your audience. Here are a few ways you can use Twitter to build your NIL earning potential:

1. Engage in Conversations: Join discussions about your sport, current events, or pop culture. Respond to fans, fellow athletes, and influencers.
2. Use Hashtags Wisely: Research and use relevant hashtags to increase the discoverability of your tweets.
3. Twitter Spaces: Host live audio conversations to connect with fans in a more intimate way.

TikTok Tactics. TikTok has gained traction tremendously over the past few years. A few ways you can utilize the platform to your advantage include:

1. Creating Short, Snappy Content: Capture attention quickly. Show off your skills, create challenges, and participate in trends
2. Duet and Stitch: Collaborate with other TikTok users or respond to their content using these features.
3. Create Hashtag Challenges: Encourage user-generated content by creating challenges related to your sport.

Consistency is Key. Establish a posting schedule and stick to it. Consistency helps you stay on your audience’s radar and builds anticipation for your content. This doesn’t have to be as hard as it seems, especially if you’re not accustomed to posting every day. You can utilize platforms like Hootsuite or Later to schedule your posts weeks or months in advance. I work best when I’m able to batch my social content, meaning I spend a few hours creating and scheduling multiple posts. This helps me maintain constancy without having to post every day.

Leverage Analytics. If you’re looking to earn NIL income, it’s important utilize the tools each platform provides to help you see what content is effective and what content is not. Each platform provides insights into your audience’s behavior. Use these analytics to understand what works and refine your strategy accordingly.

Engage, Don’t Broadcast. I typically like to follow accounts that are interactive, bring people together, and collaborate with other creators. Respond to comments, like and share fan-created content, and participate in conversations. Social media is a two-way street; engaging with your audience fosters a sense of community.

Strategic Collaborations. Team up with other athletes, influencers, or brands. Cross-promotion can introduce you to new audiences and elevate your online presence. This might take time, and it will typically happens when you proactively reach out to other accounts. Make a list of potential collaborators that you would like to work with, what value you can bring, and the value it can bring to your brand.

Stay Mindful of Your Image. Remember, your online presence is an extension of your personal brand. Be mindful of what you post, as it can impact your reputation both on and off the field. It’s also important to post content that you stay true to yourself- posting extreme content to get reactions, likes, or to go viral might pay off in the short term, but it won’t help you build a reputable business long-term.

Finally, consider these suggestions when creating your brand on social media:

• Use different platforms for different audiences. The types of followers you have on TikTock might be very different than those on your Facebook or YouTube pages. Make sure that you’re creating content that resonates with those audiences.
• Create different content for different platforms. With different audiences on each social media account, make sure that you modify your content accordingly. For example, the theme of your post might remain the same, but the type of content you create (videos, graphics, photos, etc.) should be different.
• Incorporate hashtags. I don’t think there is anything wrong with using 5, 10, or 20+ hashtags per post, especially when you’re getting started in building your brand. Just make sure they are relevant to the content you’re creating and creative.

Mastering social media takes time, so be patient and stay true to yourself. With consistency, you’ll find it easier to create content and cater your messages to your audience.