Fall hits differently when you’re an athlete. The grind is real- classes, practices, games, travel- but this time of year is also a huge opportunity to grow your NIL brand before the season wraps up. The cool thing about NIL is that you don’t have to wait for a major deal to get started. Little things you do now- on social, in your community, or with local businesses- can set you up big for the offseason and beyond. Here’s how to finish the fall strong.
How to Boost Your Brand Before the Season Ends
1. Post content that shows the real you. People don’t just want to see stats and highlights- they want to see you. Fall makes it easy to create content that feels fresh. Here are some ideas:
- Game day vibes. Document your routine-what you eat, how you tape your ankles, your walk into the stadium. That “behind the curtain” stuff always connects.
- Fall themes. Post your team’s Halloween costumes, a quick TikTok at a pumpkin patch, or even a “what I’m grateful for” moment around Thanksgiving.
- Locker room fun. Share a funny blooper, dance, or mic’d-up moment. Fans love seeing personality off the field too.
With your busy schedule, set aside one chill afternoon to shoot a bunch of stuff (it’s called batching). That way you’re not scrambling for content when the season gets busy.
2. Network while you’re still in season. Your sport already gives you access to so many people, so use that to your advantage:
- Connect IRL. Stop by youth clinics, say yes to local events, or just interact with fans after games. That face-to-face energy makes people root for you even harder.
- Team collabs. Do a joint Q&A, skit, or vlog with a teammate. You’ll hit each other’s audiences and grow together.
- Talk to alumni. Fall is when a lot of former athletes come back for games. Shoot your shot and introduce yourself. You never know who might open a door for you.
3. Test out small partnerships. Don’t overthink NIL deals- sometimes the best ones start small and strategically:
- Seasonal collabs. Pitch yourself to a brand for a short fall campaign. Could be a food spot pushing tailgate specials or a sports drink company running a late-season promo.
- Local businesses. Small shops and restaurants love working with athletes from their community. A post or quick appearance could mean free food, gym memberships, or cash.
- Holiday angle. Brands start planning holiday campaigns now. Reach out to ones you actually use- it feels authentic and many will respect that.
4. Clean up your platforms. Quick check: if a brand looked at your socials right now, would they want to work with you? Consider the following things before you start marketing yourself:
- Update your bio. Make sure it says your sport, school, and how to contact you.
- Scroll back through your posts. Delete or archive anything that doesn’t fit the image you want.
- Try out new content styles. Short videos, Q&As, or even a quick blog post. The more versatile you are, the better.
5. Prep for the offseason. Even if your season ends soon, your NIL brand doesn’t have to.
- Keep momentum by planning an offseason series such as training updates, what you’re studying, or even life outside of sports.
- Keep relationships warm. Follow up with anyone you connected with during the season.
- Stay consistent so your followers don’t just disappear once the games stop.
Your NIL brand is like your game: it grows when you put in consistent reps. This fall, think about more than just closing the season strong. Create authentic content, connect with people around you, and try out partnerships, even small ones. Do that, and you’ll roll into the offseason with more than highlights: you’ll have a brand that’s actually working for you.