The presence of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) means that athletes now have the opportunity to monetize their social media content. With a strong online brand, athletes can attract partnerships, endorsements, and other revenue streams. But how can athletes do this when you’re already busy each day? When I was a DI basketball player, my schedule was filled to the brim: classes, workouts, study hall, traveling, lifting, and other activities gave me little down time. Adding one more task to my list might’ve been a little too much for me. But, the beauty of technology is that it provides great resources. Social media scheduling tools can help athletes boost their NIL earnings while posting consistent social media content. This means creating a great online brand without having to put in the work each day.
The phrase ‘work smart, not hard’ is a motto I go by in order to get things done. Why stress yourself out, burn yourself out, or not be able to build your brand or honor your NIL commitments because of a busy schedule? For me, scheduling social posts days or weeks in advance can help me stay on-brand while growing my business. Before I share a few scheduling tools, here are a few reasons why any athlete building their brand, looking to grow their following, or those who have committed to NIL deals should look into scheduling their content:
- Time Management. Social media scheduling tools allow athletes to plan and schedule posts in advance, freeing up time for training, competitions, and other professional commitments.
- Consistency. With scheduling tools, athletes can maintain a consistent posting schedule, which can help build a loyal and engaged fan base. Having my posts scheduled in advance helps me stay consistent, meaning if I have a busy week or unexpected event, my posts will go out each day.
- Engagement. By scheduling posts at optimal times, athletes can increase engagement with their audience, leading to more likes, comments, and shares. Social media scheduling tools can help you with this.
- Reach. Social media scheduling tools allow athletes to reach a larger audience by posting at times when their followers are most active.
- Brand Image. By using scheduling tools, athletes can carefully curate their content, ensuring that their social media presence aligns with their brand image and values.
- Content Creation. Social media scheduling tools often come with built-in features for content creation, such as photo editing tools, video editing tools, and stock photo libraries. This can be really helpful, especially if you’re just starting out in building your business.
- Analytics. Most scheduling tools offer analytics features that allow athletes to track their social media performance and make data-driven decisions about their content. This is huge, because it’s another example of helping you to work smart, not just hard when creating content.
- Collaboration. Many scheduling tools allow athletes to collaborate with their team members, making it easier to manage multiple accounts and create consistent branding across platforms.
- Reputation Management. With scheduling tools, athletes can monitor their mentions, respond to comments, and manage their reputation more effectively.
- Sponsored Content. Athletes can use scheduling tools to plan sponsored content, ensuring that it aligns with their posting schedule and maximizes their earning potential.
- Targeted Advertising. By using scheduling tools, athletes can target their posts to specific demographics, ensuring that they reach the right audience.
- Adaptability. Social media scheduling tools allow athletes to adapt their content strategy in real-time based on analytics and audience feedback. These tools won’t just help your personal brand, but it will help when you’re looking to partner with different companies.
By using social media scheduling tools, athletes can streamline their social media activities, maximize their earning potential, and focus on what they do best: playing sports. Here are 9 tools athletes can use to schedule content, engage with their fans, and boost their NIL earnings.
Social Media Scheduling Tools to Boost NIL Earnings
Hootsuite. Hootsuite is a comprehensive social media management tool that allows athletes to schedule posts across various platforms, monitor their engagement, and analyze their performance. I’m a big fan of Hootsuite for its’ ease of use.
Buffer. Buffer is a popular social media scheduling tool that allows athletes to schedule posts, track their analytics, and engage with their audience on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Later. Later is an Instagram scheduling tool that allows athletes to plan, schedule, and post content to Instagram from their computer or mobile device. They also offer great insights and information
Sprout Social. Sprout Social is an all-in-one social media management platform that allows athletes to schedule posts, monitor their engagement, and analyze their performance across multiple social media platforms.
Planoly. Planoly is an Instagram planning and scheduling tool that allows athletes to schedule posts, plan their feed, and analyze their performance on Instagram.
CoSchedule. CoSchedule is a social media scheduling tool that allows athletes to schedule posts, collaborate with their team, and track their performance across multiple social media platforms.
Sendible. Sendible is a social media management tool that allows athletes to schedule posts, manage their social media accounts, and track their performance across multiple platforms.
SocialBee. SocialBee is a social media scheduling tool that allows athletes to schedule posts, manage their social media accounts, and track their performance across multiple platforms.
Zoho Social. Zoho Social is a social media management tool that allows athletes to schedule posts, track their analytics, and engage with their audience on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
As a former athlete who isn’t playing ball full time, my days are still busy- so I can only imagine the time-management current athletes face each day. Managing multiple social media accounts can be super time-consuming. Thanks to scheduling tools, I can post thoughtfully and consistency, ensuring my content goes live each day. As an athlete looking to earn NIL money, these scheduling tools can help you manage your social media presence, engage with your fans, and boost your NIL earnings. By using these tools, you can streamline your social media activities and focus on enjoying the game and living your best life.