How Social Media can help athletes level up.

In the modern world of sports, social media is at the forefront of coverage, offering a new level of connection between athletes and fans. As social media becomes further entwined with the business of sport, professional athletes and teams have more of a global audience than ever before and amateur athletes have an opportunity to engage with the dynamic digital landscape to increase their stock and leverage their audience. 

Athletes of all levels can benefit from an increased output across social media platforms and an enhanced insight into the ways it can help them. Take a look at 5 of the best ways social media can help athletes of all levels - level up. 

Increase visibility

While your stock as an athlete can often be limited to athletic performance and potential, the exposure and increased visibility on your performance isn’t. Social media allows athletes of all levels the opportunity to post on, build or engage with platforms to increase the attention and eyes on their performance. Whether in the form of highlights that are posted or sent to teams, professional profiles and resumes that can be found or shared online or features of podcasts and channels of existing pundits and creators - there is an ever growing number of ways athletes can command and capture attention. If the difference between where you are now and your next opportunity is more exposure, consider the creative ways social media allows you to increase awareness about you as an athlete.   

Build a network

A strong network of connections can be a massive asset in the business of sport. Whether by connecting and working with other athletes or trainers, or benefiting from working with a brand, your network can translate into attention and opportunity. Many athletes rely on their resume and the connections they’ve made to make the next step in their career. Positive relationships with teams, coaches, organisations might mean you’re front of mind when a space opens up. Your network and growing it, shouldn’t be undermined when you consider social media as an asset. 

Build a personal brand

A strong personal brand is the hallmark of the modern athlete. The stars shine the brightest at the highest level of sport, with their lustre bolstered by the brand they have created for themselves and what comes with it. A strong personal brand can be founded in athletic achievement, but often extends to personality, interests, community engagement and other facets of an individual that form the basis of their voice and image across media. A strong personal brand often means an athlete is a better prospect for brands, where the voice and image of the parties find common ground and a mutual audience, allowing for each party to strengthen the messaging of the other because of the affiliation. But most importantly, a strong personal brand and the dialogue and commentary it inspires, means fans and followers will have an easier time identifying and connecting with an athlete, meaning the best chance at support in and out of sport and growth across platforms.  

Engage with your audience

The quintessential element of ‘social’ media is best seen when athletes exercise the opportunity to communicate directly and personally with their audience. As fans and followers develop an increased appetite for insight into the minds and lives of athletes, it's no wonder teams and organisations at all levels of sport have begun working different forms of media into their marketing. Now, more than ever, athletes have the chance to build and engage with a community of fans and followers, unrestricted by locality. Fans appreciate these types of engagements and in turn, in many ways, support athletes and teams. As following and enjoying sport becomes more accessible, so too does the potential increase for meaningful and rewarding engagement by athletes. 

Collaborate with brands

At the highest level of sport, superstar athletes and brands become synonymous. Collaborating on products, promoting events and initiatives and mutually benefiting from collaboration. Nowadays, with the rise of technology and ecommerce brands and an increased need for brands to have a presence on social media, athletes of all levels can work with small businesses to promote them to their audience. Even at the amateur level, collaborations on social media allow brands to strengthen their brand identity adding an athlete’s voice to the mix and athletes can benefit by adding these partnerships to their resume, strengthening their portfolio as a prospect and professional. While the financial component of endorsements and sponsorships can be a significant motivator for athletes, in many cases where paid partnerships are out of their reach, because of their present status or following, partnering with businesses or brands can allow them to access goods, services and resources. Social media presents an ever increasing market for athletes to add their voice to the marketing efforts of brands of all sizes and the right partnerships, that align with the athlete’s unique personal brand, can pay dividends long into the future. 

Social media can be a massive asset for athlete’s of all levels. It is important to ensure that discretion is used as while there are an array of benefits to be derived from social media, it can easily become a negative space or something that affects opportunity when used improperly.