Helping brands to partner with athletes in their influencer marketing and sponsorship marketing campaigns

Why Brands Should Work with Athletes to Improve Black Friday Sales

For many brands, Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. It's a time when businesses can make a lot of money by offering steep discounts and attracting customers with great deals. However, in order to make the most out of Black Friday, brands need to plan ahead and work with athletes to create promotional content that will drive traffic and sales. In this blog post, we will discuss why it is beneficial for brands to work with athletes on Black Friday and some tips on how to do it effectively!

There are a few reasons why working with athletes can be beneficial for brands during Black Friday. First, athletes have a large following on social media and can promote deals to their fans. Second, athletes are trusted influencers and their endorsement of a product or service can increase consumer confidence. Finally, athletes are often seen as experts in their field and can provide valuable insights to brands about how to appeal to their target audience.

 

If you're a brand considering working with athletes on Black Friday, here are a few tips to make the most out of the partnership:

1. Plan ahead and give athletes plenty of time to create content. This will ensure that the content is high quality and that the athlete has a good understanding of the brand and what is being promoted.
2. Make sure the athlete is a good fit for the brand. There should be alignment between the values of the athlete and the brand, and the content should be relevant to the athlete's fans.
3. Be clear about what is expected from the partnership. What kind of content will be created? How will it be promoted? What are the goals of the campaign? Having a clear plan will help ensure that both parties are on the same page and that everyone knows what their role is in making the campaign successful.

Working with athletes on Black Friday can be a great way to boost sales and create buzz around your brand. By following these tips, you can make the most out of the partnership and ensure that it is successful!

Here are some successful Black Friday marketing campaigns to get you inspired:

- Nike's "Find Your Greatness" campaign from 2012 featured a number of top athletes, including LeBron James, Allyson Felix, and Michael Phelps. The campaign was very beneficial, improving sales and brand awareness.

- Umbro and West Ham United Football Club utilized their black Friday campaign in 2017 to sell merchandise at a discounted rate. The campaign was very successful, with Umbro seeing a sales increase of 300% on the day.

- Under Armour's "Rule Yourself" campaign from 2015 featured a number of top athletes, including Michael Phelps, Misty Copeland, and Jordan Spieth. The campaign was a success, driving sales and increasing market reach.

Finishing Point

OpenSponsorship is the best way to connect with top athletes and brands around the world. We have a database of over 10,000 athletes and counting, so you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your brand. Sign up today and start promoting your Black Friday deals!

Social media has become an integral part of a professional athlete's career and female athletes seem to possess some of the larger followings, giving them strong influence. Not only can this help the individual athlete but it can be a powerful tool in highlighting women's sport, bringing more interest and additional coverage.  Female athletes can also evoke change in other ways by being an influencer, such as by using their own personal stories to inspire others. “The stakeholders on the commercial side of sports are constantly searching for the next frontier, the next growth play,” Dan Cohen, who leads sports marketing company Octagon’s media rights consulting division, said in an email. “It is clearly women’s sports.”

It has been reported that women's sport does not receive as much coverage and investment even though it has more room for growth than men's sport. In 2018 studies showed that only 0.4% of the total commercial investment (in sport) goes into women’s sport, despite a Nielsen report revealing that 84% of general sports fans have an interest in women’s sports. 51% of those surveyed were male, which means utilizing female athletes as a way to reach fans can be greatly beneficial. Deloitte projected that the rise of women’s sports in 2020 would dominate the sports industry and that “sponsors should consider getting involved now to capitalize on the new opportunities and avenues for engagement that this growth area may create.” The influence of social media has also grown since the Nielsen survey was taken, especially since digital activity has been vital to the survival of many industries and how many athletes and leagues interacted with their fans throughout the pandemic. Deloitte's survey found that millennials are 40 percent more likely than baby boomers to use social media to obtain information about their favorite teams and players. This behavioral trend emphasizes the importance of the digital connection athletes have with their fans and the power it wields. 

The pandemic was hard on the sport industry but women's sport continues to have strong growth and investment potential. NWGL's Packer said, "the amount of money that it takes for a company to meaningfully support a women’s league is so vastly different than what it takes to have the smallest piece of attachment for a men’s league.” A good example of this potential for growth is women's soccer in the U.S., which has seen an increase in interest that has translated into an increase in stadium attendance. In 2020 the NWSL was poised to have a record-breaking year after signing new broadcast deals, which resulted in a 22% increase in game attendance, according to Soccer Stadium Digest. In addition to this the women's NCAA tournament continues to prove that it can bring in viewers as it could fetch as much as $20 million a year as a stand-alone event on the open market. Now that things are getting back to normal women's sport will need to keep up the momentum.

Every athlete has a diet that works for them, but being healthy and fueling their body is key to their success. There has been a growing number of athletes who have moved to a more vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Many of the athletes who have made the diet and lifestyle change now swear by it. This is not an easy change as professional athletes need to work with nutritionists to ensure they have the proper balance in their diet that would enable them to maintain their physique and to maintain a high level of performance for their sport. In fact a study published in 2015 in the American Journal of Health Promotion found that a plant-based diet can boost physical health and emotional well-being. As the lifestyle change has brought positives to many of the athlete's lives they often share recipes etc. with their fans and teammates.

“My clients see so many benefits to eating a plant-based diet that postseason, they don’t go back to eating as an omnivore or a carnivore,” Barbara Lewin, RDN, CSSD, LDN, a sports nutritionist who works with professional athletes noted.

Here are some of the top vegan athletes on OpenSponsorship.

Julia Hubbard

Julia Hubbard has had a varied but successful athletic career, having competed as a Great Britain Bobsleigh athlete and Sprinter, bodybuilder, and Natural Pro with several federations. Hubbard has won three Natural World titles, three Natural universe titles, three Natural Olympia titles, and multiple British and Regional titles. Hubbard was a vegetarian for much of her life but went full vegan after a sever back injury from a bobsleigh crash, after which she has been quoted as saying,  “I had thought about going vegan many times but always thought it would be too difficult as an athlete and with traveling a lot. The turning point was my health. Now I wish I’d made the switch sooner!” In addition to her athletic achievements she has qualified as a Vegan Nutritionist, having a Degree in Physiology and Sports Science, Nutrition diploma and Personal Training qualifications.

Hunter Reese

Hunter Reese is an American tennis player and current ATP tour competitor who won the NCAA doubles championship and was ranked #1 in the NCAA doubles. He also competed in the 2014 US Open alongside partner Peter Kobelt after receiving a wildcard into the men's doubles draw. Reese has had some hurdles in his college career so it was not until 2019 that Reese became vegan, but has already begun to see some benefits, "I noticed a difference in my energy level and am more conscious of things I am putting into my body since becoming vegan. I was never a morning person and now I can wake up much easier. So I would say there has been an indirect benefit to my performance."

TJ Barnes

TJ Barnes has been a successful defensive tackle who has played in the NFL for the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and the XFL New York Guardians. In 2018 he missed an opportunity to join the WWE because of his weight and poor eating habits, which is why he decided to go vegan saying, "I told myself I needed to change the way I eat because at the route I was going it was going to put me in an early grave. So I went Vegan!" He has since been able to loose weight, getting healthy, and he continues to look to the future.

Agnes Muljadi

Agnes Muljadi is a ballerina, actress, filmmaker and vegan influencer. Muljadi classically trained at Julia Bourlina Classical Ballet in Studio City, California, and has co-produced two independent films. She first began the vegan lifestyle in 2014 for health reasons, and has found that it has had additional benefits, "I tell everyone that the vegan life-style has greatly benefited me as an athlete. I’ve always said that I felt like I was given a new body after I became vegan. My stamina, endurance and energy levels have really improved. I also happily lost some weight after I transitioned to veganism." Her social influencer status has been bolstered by her dance photos and sustainable/vegan lifestyle content, which continue to bring in new and exciting dance opportunities.

Leger Douzable

Leger Douzable has had the opportunity to play for several teams within the NFL, including the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers. Douzable is such a fan of the plant based diet that he shares his favorite recipes with his fans, such as his Vegan Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast.

Martina Leal

Martina Leal, originally from Brazil, is a martial artist and fitness coach, who has also been a positive promoter of the vegan lifestyle through her social media accounts. In addition to working with her clients she enjoys training in Jiu Jitsu and running. She loves to cook her vegan recipes and understands the importance of keeping the body moving. Martina has bachelors of physical education with specialization in ginastica natural.

Josh Powell

Josh Powell is now part of the Big3, but he has a had a long and successful career within the NBA, having played for the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, and LA Lakers. Powell is also a two time NBA Champion, FIBA Intercontinental Cup Champion, EuroLeague Champion, and WBA Champion. Powell has gained a real appreciation for healthy living, which is why he has been following a plant based vegan diet for about three years now.

Evan Engram

Evan Engram played for Ole Miss through college, and drafted into the NFL in 2017 where he has played for the New York Giants. Engram has also been been part of the PFWA All-Rookie Team and participated in the 2020 Pro Bowl. Since shifting to a plant based diet Engram has been able to continue to eat the large portions needed to fuel his body and continues to perform at a top level, which is why he sees it as, “a little investment but I think it’s pretty worth it."

Now more than ever, fan support comes in the form of online attention, and attention which can be monetised to boost your personal brand equity as an athlete. Think of dividing your personal brand into three main facets:

1. Everything related to your athletic pursuits, including your achievements and any distinct style or attributes you are known for.
2. Your current lifestyle and day-to-day appearance in public. Remember fans are constantly looking to emulate their favourite athletes.
   
3. Your ‘life story’ - sharing your 'roots' and some of the hardships and successes you experienced along the way to get to where you are now. Brands love utilising emotive content to better connect with fans. 

With sport coming back to the fore but largely without live audiences, there continues to be opportunities to capture the online attention of fans, through the use of video streaming platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Twitch. Fans want to know what their favourite athletes have been doing over the lockdown - what TV shows you’ve been watching, what games you’ve been playing, what meals you like cooking, and other activities and hobbies you’ve been filling your time with. The bottom line is share, share, share! Give fans a closer look into your life, and who you are as a person off the playing field. This can also serve to attract brands that may not necessarily associate themselves with sports, or see the value in having an athlete represent their brand.

If you want to have a bit of fun, like dancing to your favourite track, then use TikTok to get creative. Paige Van Zant is a great example to follow, as she doesn't over complicate things but keeps the TikToks entertaining by dancing together with her husband to all manner of songs. The recently released Instagram Reels is limited to 15 seconds (TikTok has a 60 second limit), and so videos have to be instantly engaging, or use it as a quick preview to a longer video you want fans to watch. Similarly, put any casual, everyday activities on your Instagram story to give fans a snippet of your daily life, and direct them to subscribe to your YouTube or website to see the full, 'uncut' vlogs. The ‘swipe up’ feature on Instagram can be useful as it doesn't take much effort on the part of the viewer - the only catch is that to be able to use this you need a minimum of 10k followers. Otherwise, a good alternative is to create a landing page using something like Ink.bio or linktr.ee that you can include in your Instagram bio and direct fans to other important pages like your YouTube channel, blog, podcast, and websites of brands you work with along with any unique discount codes. 

Engagement rate is a key determinant for brands when they look at the return on investment from an athlete, and is generally calculated as the total number of interactions your content receives divided by your total number of followers, times by 100 to get a percentage. Put simply, its important to try garner as many interactions as you can on your content.

Hosting live, interactive discussions on topics you are passionate about (it may not even be related to sport) through IGTV, YouTube, Facebook and other platforms can also have a powerful impact on your engagement. For inspiration, take a look at Novak Djokovic’s ‘Self-Mastery Project’ series on IGTV that he ran through the lockdown period, holding hour-long discussions with various self-improvement and motivational speakers. At the end of each he would always save time for a Q&A with listeners. This is a surefire way to greater engagement with the audience, and by showing that you genuinely care about what fans might have to say, they will likely want to watch more!

Athletes are increasingly utilising YouTube to upload longer content - look to Steph Curry, Ryan Garcia and Jorge Masvidal as prime examples. Unlike Instagram posts which can often become forgotten at the bottom of someone’s feed after a few weeks, YouTube videos are continually revisited. Vlogs should be simple to make and easy to watch. Sure, you may want to make things seem more exciting, but fans still value authentic, unchoreographed content. Longer form videos also give you the opportunity to go into detail about things you care about. See Steph Curry's 'Ultimate Home Championship' YouTube video (pictured below), where he brought together big name athletes and  raised over $7 million in funds for the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

The world of Extreme Sports is a treasure trove of surreal and engaging content. Countless times large prints of photos from extreme sports have caught the eyes of consumers when they’re posted on walls of retail stores and outlet malls. When shopping for outdoor lifestyle gear, equipment, and clothing, I personally find myself more drawn to purchasing an item if it has a photo of someone wearing in its appropriate climate or terrain. As consumers, we have come to trust the validity of a product through reviews, photos, and videos of individuals using it prior to our purchase. Brands such as GoPro, Red Bull, and Anheuser-Busch have been taking advantage of this form of consumer behavior.

 

 

As shown in the chart above, we can see that GoPro has become the leader in sponsorships when it comes to the world of extreme sports. GoPro has gone with a very simplistic approach when it comes to sports sponsorships and content marketing. GoPro has made sure to offer independence to their ambassadors and sponsored athletes. Instead of entering the scene with their own agendas, the brand has done an excellent job of letting the sponsored athletes and the sport itself mandate the production of the content. GoPro, like many other brands listed above, understands the importance of curating and repurposing exciting content for their customers. Being in the outdoor lifestyle market, this has been the perfect strategy for GoPro to become the household brand for outdoor cameras and video recorders. When it comes to sponsorship strategies, GoPro has a portfolio of superstar athletes within extreme sports, as well as a number of annual sporting events. 

 

 

What GoPro does is very simple but effective, the marketing strategy is to curate content that shows the use of their products in the most organic and authentic way possible. There aren’t any short forceful videos of athletes holding the product and saying a generic line. These are athletes and outdoor enthusiasts using the products to showcase their skills and display the beauty in their own respective sports. The content consists of beautiful backdrops of mountains, slow-motion clips of surfing under a huge wave, and an overall appreciation for mother nature. The content that GoPro has been able to curate has given them the advantage when it comes to dominating the market. 

 

 

Brands such as GoPro, Anheuser-Busch, and Red Bull have done an excellent job at recognizing the potential of content marketing with extreme sports. However, this doesn’t mean that smaller brands can’t enter the scene and have their own successful content marketing campaigns within the sport. Thanks to the help of social media, content marketing isn’t exclusive to brands with million dollar marketing budgets. The easy to use platform called Opensponsorship can help your brand take advantage of content marketing campaigns at a cost that’s appropriate for your own budget.

 

Opensponsorship offers a wide range of options and filters which allows brands to run their own influencer marketing campaigns in their own specific ways. The platform is full of features; 20+ filters when searching for influencers, up to date data on the followers for each influencer, average costs indicators, campaign template/builder, and many more. Sending messages to potential brand ambassadors, negotiating prices, and getting mid to end campaign reports are just a few of the features that makes the whole process seamless on the Opensponsorship platform. Here are a few tips that will help your brand create the next viral campaign with the Opensponsorship platform:

 

Data on the Following-to-Engagement Ratio – View the up-to-date on the potential brand ambassadors, and see if they have their followers and your target audience match.

Brand Alignment – Check the past histories of campaigns that the influencer has been a part of. View their most used keywords and phrases to see if they’re the right fit for your brand.

Always Negotiate – Utilize Opensponsorship’s proposals feature to negotiate the payments for your influencers using a campaign-based partnership model. This means the influencer gets paid for doing a series of posts as opposed to a singular, one-off activations. You’ll get more content and more bang for your buck this way.

Provide Custom Promo Codes – Opensponsorship allows you to integrate with your Google Analytics or Shopify account to provide each influencer with a custom UTM link This will allow you to measure any traffic driven back to the brand’s website from each influencers post, as well as the number of new users and transactions completed with total spend.

 

Opensponsorship makes it easy for brands of all sizes to run their own content marketing campaigns. With more than 6,000 influencers and athletes on the platform, brands have the opportunity to specify every last detail of their marketing campaigns. Let's create great content that speaks to your brand!

Sports are back! Well, at least a few are. As some states in America gradually start to re-open, we have started to see a gradual increase in activity from the sports world as well. The NLF and the NBA have given permission to a select number of teams to open up practice facilities for voluntary workouts. The MLB is looking into hashing out the details of a proposal which looks to open up their season in July. What does this all mean for the rest of the sports world? It’s a sign of hope with a whole lot of red tape.

 

Although the seats won’t be filled in the stadiums for another few months, the games will go on. With the negation of electronic billboards, and other physical ad space going largely unnoticed due to the absence of attendees. There is still a plethora of digital content that can be capitalized on for marketing purposes. Aside from the television rights, and commercials, there are brands who have taken notice of other forms of marketing. 

 

A perfect example of this can be seen from the recently adapted patch sponsorships on players’ uniforms in the NBA and WNBA. When both the NBA and WNBA searched for new revenue opportunities, the jersey patch program came into mind. The program has reportedly generated more than $150 million in revenue for both the teams and league. In the NBA,  20 teams have stepped into the patch sponsorship program. NBA teams, the league and the brands involved expressed the program to have been an overwhelming success, with exposure numbers easily exceeding projections.

 

Now what if your brand doesn’t have the budget to become an NBA team sponsor? This is where content marketing comes into play. Content marketing has always been a great way for brands to identify themselves. A way to both introduce their image and stay present on the minds of consumers. There have been countless examples of brands executing content marketing strategies in the most authentic way possible. Here an example of how one brand successfully executed their content marketing strategy.

 

 

Brands have taken advantage of the digital marketing age, where content can be selected, curated, utilized, and even repurposed. Brands such as Neptune Ice have capitalized on this trend by directly partnering with professional athletes for their marketing campaigns. Neptune Ice used Opensponsorship to find the perfect ambassador for their brand. The end result was a partnership with NFL Atlanta Falcons’ running back Todd Gurley (shown using product above). With this partnership, Neptune Ice was able to acquire vast amounts of organic content that they ultimately repurposed for their social media marketing campaigns, landing page, and even offline marketing campaigns.

 

When it comes to content marketing, Opensponsorship has successfully helped hundreds of brands from Anheuser-Busch’s Bon & Viv Seltzer to Popeye’s to Vitamin Shoppe’s Isopure. Opensponsorship is an online platform which enables brands to utilize influencer marketing campaigns in a seamless and efficient way. Opensponsorship allows brands to work with a range of influencers, and as of this year Opensponsorship has reported having over 6,000 influencers on their platform. Athletes help to drive sales, brand awareness, PR and engage new & existing customers.  Whether you are looking to drive sales to your own website, a partner website's such as Amazon or a retail store such as Target, athletes can be key to a successful marketing campaign. 

 

Opensponsorship makes it easy for brands of all sizes to run their own content marketing campaigns. With more than 6,000 influencers and athletes on the platform, brands have the opportunity to specify every last detail of their marketing campaigns. Let's create great content that speaks to your brand for your next marketing campaign!

Let’s face it, you’re looking ahead to the product launch with anticipation but it’s paired with a whole lot of anxiety. How will your audience react to the product? Did you gain enough hype around the product to gather a sizable target audience? What will the reviews say? Will you hit the quota for sales or subscriptions? Where can you check to see if all the marketing you and your team did for the launch was successful? While all of these questions are running through your head, the clock ticks away towards the product launch. This is where influencer marketing with Opensponsorship comes into play.

 

Influencer marketing is the promotion of a brand’s products or services through influential endorsements made by users who have established a community of loyal followers. These users who conduct the influential endorsements are made up of celebrities, athletes, and pop-culture icons who have been recognized by their own respective audiences. Activating an influencer marketing campaign with such users will help you increase awareness surrounding the product, gain new traction in the market, and educate new audiences on the features of the new product.

 

 

We all know that authenticity is key, and this is why influencer marketing has been a top strategy for brands such as Anheusuer-Busch, Sperry, and Popeye’s. Being able to position the brand in the most authentic way possible has been proven to be the most effective way to reach the target audience. Placing the products in the hands of the influencers allows brands to cultivate authentic content. Content in the forms of videos, pictures, and testimonials have helped brands make the most out of their marketing campaign budget.

 

 

Last but not least, connecting with an engaged audience is the best way to put your brand in a position to be seen. Studies have shown that sports fans who see a product or service when mentioned by an athlete are 164% more likely to purchase it. The positive impact of sports and the emotional connection with athletes, sports fans are a loyal, dedicated, and engaged group, making them a powerful segment for marketers to reach. Because sports reaches across demographics, marketers have multiple opportunities to target audiences in various age groups, regions, ethnicities and interests. 

 

 

When it comes to marketing for product launches, Opensponsorship has successfully helped thousands of brands from Anheuser-Busch’s Bon & Viv Seltzer to Popeye’s to Vitamin Shoppe’s Isopure. Opensponsorship is an online platform which enables brands to utilize influencer marketing campaigns in a seamless and efficient way. Opensponsorship allows brands to work with a range of influencers, and as of this year Opensponsorship has over 7,000 influencers on their platform. Athletes help to drive sales, brand awareness, PR and engage new & existing customers.  Whether you are looking to drive sales to your own website, a partner website's such as Amazon or a retail store such as Target, athletes can be key to a successful product launch. 

 

 

Opensponsorship offers a wide range of options and filters which allows brands to run their own influencer marketing campaigns in their own specific ways. The platform is full of features; 20+ filters when searching for influencers, up to date data on the followers for each influencer, average costs indicators, campaign template/builder, and many more. Sending messages to potential brand ambassadors, negotiating prices, and getting mid to end campaign reports are just a few of the features that makes the whole process seamless on the Opensponsorship platform. Here are a few tips that will help your brand create the next viral campaign with the Opensponsorship platform:

• Data on the Following-to-Engagement Ratio – View the up-to-date on the potential brand ambassadors, and see if they have their followers and your target audience match.
  
  
• Brand Alignment – Check the past histories of campaigns that the influencer has been a part of. View their most used keywords and phrases to see if they’re the right fit for your brand.
• Always Negotiate – Utilize Opensponsorship’s proposals feature to negotiate the payments for your influencers using a campaign-based partnership model. This means the influencer gets paid for doing a series of posts as opposed to a singular, one-off activations. You’ll get more content and more bang for your buck this way.
  
  
• Provide Custom Promo Codes – Opensponsorship allows you to integrate with your Google Analytics or Shopify account to provide each influencer with a custom UTM link This will allow you to measure any traffic driven back to the brand’s website from each influencers post, as well as the number of new users and transactions completed with total spend.

 

makes it easy for brands of all sizes to run their own content marketing campaigns. With more than 7,000 influencers and athletes on the platform, brands have the opportunity to specify every last detail of their marketing campaigns. Let's create great content that speaks to your brand and gather the hype for your next product launch!

A combined 1.12 billion people around the world watched the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament. In addition, more than 260 million viewers watched as the USWNT team played with confidence, strength and unity in a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands to seal their fate as 2019 World Cup winners. The team and players have garnered respect and admiration from fans across the world and continue to prove why they deserve it: One of the many reasons why these athletes make great sponsorship partners.

Authenticity Drives Engagement

The players’ success on the field, alongside their willingness to take a stand for what they believe in, has made them prominent and popular figures. Their large and loyal fan bases admire their authenticity and have an appreciation and trust in the honest content and messages they put out. While these athletes may not have the same social media following as players like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, engagement amongst their own followers is very high. A sponsored post like this (shown below) from OpenSponsorship and USWNT athlete Julie Ertz is highly authentic to who she is and what she values (there are shirts on the quilt highlighting her career and her husband Zack Ertz’s and even a shirt that promotes gender equality). Posts like this one from Ertz are much more likely to drive engagement and higher brand recognition and sales. 

Matching Athletes to Brands Through Shared Values

Additionally, these athletes are amazing role models for women of all ages, especially young women like myself and members of the LGBTQ community. They consistently break down gender stereotypes by being the confident, skilled players that they are and refusing to accept the status quo when it is unjust. These athletes’ success on the field is undeniably incredible. Combined with their willingness to stand up for what they believe in and be their true authentic selves, they are the perfect candidates for sponsorships: Especially as more and more brands are looking to make statements about their values and are using athletes to help share this message. Due to their willingness to speak up for what they believe in, even if that means being controversial at times, USWNT players and female soccer players are the perfect athletes to partner with to accomplish this.

The Ability to Genuinely Connect with Brands and Consumers Both Through Sports and on a Personal Level

As brands are increasingly trying to reach consumers through social media channels, they sometimes struggle to make the connections between the influencer and the brand feel authentic in the eyes of the consumer. Athletes such as female soccer and USWNT players who attracted their followers based on their success as athletes and who they are on a personal level, are able to make connections with brands and their followers based on the fact that they are athletes and also who they are and what they stand for on a personal level. For example, Rose Lavelle can connect with Nike as a brand and its customers based on the fact that she is a soccer player and their clothes improve her performance. However, she can also connect to Nike and its customers in an even more meaningful way through shared values of female empowerment. This makes partnerships with brands feel more genuine coming from a USWNT player or female soccer player and is likely to drive higher engagement. 

If you would like to find out how your brand can partner with these amazing OpenSponsorship athletes, you can email us at info@opensponsorship.com or check out our website OpenSponsorship.com

 

 

 

 

It’s official, the start of the 2020-21 MLB season has been pushed back to June 2020. We took this chance and looked at what some of our Opensponsorship MLB  athletes are up to during what was supposed to be the beginning of their seasons. Even with the season on hold, the digital presence of our athletes through their social media accounts have been stronger than ever. 

Social media platforms have given the fans an opportunity to stay connected with our favorite MLB athletes all the while following the current social-distancing guidelines. Social media has given us the chance to take a peek into the lives of these professional athletes. Being able to see their family life, the causes & charities that they care about, and of course the at-home workout routines have all been a source of both encouragement and entertainment. Opensponsorship has helped athletes and brands capitalize on this new found time and space by identifying and activating sponsorship opportunities. The Opensponsorship platform has given athletes an opportunity to build their brand while also helping brands partner with their picture perfect ambassadors. Here are some of our favorite MLB athletes on the Opensponsorship platform.

 

Matt Carpenter

Matt Carpenter is the third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals and an avid fan of the outdoors. Matt is a family man with two young children, who he posts pictures and videos of frequently on his social media accounts.

Matt understands the value of giving back to the community, this is why you can see him working alongside charities such as the Homers for Health, Cardinal Gennon Children’s Foundation. Click here to work with Matt Carpenter.

 

Alex Bregman

Alex Bregman is another third baseman for the Houston Astros. As a former World Series champion and an MVP,  Alex is no stranger to the spotlight. Alex knows the value of hard work and understands the importance of community. This is why you can see Alex giving back to organizations such as FeedHou (post shown below). Fun fact: Alex has his own podcast and also is the founder of the non-profit organizationBergmanCares. Click here to partner up with Alex Bregman.

 

Jon Duplantier

Jon Duplantier is a pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Although he may only be in his fifth year in the MLB, Jon is already considered an All-Star on the Opensponsorship platform. Jon has worked with multiple brands, and has accumulated countless 5-star ratings on his sponsorship deals for professionalism, attention to detail, and timeliness. Click here to work with Jon Duplantier.

 

Kole Enright

Kole Enright is a second baseman for the Texas Rangers, and at only 22 years old he already understands the importance of branding. Kole has completed a number of sponsorship deals with multiple brands all the while receiving 5-star ratings. Kole is described as professional and has proven his ability to conduct seamless deals. Kole cares deeply about charities such as Love Made Visible and Habitat for Humanity, and this is evident throughout his social media presence. Here’s achance to work with Kole Enright.

 

Alex Katz

Alex Katz is pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, who has already created an illustrious career for himself at the MLB. Alex has brought his enthusiasm, energy, and professionalism to the Opensponsorship platform. As proof, Alex has been awarded with the 5-star rating on the platform. Alex is a caring soul who knows his impact on his community. Alex is regularly working on the charity Pitch in for Baseball, which can be seen on his Instagram and other social media accounts. Find an opportunity to partner with Alex Katz.

 

Justin Turner

Justin Turner is a third baseman for the LA Dodgers and a newcomer to the platform. Justin brings on his massive following of 750k+ through his Twitter and Instagram accounts. Justin provides quality content which is a huge plus to any brands that will be sponsoring him through the Opensponsorship platform. Work with Justin Turner here.

 

Kyle Schwarber

Kyle Schwarber is an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs and a former World Series Champion. Outside of his profession, Kyle is also the proud founder and operator of his own charity the Neighborhood Heroes. Kyle is the perfect candidate for brand sponsorships, as he is known for his family oriented character and his selflessness throughout his community. Send Kyle Schwarber a message here on our platform.

 

Eddie Rosario

Eddie Rosario is a left fielder for the Minnesota Twins and a two-time silver medalist of the World Baseball Classic. Known as a national baseball hero from Puerto Rico, Eddie looks to cement his legacy into his newfound role in the MLB. Eddie is a family man who posts frequently about his family and loved ones on his social media accounts. Partner with Eddie on the platform here.

 

CJ Edwards

CJ Edwards is a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and a former World Series champion. CJ loves to post about his family on his social media accounts. One can easily find adorable pictures of his children everywhere on his profiles. CJ is great at exhibiting his love for his family and the game. Work with CJ here.

 

Blake Swihart

Blake Swihart is a catcher for the Texas Rangers, and another former World Series champion. Blake is soon to be a dad, and he is more than excited to show it! Blake is a great candidate for sponsorship campaigns as he enters a new phase in his life, giving new visibility to the novel aspects of his life. Partner with Blake Swihart here.

These are just a few of our amazing athletes who are on our platform today. Check out the rest of our MLB athletes here or view all 6,000+ athletes here on the platform to find the perfect partner for your next sponsorship campaign.