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 and give athletes plenty of time to create content. This will ensure that the content is high quality and that the athletes have 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!

What's the easiest way to run a campaign on Black Friday?

Product seeding is the easiest way to run an athlete influencer marketing campaign on Black Friday due to its simplicity and effectiveness. By providing athletes with free products relevant to their sports or lifestyle, brands can leverage their influence to reach a highly engaged audience during this peak shopping season. Athletes, as trusted figures in their respective sports, have the ability to authentically promote products and create buzz among their dedicated fan base. With product seeding, brands can tap into the athletes' existing credibility and following, allowing them to effortlessly promote their Black Friday deals and specials. This strategy not only simplifies the campaign execution but also ensures that the brand's message reaches the target audience in a compelling and trustworthy manner, maximizing the potential for increased sales and brand awareness during the busy Black Friday period.

How much will it cost to hire athletes for Black Friday?

Rate Card

The cost of working with an Athlete(s) depends on their social following, current commitment to their sport, and a few other factors. Based on 18,000 profiles, we put together a rate card made up of the average of all the Athletes on OpenSponsorship. The low end is $500 for a one-off social post and the high end is $100k+ for a long-term partnership with a widely known Athlete. 

Many Athletes are willing to lower their social price a bit if you are only requesting UGC and not asking them to make a post on their feed. 

When should your campaign be live for Black Friday?

How Long Does It Take To Complete An Athlete Sponsorship Deal-1

To ensure a timely and effective product seeding campaign on OpenSponsorship for Black Friday, brands should have their campaign live well in advance, ideally around 6-8 weeks before the desired posting date. Given that it typically takes 3-4 weeks for an athlete to complete a product seeding campaign and make their social media post about the product, having the campaign live early allows ample time for athlete selection, negotiation, product shipping, content creation, and post-scheduling. By starting early, brands can secure athlete partnerships, deliver products to the athletes, and give them sufficient time to experience and create engaging content around the products. This strategy allows for a smooth and timely execution of the campaign, ensuring that the athlete's posts are live and generating buzz among their audience in time for the Black Friday shopping period, maximizing the impact and visibility of the brand's promotions.

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

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

Why Brands Should Work with Athletes to Improve Black Friday Sales

- 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.

Why Brands Should Work with Athletes to Improve Black Friday Sales

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

Why Brands Should Work with Athletes to Improve Black Friday Sales

Finishing Point: Work with Athletes, Improve Black Friday Sales

OpenSponsorship is the best way to connect with top athletes and brands around the world. We have a database of over 18,000 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!

Jeff

Jeff is OpenSponsorship's Director of Marketing. He typically writes about sports sponsorship, marketing, and tips & tricks for brands.