Jack Erskine

Tag: marketing

  • NIL 101: How Do You Get an NIL Deal

    NIL 101: How Do You Get an NIL Deal

    Over the past few weeks, I’ve covered several topics related to NIL. For this blog, I want to break down the key steps athletes should follow to successfully navigate the often-confusing world of NIL.

    Step 1: Prepare for NIL Deals

    As I mentioned in a previous blog post, “What Makes an Athlete Marketable?”, building a strong personal brand is essential. Before even thinking about NIL opportunities, athletes should focus on establishing their brand on social media.

    Show that you’re a hardworking, motivated individual with a positive image, but don’t be afraid to let your true personality shine through. Authenticity resonates with audiences—and brands are looking for athletes who are relatable and real.

    Once you’ve established a brand, you’re proud of, it’s time to create an NIL strategy. Develop a roadmap that outlines your goals, identifies your target audience, and estimates potential income streams. This process will help you determine what types of NIL deals best align with your personal brand. For example, would a partnership with Bass Pro Shops or an energy drink company like Alani suit you best?

    Finally, you’ll want to assemble a team of professionals—agents, attorneys, and possibly marketing firms—who can guide you safely through the NIL landscape. Ask coaches and teammates about references for attorneys and agents. Your agent will handle much of the off-the-field work so you can focus on excelling in your sport. Your attorney will protect your interests by reviewing contracts and ensuring compliance with NCAA rules and regulations.

    Step 2: Operate Your NIL Business

    Once you’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to evaluate NIL offers carefully. Don’t just focus on the financial side—think about how a partnership might impact your audience. Will your followers be excited, annoyed, or indifferent about a particular brand? Could a deal cost you followers in the long run? These are important questions to consider beyond immediate financial gain.

    With your agent and attorney, review the terms of any NIL agreement thoroughly. Ensure the compensation and contract length meet your expectations and serve your long-term goals. Always read the fine print. For many athletes, these deals are the first contracts they’ve ever signed—so it’s critical to understand exactly what you’re agreeing to.

    Most importantly, make sure the NIL deal complies with NCAA rules to avoid jeopardizing your eligibility. That’s why having a trustworthy attorney is so important—someone who has your back and your best interests at heart.

    Step 3: Master Your Finances

    Once you’ve secured NIL deals that align with your brand and audience, it’s time to focus on the financial side of things. Even with an attorney and marketing team supporting you, it’s important to educate yourself about personal finance and budgeting.

    Understanding how to manage your NIL earnings wisely can set you up for long-term success. After all, as much as you love your sport, you won’t be able to play it forever. That’s why it’s essential to think beyond your athletic career.

    Set long-term goals and develop a plan to continue growing your personal brand—even after you’re playing days are over. NIL is not just about short-term gains; it’s an opportunity to build a foundation for your future. Consider getting a financial advisor to help get you through.

    The world of NIL can be overwhelming, filled with new terminology and challenges. But by following these steps, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the NIL landscape confidently. NIL is a privilege for today’s student-athletes, and it’s an opportunity that should be embraced and maximized. Be careful and always remember, your personal brand is just as important as how you play on Saturdays.

    Links: https://www.nilnetwork.com/nil-deal-101/

  • Know Your Market: Top Brand Categories Dominating NIL Deals

    Know Your Market: Top Brand Categories Dominating NIL Deals

    In this blog post, I’ll break down an infographic that highlights the top brand categories within the NIL space. It shows which types of brands are most commonly partnering with student-athletes.

    infographic from Student-Athlete Insights written by Bill Carter

    Breaking It Down:

    This infographic does a great job of showing which brand categories are dominating the NIL game. It’s no surprise that apparel and footwear lead the way, with 20% of athletes signing deals in that category. With Nike being one of the most recognized names in sports and activewear, this makes a lot of sense.

    One thing I didn’t expect was to see automotive brands among the top 11 categories. When I think of car commercials, I usually picture professional athletes—not college athletes.

    Another surprise was tech, sitting at 13%. I found that interesting because I don’t often see student-athletes featured in tech ads or commercials. On the other hand, the 14% share for restaurants immediately made me think about how smart it would be for local college-town restaurants to collaborate with star athletes. If you’re a non-chain restaurant near a college campus, why not team up with a player from the softball or baseball team to promote a signature dish?

    One point of confusion for me was the distinction between “food” and “restaurants” on the chart. My best guess is that “food” includes packaged products like protein bars, while “restaurants” refers to dining establishments. Still, that division wasn’t immediately clear. And if you’re like me and wondered what “CPG” means—it stands for Consumer Packaged Goods. This category includes frequently purchased items like cleaning products, toiletries, and cosmetics.

    What Would I Change:

    Overall, this is a strong infographic that effectively breaks down the brand categories leading in NIL deals. That said, there are a few changes I’d make to improve it.

    First, I would add a key with examples for each category. Clarifying the difference between “food” and “restaurants,” for example, would help readers better understand the data and what those partnerships might look like.

    Second, I’d simplify the color scheme. Using too many similar or overlapping colors makes the chart harder to interpret. Why are both apparel and beverages represented in blue, when they’re entirely different categories? Assigning distinct colors to each brand category would make the data easier to digest at a glance.

    If you want to check out the original article and infographic, you can visit the link below. It includes more great insights on the current NIL landscape.

    Link: https://studentathleteinsights.com/blog/seven-data-points-that-will-tell-the-story-of-nil-in-2023