{"id":18349,"date":"2021-12-13T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grin.co\/?p=18349"},"modified":"2025-10-03T14:20:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T21:20:35","slug":"complete-guide-to-athlete-influencer-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/complete-guide-to-athlete-influencer-marketing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to Athlete Influencer Marketing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<p>People love compelling stories of those who\u2019ve defied the odds and accomplished incredible feats. Nowhere is this quite so apparent as it is in the world of sports.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Athlete marketing is in many ways the start of modern <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/influencer-marketing-guides\/\">influencer marketing<\/a>. Today, social media has expanded the reach of athlete creators so that even individuals with as few as 1,000 followers can make a major impact among niche audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/14571.webp\" alt=\"Statista table of Athletes with the highest endorsement income between June 2018 and June 2019 with Roger Federer being the highest\" class=\"wp-image-18350\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Image via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/chart\/14571\/athlete-endorsement-earnings\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Statista<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-accordion alignnone\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-wrap kt-accordion-id18349_e21431-69 kt-accordion-has-3-panes kt-active-pane-0 kt-accordion-block kt-pane-header-alignment-left kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow kt-accodion-icon-side-right\" style=\"max-width:none\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-inner-wrap\" data-allow-multiple-open=\"false\" data-start-open=\"none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-3 kt-pane18349_188e7f-fa\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Infographic Transcript<\/span><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_bookOpen kt-btn-side-right\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"  aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M2 3h6a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v14a3 3 0 0 0-3-3H2z\"\/><path d=\"M22 3h-6a4 4 0 0 0-4 4v14a3 3 0 0 1 3-3h7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p><em><strong>Roger Federer Is the King of Athlete Endorsements<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Athletes with the highest endorsement income between June 1, 2018 and June 1,&nbsp; 2019*<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>1. Roger Federer (Switzerland, Tennis): $86m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>2. Tiger Woods (US, Golf): $54m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>3. LeBron James (US, Basketball): $53m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Soccer): $44m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>5. Stephen Curry (US, Basketball): $42m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>6. Phil Mickelson (US, Golf): $36m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>7. Kevin Durant (US, Basketball): $35m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>8. Lionel Messi (Argentina, Soccer): $35m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>9. Kei Nishikori (Japan, Tennis): $33m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>10. Rory McIlroy (UK, Golf): $31m<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*endorsement income estimates include sponsorship deals, appearance fees and licensing income<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Source: Forbes<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"div-c0fc723\" class=\"div-c278f60\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are athlete creators?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Athlete creators are athletes with a vibrant online presence and engaged digital community<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Some athlete creators are professional sports celebrities with millions of followers, while others are fitness experts with smaller, more dedicated audiences. Athlete creators may use social media to manage their image, publish original content, launch their own entrepreneurial ventures, inform audiences, or all of the above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Athlete creators are sometimes referred to as influencers because they often establish trends and guide consumer buying decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The history of athlete influencer marketing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases, athlete creators mastered their craft before joining forces with a brand or publishing original content online. Early sports influencers starred in audio and video ads as part of a brand-celebrity partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What was the first product endorsement by an athlete?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when the first athlete brand endorsement deal occurred. <a href=\"https:\/\/dlib.bc.edu\/islandora\/object\/bc-ir:102314\/datastream\/PDF\/view\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">In the United States<\/a>, brands started aligning themselves with big-name baseball players in the 1920s and \u201830s.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the problem with this approach was that most brands did this without the celebrity\u2019s permission. It was much later when athlete marketing became a mutually-beneficial relationship between brands and athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The rise in athlete endorsements grew with the adoption of radio and television, where broadcasters funded their organization through paid ads. Athlete-brand collaborations naturally became a popular approach to building these ads and earning the attention of thousands of listeners and viewers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Michael Jordan and Nike<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The most iconic athlete endorsement relationship began when Nike, a struggling startup in the 1980s, convinced a young Michael Jordan to promote the brand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/jkpnzdlg4htxxjf8_1589980096.webp\" alt=\"Michael Jordan in a Nike commercial\" class=\"wp-image-18351\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Image via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.republicworld.com\/sports-news\/basketball-news\/nike-air-jordans-journey-to-making-billions-per-year-the-last-dance.html\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">RepublicWorld<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time, athlete endorsements for top apparel brands was commonplace. Several brands, including Adidas and Converse, had already secured deals with NBA superstars. But the Jordan-Nike partnership took on a powerful role in athlete marketing that no one had ever seen before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nike launched its very first pair of Air Jordan shoes in 1985. Jordan and Nike both made headlines after he insisted on wearing his Air Jordans even after the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.footlocker.com\/history-of-air-jordan.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">NBA fined him<\/a> for not meeting uniform standards. Forty years and billions of dollars later, consumers regard the athlete-brand partnership as a match made in heaven.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jordan posed for some of the most compelling image ads in all of sports marketing. He also appeared in television commercials that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=n-f8udP21Jg&amp;t=865s\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">millions still view today<\/a> on YouTube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brand endorsement deals often try to mimic the quality of relationship demonstrated by Nike and Jordan in the 1980s and 90s. He clearly favored Nike above all his other partnerships, and fans could tell that the collaboration was genuine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Athletes on social media<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>By the mid-2000s, athletes began to join the emerging world of social media. Most sports celebrities had their own accounts on Facebook or Twitter by 2010.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Athlete influencer marketing on social media grew as each platform introduced verified accounts, protecting high-profile users from those who would create fraudulent accounts in athletes\u2019 names. By 2015, most of the leading channels offered verified badges for celebrities and top creators, including Facebook, <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/instagram-influencer-marketing\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Instagram<\/a>, Twitter, <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/influencer-marketing-on-pinterest\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Pinterest<\/a>, and <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/the-ultimate-guide-to-youtube-influencer-marketing\/\">YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before long, sports agents urged clients to connect with audiences over social media. Fans appreciated a closer look into the personal lives of their favorite athletes. Social media posts also gave athlete brand ambassadors a natural platform to promote products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Athlete creators during the pandemic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The arrival of <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/influencer-marketing-during-covid-19\/\">COVID-19<\/a> meant game cancellations, lockdowns, and even postponements for some of the world\u2019s largest sporting events (March Madness, Olympics, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When traditional sports events resumed, most did so with condensed schedules and without the benefit of live audiences. That meant that fans tuned in digitally before, during, and after events in a desperate attempt to feel connected to their favorite teams and athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But thanks to social media and lighter schedules, athletes had more time to connect digitally with fans on a personal level. They also contributed to home workout trends to help people stay healthy while stuck at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Results of the NCAA decision on athlete influencer marketing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest moments in sports influencer marketing occurred when the <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/athlete-influencer-marketing-the-ncaa-ruling\/\">NCAA lifted its policy on Name Image Likeness (NIL) for college athletes<\/a>. Prior to July 2021, NCAA athletes were not allowed to leverage their personal brands to earn income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"image-c8149a8\" class=\"image-c0e7a22 cc-img\" src=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Untitled.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Untitled.webp 644w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Untitled-300x281.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" width=\"644\" height=\"604\" alt=\"Pay to Play infographic\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Image via <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/hilite.org\/67856\/sports\/committed-athletes-at-chs-reflect-on-ncaa-rule-changes-allowing-players-to-be-paid-by-third-parties-for-their-namesake\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hilite<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-accordion alignnone\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-wrap kt-accordion-id18349_832b67-bf kt-accordion-has-2-panes kt-active-pane-0 kt-accordion-block kt-pane-header-alignment-left kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow kt-accodion-icon-side-right\" style=\"max-width:none\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-inner-wrap\" data-allow-multiple-open=\"false\" data-start-open=\"none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-1 kt-pane18349_216572-a4\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Infographic Transcript<\/span><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_bookOpen kt-btn-side-right\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"  aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M2 3h6a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v14a3 3 0 0 0-3-3H2z\"\/><path d=\"M22 3h-6a4 4 0 0 0-4 4v14a3 3 0 0 1 3-3h7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<h4 class=\"kt-adv-heading18349_a306f9-36 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading18349_a306f9-36\">pay to play<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"kt-adv-heading18349_443f81-be wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading18349_443f81-be\">The NCAA&#8217;s recent decision allows college athletes to profit from their image<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Leading the Way<\/strong> Legislative action from these states forced NCAA changes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Considering legislation<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"list-cf0a2a4\" class=\"list-c97f8fe\"><ul><li>California<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Passed legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"list-c984a15\" class=\"list-ca8d4e4\"><ul><li>Nevada<\/li><li>Washington<\/li><li>Colorado<\/li><li>Minnesota<\/li><li>Illinois<\/li><li>Kentucky<\/li><li>Ohio<\/li><li>Pennsylvania<\/li><li>New York<\/li><li>Connecticut<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>None<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"list-cd9d7df\" class=\"list-c51a804\"><ul><li>All other states<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>NCAA Annual Revenue: <\/strong>$1.1 billion in 2017<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Local level: <\/strong>Lesser-known athletes can receive endorsements for local businesses<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>National sponsorships: <\/strong>Some elite NCAA athletes can earn sponsorships such as themed apparel<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Scholarships: <\/strong>The average student-athlete scholarship is $18,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Prize money: <\/strong>Elite athletes have the chance to keep their competition winnings<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Graphic: Edward Dong<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sources: CBS Sports, CBS News, NPR, NCAA<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>But after the Supreme Court ruled against the NCAA, college athletes from every sport and division began entertaining brand endorsement deals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The NCAA\u2019s reversal of NIL restrictions unlocked thousands of new social media sports influencers for brands to choose from. Additionally, this change made it essential for college athletes to establish an online presence to connect with fans earlier in their sports careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Athlete creators and social consciousness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the last few years, an increasing number of athletes have leveraged social media to promote social justice and raise awareness for causes they care about. These trends put increasing pressure on brands to meet the needs of their audience with regards to social responsibility and marginalized consumer groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cNearly 60% of Americans want the companies they buy products from to have a position about issues such as racial discrimination and social justice&#8230; Roughly 50% of the survey\u2019s respondents said they often do online research to see how a brand reacted to [certain] social issues.\u201c <\/em><\/p>\n<cite><em>&#8211; <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barrons.com\/articles\/stock-market-movers-9a507e4c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><em>Barron\u2019s<\/em><\/a><em>, 2020<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Racial equality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most famous examples of athletes promoting racial equality is Colin Kaepernick who refused to stand for the national anthem in silent protest to racism in the U.S. His actions sparked controversy across the NFL, particularly among caucasion fans and league decision-makers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an activist, Kaepernick leveraged his Twitter account to speak out, though according to many, his actions negatively impacted his sports career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cTo the underestimated, the overlooked and the outcast, Trust Your Power!\u201d<br> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ColininBlackandWhite?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#ColininBlackandWhite<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kaepernick7\/status\/1454539506078531588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">October 30, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>But Kaepernick wasn\u2019t alone. Hundreds of players across professional sports followed his example in an effort to raise awareness for racial injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the many other athlete creators who\u2019ve promoted racial equality are Michael Jordan, Carson Wentz, Adam Shibley, Bubba Wallace, Stephen Curry, Gareth Southgate, Braden Holtby, Tom Brady, and John Cena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Equal voting rights for all<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, LeBron James founded the organization More Than a Vote to promote voting rights for black voters in 2020 and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThe group remains nonpartisan, and its primary focus is to fight for ballot access for Black voters. To that end, there are dozens of bills before state legislatures across the U.S. that would roll back access. But a second goal is to encourage continued participation among Black voters \u2014 especially those who voted for the first time in 2020 \u2014 in important municipal elections in 2021.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<cite><em>&#8211; <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/theathletic.com\/4222791\/2021\/03\/04\/lebron-james-more-than-a-vote-to-launch-campaign-during-nba-all-star-weekend\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Joe Vardon<\/em><\/a><em>, NBA correspondent<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Many more celebrities and athlete creators urge citizens to get out and vote, as well as volunteer at polling sites to increase voter turnout and assist disabled citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mental health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/10\/22\/sport\/simone-biles-gymnastics-spt\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Simone Biles took the stage<\/a> in the summer of 2021 when she bowed out of the all-around competition in the Tokyo Olympics. She opened up about her battles with mental health and unashamedly prioritized her well-being over competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks to Biles\u2019 courage, many more athletes and celebrities revealed the toll that training and competing at high levels places on their mental and emotional health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gender equality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another growing cause among athlete influencers is the #EqualPlayEqualPay movement. The fight for gender equality in sports has inspired organizations to address systemic issues at the high school and college levels, as well as push for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/culture\/opinion\/california-equal-pay-for-equal-play-act\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">new legislation<\/a> to protect the rights of women in sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the most famous sports voices on gender equality are Serena Williams, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ada Hegerberg, Meghan Duggan, and Billie Jean King.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why brands should partner with athlete creators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether famous among millions or thousands, athlete influencers can be a great addition to your team if you seek to connect to audiences online. These creators have the following in common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"list-c009107\" class=\"list-ce2cb12\"><ul><li>Athletes inspire audiences to set high goals and achieve them.<\/li><li>Many consumers view athletes as authority figures.<\/li><li>People aspire to lifestyles that athletes promote.<\/li><li>Athletes have some of the largest and most engaged audiences online.<\/li><li>Athletes are influential role models for young consumers.<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Authentic brand endorsements from athletes can help you achieve any number of campaign goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How athletes can help brands reach their marketing goals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/creator-influencer-recruitment\/\">searching for athlete creators<\/a>, it\u2019s critical that you know what you want your athletes to accomplish. While these influencers can drive conversions, many of them have the ability to do so much more, including (but not limited to):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"list-cab6518\" class=\"list-c870223\"><ul><li>Generate brand awareness<\/li><li>Promote special events<\/li><li>Drive website traffic<\/li><li>Inform audiences on quality products and best practices<\/li><li>Create compelling lifestyle content featuring your product<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you create your campaign objectives, take a moment to break down each goal into key performance indicators (KPIs). These KPIs will help you identify which metrics demonstrate campaign success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/joelvalve-eWAK-rslNn0-unsplash-1.webp\" alt=\"athlete influencer stretching in a gym\" class=\"wp-image-26019\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/joelvalve-eWAK-rslNn0-unsplash-1.webp 900w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/joelvalve-eWAK-rslNn0-unsplash-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/joelvalve-eWAK-rslNn0-unsplash-1-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key metrics for top athlete influencers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Each of your KPIs should have performance metrics assigned to them. For example, brand awareness goals might have the following KPI:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Reach X followers on Instagram by the end of the quarter.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to this KPI, your key metrics include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"list-c344ee0\" class=\"list-c139a17\"><ul><li>Follower count<\/li><li>Number of engagements<\/li><li>Number of athlete creator posts<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, you can create KPIs and assign <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/influencer-marketing-measurement\/\">performance metrics<\/a> across each of your campaign goals. Additional athlete creator metrics can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"list-ce6776d\" class=\"list-c25f482\"><ul><li>Link clicks<\/li><li>Volume of user-generated content (UGC)<\/li><li>Unique visitors on website<\/li><li>Conversions<\/li><li>Coupon code redemptions<\/li><li>Amount of reusable creator posts for paid ads<\/li><li>Average order value from campaign<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When deciding which KPIs and metrics to use, everything goes back to your marketing goals. <strong><em>And while sales volume is a great measurement of success, remember that quality engagements and ongoing UGC can greatly increase future sales and customer lifetime value, while also lowering your customer acquisition costs over time.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding an athlete\u2019s audience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When searching for athletes on social media, you can increase the effectiveness of your recruiting efforts by doing a quick <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/how-to-evaluate-your-influencers-audience\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\">influencer audience analysis<\/a>. If you\u2019re using a <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/creator-management\/\">creator management platform<\/a>, you should already have some robust tools at your disposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you\u2019re performing an audience analysis manually, simply pull a sample from the creator\u2019s followers to find out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"list-c95d92e\" class=\"list-c715139\"><ul><li>What do these followers have in common?<\/li><li>Do they share your brand\u2019s values?<\/li><li>Do they like similar brands?<\/li><li>What hashtags do they use?<\/li><li>What kind of posts do they most often engage with likes, comments, or shares?<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of athlete creators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Professional athletes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most professional athletes are also celebrities. This means that you may pay more for a product endorsement, but the brand awareness results could be tremendous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extreme sports athletes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Extreme sports include skydiving, base jumping, skateboarding, dirt bike racing, and similar physical activities known for being more dangerous than the average sport. These athlete creators frequently work with sponsors and provide outstanding content simply by documenting their stunts and day-to-day activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NCAA athletes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to 2021, all NCAA athletes were banned from participating in brand endorsement deals. And while they could manage their social media accounts, they couldn\u2019t <a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/athlete-influencer-marketing-the-ncaa-ruling\/\">leverage their NIL<\/a> to make additional income.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The NCAA lifted this NIL restriction in August, and now college athletes are open to partnering with their favorite brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sports entertainment athletes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another category of athletes are those that compete in televised live events, such as American Ninja Warrior, WWE, and esports. These competitors often work with sponsors or promote brands with whom they share values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Olympic athletes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many athlete creators become famous after their performance in the Olympic Games. Most of the top champions are worldwide sensations, making them excellent partners for international brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fitness influencers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bodybuilding, personal training, and <a href=\"\/blog\/top-fitness-influencers\/\">fitness influencers<\/a> are also athlete creators. Many of these creators maintain deep relationships with small audiences of between 1,000 and 50,000 followers. Fitness influencers also do an amazing job as ambassadors and affiliates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ecommerce brands succeeding with athlete creators<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.penfolds.com\/en-us\/?forceLang=true\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Penfolds<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CSrA2FRhXx-\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CSrA2FRhXx-\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CSrA2FRhXx-\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Penfolds Wines (@penfolds)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Penfolds is a wine ecommerce vendor that loves to work with artists, fashion influencers, and athlete creators. Their partnership with NBA star, Ben Simmons, is among their most successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nutrabolt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Nutrabolt<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CWTorpeP201\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CWTorpeP201\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CWTorpeP201\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Brittany Ann IFBB Pro (@brt.ann)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Nutrabolt maintains several brands of pre-workout supplements and energy drinks. Their favorite creator partners include fitness influencers and personal trainers. The Nutrabolt family is one of the largest influencer communities in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bumble.com\/en\/about\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\">Bumble<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IG_PBzSZUVk\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>Bumble partnered with Serena Williams to promote female empowerment in online dating. The brand initially launched Williams as a spokesperson during the Super Bowl in 2019 but has since included her in their YouTube series, Bumble\u2019s \u201cQuestion Game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether promoting a product unique to sports or to create buzz within a demographic that loves athletes, sports influencers can activate an enthusiastic response from fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key in any creator partnership is authentic relationships with your <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/solutions\/athlete-marketing-platform-solution\/\">athletes<\/a>. When they feel genuine love for your brand, their product endorsements will resonate with members of their audience and motivate buyers to take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"seealso\"><p>Learn more about influencer marketing: <a href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/influencer-marketing-101\/\">Influencer Marketing 101\n<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Updated: July 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading18349_5f3c52-2b wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading18349_5f3c52-2b\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-accordion alignnone\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-wrap kt-accordion-id18349_7a8a6c-8a kt-accordion-has-9-panes kt-active-pane-0 kt-accordion-block kt-pane-header-alignment-left kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle kt-accodion-icon-side-right\" style=\"max-width:none\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-inner-wrap\" data-allow-multiple-open=\"false\" data-start-open=\"none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-1 kt-pane18349_914ef3-d7\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Is an athlete an influencer?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>Athletes that maintain a strong online presence and seek to connect with their fans typically function as social media influencers by setting trends, raising awareness for causes, and recommending products.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-2 kt-pane18349_d770e0-5d\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Why do superstar athletes have so much brand-selling power?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>Superstar athletes are celebrities with millions of engaged followers. When they promote a product or cause, millions of consumers take notice.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-5 kt-pane18349_44f3ff-69\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Who has a good athlete marketing program?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>There are literally hundreds of brands that do a great job of managing athlete partnerships. But some of the most well-known sports marketing programs include Red Bull, Nike, and American Express.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-6 kt-pane18349_6ba63f-35\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How do athletes promote brands?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>Some athletes enter into formal partnerships with select brands and endorse their products to fans. Others simply offer unsolicited shoutouts for a purchase that they loved.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-7 kt-pane18349_df97a7-3f\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Do athlete endorsements increase sales?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p>When consumers sense that a product endorsement is genuine, athlete influencers are perfect for driving sales for certain products. That said, many brands are also leveraging athlete partnerships to generate awareness, lower customer acquisition costs, and boost website traffic.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"div-c42fc9b\" class=\"div-c955b35\" style=\"--ccaos-duration:0.3s;--ccaos-delay:0.1s;--ccaos-easing:ease-in-outs;\" data-aos=\"fade-in-down-small\" data-aos-once=\"true\"><svg height=\"0\" width=\"0\"><defs><clipPath id=\"div-c955b35-path\"><path d=\"M64.5,56.5Q63,63,56.5,65.5Q50,68,32.5,76.5Q15,85,19,67.5Q23,50,32.5,46Q42,42,46,40.5Q50,39,61.5,33Q73,27,69.5,38.5Q66,50,64.5,56.5Z\"><\/path><\/clipPath><\/defs><\/svg>\n<h6 id=\"heading-ca97cb0\" class=\"heading-c2df9e1\" style=\"--ccaos-duration:0.5s;\" data-aos=\"fade-in-up-small\" data-aos-once=\"true\">Hand-Picked Content<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"query-c99e79a\" class=\"query-c7c2ce4\" style=\"--ccaos-duration:0.8s;--ccaos-easing:eases;\" data-aos=\"fade\" data-query_id=\"1\">\n<div id=\"querytemplate-caaca67\" class=\"querytemplate-c15cc84\" cc-query-template=\"\"><div class=\"cc-query-item\">\n<a id=\"div-c2d54e8\" class=\"div-ca06498 \" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/outdoor-influencers-for-your-brand\/\">\n<div id=\"div-cecda4d\" class=\"div-c9e0d2a\">\n<div id=\"div-cdecf37\" class=\"div-cc3b5a6\">\n<h6 id=\"heading-cccee5e\" class=\"heading-c6dc5e3\">Dec<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"heading-cd2b4cf\" class=\"heading-ceaab7e\">21<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"image-c27b842\" class=\"image-c39fa54 cc-img\" src=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/IM_How_Outdoor_Influencers_2023-Q4-12_Featured1.webp\" alt=\"\" height=\"640\" width=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/IM_How_Outdoor_Influencers_2023-Q4-12_Featured1.webp 960w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/IM_How_Outdoor_Influencers_2023-Q4-12_Featured1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/IM_How_Outdoor_Influencers_2023-Q4-12_Featured1-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"div-c5209e5\" class=\"div-cf5046a\">\n<p id=\"paragraph-c691f6d\" class=\"paragraph-c7be85c\">Discovery &amp; Recruitment<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"heading-c0a3c9a\" class=\"heading-c0e5648\">How Outdoor Influencers Can Bring a Breath of Fresh Air to Your Marketing<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"paragraph-cb1af8b\" class=\"paragraph-cb12a3d\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"button-c410a6e\" class=\"button-cd7d2ad cc-btn\">Read More<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path d=\"M27.707 16.707l-9 9c-0.181 0.181-0.431 0.293-0.707 0.293-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1 0-0.276 0.112-0.526 0.293-0.707l7.293-7.293h-19.586c-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1s0.448-1 1-1v0h19.586l-7.293-7.293c-0.181-0.181-0.293-0.431-0.293-0.707 0-0.552 0.448-1 1-1 0.276 0 0.526 0.112 0.707 0.293l9 9c0.181 0.181 0.293 0.431 0.293 0.707s-0.112 0.526-0.293 0.707v0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div><div class=\"cc-query-item\" data-lastpost=\"1\">\n<a id=\"div-c2d54e8-q-2\" class=\"div-ca06498 \" href=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/blog\/athlete-influencer-marketing-the-ncaa-ruling\/\">\n<div id=\"div-cecda4d-q-2\" class=\"div-c9e0d2a\">\n<div id=\"div-cdecf37-q-2\" class=\"div-cc3b5a6\">\n<h6 id=\"heading-cccee5e-q-2\" class=\"heading-c6dc5e3\">Oct<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"heading-cd2b4cf-q-2\" class=\"heading-ceaab7e\">18<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"image-c27b842-q-2\" class=\"image-c39fa54 cc-img\" src=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/college-athlete-min.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"640\" width=\"959\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/college-athlete-min.jpg 959w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/college-athlete-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/college-athlete-min-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/college-athlete-min-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 959px) 100vw, 959px\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"div-c5209e5-q-2\" class=\"div-cf5046a\">\n<p id=\"paragraph-c691f6d-q-2\" class=\"paragraph-c7be85c\">Discovery &amp; Recruitment<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 id=\"heading-c0a3c9a-q-2\" class=\"heading-c0e5648\">College Athlete Influencer Marketing: What the NCAA Ruling Means to Your Brand<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"paragraph-cb1af8b-q-2\" class=\"paragraph-cb12a3d\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"button-c410a6e-q-2\" class=\"button-cd7d2ad cc-btn\">Read More<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path d=\"M27.707 16.707l-9 9c-0.181 0.181-0.431 0.293-0.707 0.293-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1 0-0.276 0.112-0.526 0.293-0.707l7.293-7.293h-19.586c-0.552 0-1-0.448-1-1s0.448-1 1-1v0h19.586l-7.293-7.293c-0.181-0.181-0.293-0.431-0.293-0.707 0-0.552 0.448-1 1-1 0.276 0 0.526 0.112 0.707 0.293l9 9c0.181 0.181 0.293 0.431 0.293 0.707s-0.112 0.526-0.293 0.707v0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>People love compelling stories of those who\u2019ve defied the odds and accomplished incredible feats. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"wp-custom-template-blog-single","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[103],"tags":[],"content-type":[208],"level":[201],"platform":[],"type-of-creator":[197],"marketing-type":[176,178],"topics":[],"post-author":[147],"individual_goals":[118,119,122],"industry":[],"program_status":[113],"class_list":["post-18349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-content-management","content-type-blog","level-beginner","type-of-creator-athlete","marketing-type-influencer-marketing","marketing-type-athlete-marketing","post-author-grin-contributor","individual_goals-increase-brand-awareness","individual_goals-drive-sales","individual_goals-marketing-innovation","program_status-beginner-0-10"],"acf":{"notification_sent":true,"view_count":17698,"for_creators":"","separated_thumbnail":null,"video_cover":"","ai_summary":"","faq":null,"hand_picked_content":null,"read_duration":19,"content_type":208},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18349"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50174,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18349\/revisions\/50174"}],"acf:term":[{"embeddable":true,"taxonomy":"content-type","href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-type\/208"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"content-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-type?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"level","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/level?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"type-of-creator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type-of-creator?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"marketing-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/marketing-type?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"post-author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-author?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"individual_goals","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/individual_goals?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=18349"},{"taxonomy":"program_status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grin.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/program_status?post=18349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}