Why College Athletes Are a Co-Branding Gold Mine

Why College Athletes Are a Co-Branding Gold Mine

by Jane Smith Branding

As college athletes have been appearing increasingly in the marketing world, it is clear that the landscape of sports marketing has shifted completely. No longer are these athletes limited to the exposure and branding that their universities allowed for; instead, they now have the freedom to enter into deals with outside businesses to promote their own image and personal brand. As an athlete myself, I have observed the significant changes brought about by NIL, both within my own experiences and through the journeys of my fellow teammates.

What Is NIL?

So, what exactly is NIL? Standing for name, image, and likeness, it acts on how college athletes can now receive compensation for representing different marketing promoters. This new and fresh effect of NIL rights on the marketing environment is apparent, according to a Forbes piece “How Brands and College Athletes Can Navigate Name, Image, and Likeness Marketing.” The article emphasizes the enormous potential for marketers and athletes to form successful partnerships and negotiate this new setting.  College athletes are now empowered to associate themselves with businesses that share their beliefs and objectives because they have influence over the personal brand journeys they take. This not only improves their reputation and relationship with fans, but it also gives businesses a special chance to capitalize on the zeal and power of collegiate athletes, boosting their marketing initiatives. The article encourages both businesses and athletes to think about long-term goals and mutually beneficial relationships, highlighting the significance of authenticity when handling NIL marketing. This is consistent with my experience as an athlete who has seen the transforming benefits of NIL on prospects for personal branding and marketing.

My Experience

Being an athlete, I have been educated about the appeal and gain that one could acquire by signing with a brand. From seeing Angel Reese becoming the highest paid athlete to a few of my own teammates make a steady income, it gives a lot of hope for the future and what one could potentially accomplish. Athletes now have more control over their personal brand image thanks to their capacity to bargain endorsement deals and explore brand collaborations. I have had the privilege of witnessing my teammate, Jack Dalhgren, a talented swimmer, be endorsed by TallSlim Tees. Even though it doesn’t directly correlate with swimming, he has been a loyal customer of TallSlim Tee’s for quite some time. Essentially, he is responsible for posting on various media platforms promoting TallSlim Tee’s to reach his audience and represent their brand. Fortunately, I help run his social media accounts to help boost his image and likeness. Part of my job is to keep up with trends on TikTok or come up with an original post to assist his success within the company. It not only has allowed him to enhance his personal brand and connect with his followers, but to expand his brand. His partnership has inspired not only me, but also other swimmers and athletes to pursue goals of potentially creating deals.

Traditionally, brand deals were dealt to professional athletes or established celebrities. However, the introduction of NIL opens up a world of possibilities and dives into the wealth of untapped talent. By offering these individuals to promote their products and services, it is an effortless way to increase visibility and awareness which leads to remarkable success on both sides of the parties.

As athletes continue to showcase their talents and skill sets, their likeliness from fans grows exponentially. This creates a fantastic opportunity for athletes to leverage their personal brand and connect with business for mutually beneficial marketing partnerships. Working with college players also adds a touch of sincerity and relatability to marketing projects. Athletes serve as role models by exemplifying commitment, tenacity, and cooperation. Their recommendation can have a substantial impact on how customers behave and what they decide to buy. Businesses can make use of this impact to expand their clientele and boost their reputation.

What Brands Should Do

So, what can your business do to start their first or expand on co-branding with college athletes?

  • Familiarize yourself with the landscape! Get comfortable with the rules within NCAA, NAIA, etc. This will help navigate the process effectively.
  • Target the type of athletes you want representing your brand. Take a deep dive on athletes’ values, target audience, and overall goals for your company.
  • Start reaching out and engaging in conversation. Set clear objectives that will be beneficial for all.
  • Be transparent and straightforward about your intentions.
  • Keep it fun!

Overall, the rise of NIL rights for athletes has ushered in a new era of marketing opportunities for both players and companies. Athletes now have the freedom to manage their own brand journeys, forming alliances that are consistent with their goals and values. Due to this development, businesses now have an excellent opportunity to capitalize on the allure and impact of college athletes, build fervent fan bases, and increase the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns. Personally, I am eager to witness NIL’s continuous development and influence.

Contact True Interactive

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Photo by Emma Dau on Unsplash

Twitch Is Hot: Here’s Why

Twitch Is Hot: Here’s Why

by Max Petrungaro Marketing

As the COVID-19 pandemic roared across the globe in 2o2o, social distancing guidelines closed down stadiums and theaters everywhere. Suddenly Amazon-owned Twitch, already popular, took on an even greater resonance: the streaming platform represented a way to connect and experience, virtually, events and the sense of community that had been eradicated by the virus. Savvy brands understand the opportunities inherent in Twitch—a platform that’s currently filling a need, even as it continues to grow. Curious? Read on to learn more.

What Is Twitch?

Twitch is an online platform for livestreams, on which users can broadcast a livestream or watch other streamers. The platform was introduced in 2011, and while the focus has traditionally been on video games, Twitch is constantly evolving. It currently features music and lifestyle content, as well: Twitch users can watch anything from video gaming to music festivals, cooking shows, live tutorials of artists drawing (a la Bob Ross!) or professional sports. According to Ad Age, Twitch’s Just Chatting channel—essentially streamers chatting with the audience—has been the platform’s most-watched category in the second quarter. Sean Horvath, the chief revenue officer at StreamElements, notes, “We are starting to see a rise of streaming stars who don’t game at all . . . [T]hink of it like any talk show you watch on TV, but the difference is viewers can also make comments directly to the hosts.”

That’s right. Twitch’s interactive nature is supported by chat features; spectators can interact with one another and with the broadcasters (streamers), too. The platform has been described as a sort of virtual return to the social experience of arcade gaming. In the arcades, crowds would form around someone playing a certain game well, and people would talk about the game while they waited for their turn—and possibly pick up some tips and tricks from the player. Livestreaming on Twitch brings this interactive experience online, regardless of whether the point of discussion is a game—or a new recipe for chili.

Who Uses Twitch?

As Ad Age recently reported, Twitch hit a new milestone in spring 2020: Twitch exceeded 3 billion streaming hours in the first quarter of the year.

The audience skews younger. Kayla Carmicheal’s recent post on the Hubspot blog identifies users as teen gamers, with the largest group (22 percent) coming from the United States. Of the 28 million unique users per month in the U.S., she says, 80 percent are teen males. According to brand24.com, Millennial gamers also make up a significant portion of the Twitch audience. To be specific, Twitch reaches 50 percent of Millennial males in America.

Furthermore, Twitch users have been described as socially conscious and passionate about important causes. This year, the platform made headlines when it became a hub for social activism, with users creating Twitch channels for the express purpose of livestreaming Black Lives Matter protests. As Brielle Villablanca, a Twitch spokeswoman, told the New York Times, “[W]e’ve seen creators livestreaming content from the protests and engaging their communities in open conversations around race, inequality and how to effect change.”

And the platform attracts an audience open to advertising. According to brand24.com, 82 percent of Twitch users believe sponsorships benefit gaming. And 80 percent are receptive to brands sponsoring gamers and teams.

Advertising Options on Twitch

In short, the platform provides fertile ground for advertisers who want to connect with passionate, driven consumers. Marketing exposure on Twitch can take several forms, including:

  • Partnering with an influencer. A streamer might include a brand in a sponsored stream title or on a tile on their channel page.
  • Brand placement on the stream itself, or behind the streamer on their webcam.
  • Branded emotes, like the “DoritoChip,” which between November 2, 2017, and January 8, 2018, was used by viewers an average of 17,330 times a day.
  • Pre-roll ads, which can run before a stream.

What Brands Use Twitch?

Some savvy brands have already recognized the potential Twitch offers to connect with a young, engaged audience. And they’ve done so in creative ways. For example:

  • Totino’s Pizza Rolls created an attention-grabbing game within the game during a sponsored stream. After each win, streamers rewarded themselves by eating pizza rolls live.
  • Monster Energy Drinks sponsored Jaryd “Summit1G” Lazar, who streams with a stocked Monster mini fridge situated right behind him. During streams, viewers have asked him about his favorite drink flavors, and new flavor releases, calling even more attention to the brand.
  • 1,000 Dreams Fund (1DF), a non-profit dedicated to providing 1,000 university women with grants, partnered with Twitch to give financial assistance to female streamers currently attending college. The aid could be applied to conventions like TwitchCon, or even new hardware, and the campaign introduced the non-profit to a completely new audience (the campaign also highlighted that Twitch doesn’t exclusively draw a male demographic).
  • Nissin Foods partnered with influencer Pokimane, who demonstrated how noodles are a clear fit to the gaming lifestyle when she made Nissin instant noodles during a stream. Pokimane, who draws more than four million followers to her channel, added a layer of whimsy by incorporating a “Slurp Meter” graphic onscreen to measure how loudly she ate her meal.
  • Career search engine Indeed used a pre-roll ad to demonstrate how a Twitch streamer and a digital artist used Indeed to connect—and ultimately collaborate.

Contact True Interactive

Eager to reach out to a Millennials audience? Interested in incorporating Twitch into your next campaign? Contact us. We can help.