Brand Building for the Introvert Athlete

Category: Uncategorized

Brand Building for the Introvert Athlete

Posted On 08.04.20, In Uncategorized, by

Mastering personal brand building is challenging. For those who are introverted or don’t prefer the spotlight, brand building can feel like their own personal Everest. As I’ve frequently noted, for collegiate and professional athletes, coaches, and administrators, it’s vital to capitalize on their short-term visibility to achieve long-term gains.

For some introverts, how and why to get started can be a sticking point. For others, finding the daily inspiration and energy to constantly create content can be downright exhausting.

Below are tips to help introverts tackle the unique brand building challenges they face:

Have a strategy. Nothing zaps your energy and focus faster than having to reinvent the wheel every day. Creating short- and long-term strategies for your brand content is a lot of work upfront but can save your sanity in the end. This is key for everyone, but especially for introverts. The journey starts with knowing who you want to reach and where to reach them.

Let a reporter help you out. Leveraging earned media is an effective way to get someone else to do the heavy lifting for you. Just about everyone has an interesting story. With so many athlete-focused media platforms emerging, there’s never been a better time to pitch your story to traditional and digital outlets.

Acquire an extrovert. We extroverts are useful for many things. For one, we’re happy to create content and include you in it. Second, we usually have an idea where and when to be seen. Third, it’s our personal pleasure to get you out of your comfort zone. If you don’t have a designated extroverted brand buddy – I highly recommend acquiring one.

Get vulnerable. Carefully manicured personal brands are boring. We know you’re a real person, so let your real-life be part of your daily content—the good, bad, and even the ugly. How ugly will depend on your comfort level, but there’s a direct correlation between authenticity and higher engagement rates.

Give to get. Launching a charity or actively engaging in one allows you to be part of something bigger than yourself. It also provides you with year-round content without you being the main focus. Launching a charity is an involved endeavor. If mismanaged, it could damage your brand. Make sure you know the risks and rewards before getting started. If you decide to forgo launching a charity of your own, there’s plenty of reputable nonprofits who’d welcome your support.

Hand it off. There’s nothing wrong with engaging a professional to assist you with your personal brand. That’s the reason people like me exist! If this whole personal branding concept feels too overwhelming, an expert can collaborate with you to create a plan, develop content, or both.

As an athlete, coach, or sports administrator, your brand is one of your most valuable professional assets. Every day it’s left unmanaged or mismanaged can leave you further behind—and potentially out a lot of money.

 

Pivoting Your Brand – The old you vs. the new you

Posted On 07.22.20, In Uncategorized, by

The coronavirus pandemic has forced pretty much everyone to rethink or completely redesign their lives. For some, it’s meant finding a new or altered way to do business or stay relevant. For others, it’s meant ending a career and starting all over.

Throughout the past four months, one question I’ve frequently received from all my various stakeholders—athletes, coaches, corporate and association executives alike— is: How do I pivot my personal brand to my new reality?

Like everything else happening in 2020, there are no real guidelines for pivoting your personal brand. But allow me to provide you with a few questions that will help you find your way.

Q1. Who is the new you? The new you might actually look a lot more like the old you than you realize. Work smarter not harder I always say. Examine the characteristics and goals of your new endeavor—I’m willing to bet that for most of you the target audience is still the same.

Q2. What resources do you need? The old you may have had access to resources the new you doesn’t, i.e. a child-free work environment, an assistant, marketing staff, etc. Building your personal brand takes time, effort and a constant flow of content. Do you have the resources around you to be successful? If not, what’s the plan to help get you what you need?

Q3. What tasks have you been avoiding? The old you may have not had to work hard to get people to notice you or your achievements. As a result, you bypassed things like building an effective LinkedIn account, leveraging your network or learning how to engage with the media. The new you will likely need to address these items. And so, I refer you back to Q2.

Q4. Is it time to learn new tricks? The new you might really benefit from things the old you avoided, i.e. learning to create effective video content, trying new social media platforms or giving speeches. If this pandemic has been good for anything, it’s been the optimal time to learn something new or step out of your comfort zone.

Many of us are concerned about what the immediate future is going to bring. The good news is your personal brand isn’t written in stone. You can, and should, continually adjust it until it’s producing your desired return on investment. Should the next year hand you another curveball, you now have the peace of mind to know how to pivot your brand accordingly.

The importance of teaming up with the right partner

Posted On 05.10.20, In Uncategorized, by

“Towson’s coaches and athletes do amazing things every day and I’ll create any opportunity I can to make sure the world knows about it,” said Tim Leonard, Athletic Director at Towson University. “Thanks to the hard work of my Sports Information Directors and social media staff, much of what my coaches, staff, and athletes do on game day gets the spotlight it deserves, but I wanted more.”

Leonard, in his seventh year as Towson’s athletic director, has always sought innovative ways to guide and grow the University’s athletic program. He’s reinvigorated partnerships with neighboring HBCU Morgan State and has made out-of-the-box hires like the addition of women’s basketball head coach Diane Richardson.

In late 2019, Leonard sought out the services of a professional who could help him and his staff bring Towson University Athletics’ unique stories to a national stage. His search brought him to Firestarter. Quickly the firm was able to bring greater attention to head basketball coach Pat Skerry’s efforts to increase autism awareness. Additionally, the firm was able to bring awareness to senior gymnast Olivia Lubarsky’s efforts to help her fellow student athletes manage their mental health.

What started as a way for Towson University Athletics to receive outside public relations support and content strategy has blossomed into something far more valuable to Leonard.

Name, image, and likeness

The topic of student athletes and the ability to profit from their own name, image, and likeness or NIL isn’t new. It’s a power struggle that has been circling around collegiate sports for decades. While the NCAA’s final policies and procedures won’t be known until late 2020, Leonard didn’t want to leave anything to chance.

“I wanted to tap into everything Frances knows on the subject. I wanted to make sure I understood all the blind spots before and after this policy goes into effect. Additionally, I wanted to proactively brainstorm ways to educate myself, my staff, and most importantly, our athletes, so that Towson is fully prepared to manage this topic moving forward.”

COVID-19

Since the COVID-19 pandemic took shape in the United States in early March, colleges and universities have had to rethink their entire structure—and that certainly includes collegiate sports. This unprecedented turn of events has left every single athletic director having to recreate every facet of their day-to-day operations.

“It’s been invaluable to have an advisor with insight to what’s happening on a larger scale who’s also able to help me process how I need to communicate internally and externally to all of Towson’s various stakeholders. Never has there been a time when what those of us in leadership positions say and do matters more. I want to take every opportunity to do it right.”

Branding in an Age of Panic

Posted On 03.25.20, In Uncategorized, by

We are currently living in unprecedented times, so it’s understandable that people are feeling a little insecure about the future. Ever the optimist, I believe we’ll get through this moment in time a little wiser, stronger, and more grateful for what we have.

As a marketing and public relations professional for almost 20 years, I’ve seen my share of client panic. Certainly nothing of this scale, but I’ve definitely led clients and teams through drastic highs and lows.

One thing I know for sure is that your brand or outreach campaigns should never be altered while you’re in a state of fear or boredom. If you’re sitting at home and putting your personal or organizational brand or its corresponding outreach campaigns under the microscope, allow me to provide some perspective and guidance.

  • Just because a brand or campaign isn’t landing with people right now, doesn’t mean it won’t. We are in uncharted waters. We are thinking, consuming, and engaging in ways never seen before. Depending on your message or target audience, now just might not be the right time for your message. Just sit tight.
  • The pandemic will absolutely alter the way we consume, engage, and donate. We will all absolutely take a financial hit—that’s to be expected. How much of a hit and for how long is still to be determined. But that doesn’t mean you should throw the baby out with the bathwater.
  • Rethinking your strategy is never a bad thing. Just make sure you’re doing so with data and thinking that will apply beyond the next six months or longer.

We really don’t know what the next two weeks to two months are going to bring. Does that mean we stop creating and deploying our brands – absolutely not. Just be sure that what your distributing isn’t tone deaf to the current situation. What I am strongly encouraging is that you don’t sink time and money into trying to predict the unknown. Stay the course for now and reassess with a clear head once life is somewhat or completely back to normal.

In closing, I want you to know you can always count on me and the Firestarter team for support—and wish you, your colleagues and loved ones continued health and safety during this very challenging time.

Is Your Brand Draft Ready?

Posted On 01.09.20, In Uncategorized, by

The NFL Combine and subsequent draft is quickly approaching—the moment countless young men have spent the better part of their athletic careers preparing for. The ultimate decisions made on draft day are about so much more than how well an athlete plays his respective position. Much attention is also paid to how an athlete looks, sounds and behaves online.

In recent years, we’ve witnessed many instances where a single misstep has had embarrassing and costly consequences. For example, 15 minutes before Laremy Tunsil was to be picked in the top five for the NFL Draft, a video appeared on his Twitter account showing him smoking a substance from a bong. That single post dropped him to the 13th pick, costing him as much as $10 million in signing bonuses.

If you’re a rising athlete who’s fortunate enough to be taking part in this year’s draft, here’s a checklist to ensure your brand is ready for prime time.

Note: These activities should be done in advance of the combine, especially if the athlete is managing his own brand, as the time between that event and draft day is far too hectic.

Conduct a brand audit. You’ve likely Googled yourself for fun, but there’s an actual practicality to this self-research. Review the first three to five pages under your name search. Click here for what to do should you find something unflattering. In addition, go through all your social media accounts to remove any unflattering or even remotely questionable posts or images. Finally, untag yourself from any unflattering posts made by others.

Change passwords and check security settings. To prevent any instances of hacking, update all website and/or social media passwords. Click here for help creating the strongest password possible. Update your social media platform’s security settings to ensure you’re comfortable with who has access to your accounts and who can post, comment or direct message you.

Develop key messages. If you’re only given a few moments to introduce yourself to the world, know what you’re going to say. Developing and rehearsing a few brand messages in advance will ensure that you’ll have well-crafted, authentic remarks when it matters.

Update all bios and images. Each social media bio should reflect the brand messages you crafted. Make sure your brand narrative is universal across all your owned media. In addition, to make it easier on new fans and media, make sure to use the same profile image across all accounts.

Obtain media training. If you’re lucky, the media interviews you give during the combine and draft will be replayed for years to come. To ensure that you’re as poised and articulate as possible, invest in some media and/or speaker training. You truly can never be too prepared for media interviews.

Have a content plan. Think in advance about what kind of content you plan to post and when you’d like to post. If you’re creating the content yourself, have a plan for when and how you’re going to do that. Images and video always receive more engagement than plain text, so keep that in mind. Also, set aside time to engage with followers. This is a good habit to get yourself in for your professional career.

Plan for a crisis. Communications crises can and do happen. Don’t leave yourself a sitting duck without options should one occur. Have a crisis communications professional on speed dial just in case.

Have a family meeting. It’s important that everyone who surrounds you at the combine and on draft day understands that their online and in-person behavior is a reflection of you. They too will be under the microscope and need to be prepared for such.

Remember self-care. During this period, you’ll likely be under more pressure than you’ve ever endured before. You can’t perform on empty, so be sure not to neglect yourself. Eat well and get plenty of rest. Spend quality time with family and friends. Most importantly, take a moment when you need to for peace, reflection and prayer.

Should draft day not turn out as planned for you, read my additional blog about how to maintain your brand as a free agent. 

Author Frances Reimers is the founder and CEO of Firestarter, a personal brand consultancy located in Alexandria, VA. Firestarter assists athletes, coaches, and athletic administrators, helping them develop, manage, enhance, and protect a key professional asset: their personal brand. Click here to learn more or to schedule an appointment. 

 

 

The Future is Personal

Posted On 12.13.19, In Uncategorized, by

In case you haven’t realized it, we’re not just approaching the end of a year, but an entire decade! So much has changed over the past 10 years. How we talk about ourselves in personal and professional settings has certainly evolved. Who would have ever thought that publicly sharing our opinions on mental health or social injustice would become everyday topics of discussion?

I’ve been preaching for some time now that as more and more of our lives are lived online, we need to take control of our personal brands – what we say, do, and overall how we present ourselves. It’s taken a lot of education and prodding, but people are starting to get what I’ve been saying.

If you’re new to my brand evangelism, here’s the CliffsNotes version: Whether you’re a professional athlete, business owner, or stay-at-home parent with a side hustle, managing your online and in-person reputation is one of your most vital business assets.

As we head into the next decade, below are some tips to help your personal brand evolve and stand out.

Get with a plan – I can’t stress enough that growing your personal brand must start with a plan. What are you hoping to achieve? Who are you trying to reach? These are questions your plan must address. Your plan doesn’t need to be War and Peace. It can be a few simple bullet points. Whatever method you choose, you’re far more likely to be successful having a plan than not. Another tip is to be as specific as possible with your goals. There’s research to back me up on this point.

Get comfortable with the unknown – Personal brand building takes patience and continual effort. There will be times when it feels like your content is completely unnoticed, but you have to keep going. Remaining consistent will create a groundswell that will eventually bring your target audience to you – I promise. But what I won’t promise is a set timeline, because unfortunately I’m not psychic.

Post with intent – Having a plan will certainly help guide you on what to post and when. Should you decide to ignore my sage advice, at least hear this: Post with intent. By this I mean that you share fewer images of your meals and more content that helps support your strategic brand goals. For example, if part of your brand is to be a dynamic public speaker, we should see content that supports that claim.

Engage with intent – As a true social butterfly, I engage with lots of people online and off. Some is for my personal enjoyment, but most is done with a purpose because that brand or influencer is followed by my target audience(s). If you’re going to spend your life scrolling your feed, at least make that time work for you.

When good enough is good enough – Not every post is going to be the picture of artistic perfection. That would be boring and inauthentic—and simply not realistic for the majority of people to achieve. You need to remain agile to remain relevant. Learn the difference between when your content needs to go out quickly and when it needs to go out perfectly.

Let someone else do the work – I don’t mean me (but if you’d like to hire me, please don’t hesitate). I mean allowing others like journalists and volunteer organizations to create content about you. Since the dawn of time, third-party validation is one of the most surefire ways to gain attention. So make sure you’re engaging with relevant press and leveraging your volunteer opportunities and networks.

If your brand really hasn’t launched, no worries. I have plenty of past blogs to help you get started. If you’ve started and are stuck or need next-level assistance, contact me. Every personal brand is, well, personal. I like to assist everyone on a case-by-case basis.

Either way, I hope that you have a safe and happy holiday season. Rest. Relax. Take some personal time to reflect on your blessings. And finally, thanks for following my content. I appreciate you.

Fair Pay to Play Act: What athletes need to know to protect their personal brand

Posted On 10.02.19, In Uncategorized, by

Let the games begin! The signing of California Senate Bill 206, or the Fair Pay to Play Act, has thrust forward the discussion regarding collegiate athletes profiting off of their likeness.

Once again, so we’re all clear, this bill paves the way for athletes to hire agents to seek out business deals. It would also make it illegal for universities to revoke an athlete’s scholarship or eligibility for taking money.

New York, Kentucky, Nevada, Florida, and other states are considering similar legislation.

This issue currently remains quite amorphous, and the only thing that’s certain is that it will continue to change shape again and again. I want to be clear that I’m not here to address what impact this legislation will have on collegiate sports. I also have zero interest in trying to guess what the NCAA will do to try to block or circumvent these efforts.

My goal is to always be a source of education and perspective. Below are a few critical items that collegiate athletes should keep in mind to grow and protect their emerging personal brands when engaging with this newly enacted legislation.

Choose your agent wisely. A prosperous business deal that’s beneficial to your brand has two parts: the contract and the creative. Good agents can negotiate a great deal with their eyes closed, but what do they know about content strategy and creation? When selecting an agent, be sure to ask if they have a marketing and public relations expert on staff or partner with a marketing firm or publicist so that your best interests are fully managed.

No free lunch. Everyone gets paid one way or another. Your agent, publicist, social media manager, etc. all need to get paid for their services. Before signing anything, make sure you fully understand what obligations you have to those who are assisting you. Trust me when I tell you that this advice is the only free thing you’re likely to receive.

Good for the wallet, bad for the brand. Just because a business opportunity temporarily fills your wallet doesn’t mean it’s the best long-term decision for your brand. Endorsing a faulty product, aligning yourself with a shady businessperson, or distributing poorly created content could haunt you for years to come. Don’t get blinded by dollar signs. Work with your support team to think critically about any company or individual you’re aligning yourself with.

You still have to perform. Regardless if business opportunities come to you or someone is securing them on your behalf, companies will be more inclined to partner with an athlete who’s performing well on and off the field of court. It’s important not to let these additional business opportunities take away from why you’re at your college or university: to be a student-athlete.

Your brand, or reputation, will remain with you whether you’re fortunate enough to go on and play professionally or not. As collegiate athletes brand rights expand, it’s imperative that you make each decision, form each relationship, and build each piece of content with your future self in mind.

Make Your Brand Lockout Proof

Posted On 05.29.19, In Uncategorized, by

Talks of a 2020 NFL lockout have been looming for almost a decade. Yesterday’s email distributed by NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith to agents instructing them to prepare for a work stoppage did nothing to reduce anxiety on the topic.

Lockouts are never a positive or welcomed measure – by fans or players. Nevertheless, they do occur. And when they do, most athletes are left scrambling for a paycheck and a way to maintain their visibility.

The small silver lining in all this madness is that each player, coach, and executive currently has more than a year to get their ducks in a row. It’s never fun to look for a job when you already have one but putting your head in the sand isn’t a survival strategy.

Below are some tips for players, coaches, and executives to prepare themselves, and their brand, for a potential lockout.

Have a Plan

Waiting until the end of the 2020 season to decide what’s next for you is too late! Especially for those whose brand might need a little rehabilitating, waiting until the lockout is in effect is like waiting until you’ve already retired to start saving money.

Here are a few simple questions to ask yourself to help get a lockout plan in motion:

  1. What would you like to do if there’s a lockout? (Hint: “Nothing” is likely not the right answer.)
  2. Will this new endeavor earn you a steady income? (If no, consult with your Financial Advisor to see if this plan is feasible.)
  3. What resources will you need to help prepare you for this new endeavor? Will you need to take a class? Renew a certification? Update social media platforms like LinkedIn or update your resume? Get additional speaker or media training?
  4. What content or outreach will be needed for this new endeavor? Will you need content like a speaker reel, a presentation deck, or a media kit to support your new career objectives?

Know Your Sponsorship Status

It’s to be expected that most companies aren’t interested in sponsoring a player or coach if there’s isn’t an active NFL season. That said, there are individuals and sponsorship deals that transcend the football season, or lack thereof. If you’re a player or coach, it’s important to know which applies to you. There could be a scenario where your sponsorship will remain intact, but without an active season your ability to create engaging content will likely require additional strategy.

Don’t Forget to Volunteer

Whether you’re financially viable enough or not to weather a season-long lockout, don’t forget to take time to give back to those less fortunate. Participating in community service projects allows you to maintain hands-on engagement with fans while doing something good for your community.

Remain Consistent

Without the daily structure that an active season provides, it’s easy to slack off when it comes to creating and posting content to your social media platforms. Just like your workout regiment, taking too many days off from positing quality content has a negative impact. The lifespan of social media content is shorter than you may think, so be sure not to take too much time off. You don’t want to give your fans a reason to forget about you.

Assemble Your Transition Team

As of right now, the 2019 season appears to be full steam ahead. This means your main priority should remain playing, coaching, and leading. To reiterate, you don’t want to put this topic on hold. Engage those around you, i.e. your agent, publicist, significant other, etc., to help you develop and executive a plan to keep your bank account and personal brand in great shape during a potential lockout.

Summer 2019 Internship Information

Posted On 04.16.19, In Uncategorized, by

Title: Summer Associate

Period of Performance: May to August 2019

Hours: Less than 30 per week

Location: Virtual

Pay: For college credit only

College Major: All majors are welcome to apply

Please forward a cover letter and resume to frances@yourfirestarter.com with “Summer Associate” in the subject line by no later than May 1, 2019.

Description

The Summer Associate will be responsible for assisting the CEO with a variety of marketing, public relations, and business development tasks for Firestarter and its clients. Tasks may include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Write/edit printed and digital assets
  • Design printed and digital assets
  • Develop original or editing videos
  • Build and update media lists and databases
  • Create and distribute press releases and media alerts
  • Compile lists for sponsorship, endorsements, and speaking engagement leads
  • Compile lists for business development leads
  • Use analytics tools to compile, organize, and analyze campaign data

Requirements

  • Must be available by phone and email Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET
  • Must have own computer and access to reliable internet service
  • Must be creative, self-motivated, organized, and able to multitask
  • Must have a working knowledge of all major social media platforms
  • Must be a strong written and verbal communicator
  • Must be a strong researcher
  • Experience creating and editing video a plus, but not required
  • Graphic design experience a plus, but not required
  • Experience in sports marketing or public relations a plus, but not required

About Firestarter

Firestarter, based in Alexandria, Virginia, advises athletes, coaches, and executives, helping them develop, manage, enhance, and protect a key professional asset: their personal brand.

The firm provides strategic consulting, detailed analysis, day-to-day support/management, and individualized and group training to help clients position themselves in the marketplace, engage stakeholders, and motivate customers and other constituencies who could have short- or long-term impact on their positioning and reputation.

Building and/or growing a personal brand is not a one-size-fits-all proposition, so Firestarter offers multiple options to help you create enhance, and/or protect this most valuable asset.

  • Personal brand and message development/enhancement
  • Strategic planning, creation, and management of social media and content marketing
  • Media representation
  • Reputation management and repair strategies
  • Personal brand training for individuals and teams

 

When Your Brand Becomes A Brick

Posted On 04.01.19, In Uncategorized, by

The recent fallout following scandals involving ‘Full Houses’” Lori Loughlin and “Empire’s” Jussie Smollett left not just these individuals, but their fellow castmates, in turmoil. With each passing moment as the details of their individual incidents were investigated, their personal brands became like a brick – threatening to sink all those associated with them.

The reality is, these kinds of incidents aren’t just isolated to TV stars, politicians, and professional athletes. The immediacy and accessibility of information at all of our fingertips exponentially increases the likelihood of a communications crisis impacting you or your business.

Noting Google’s painfully infinite memory, what can you or your company do when scandal strikes? Below are a few simple, yet extremely vital, points to remember when your brand is under scrutiny.

When Scandal Strikes You

Think. Then speak. Immediately defending yourself in a crisis is not always the best policy. Remaining silent and allowing time to do the heavy lifting is often the best course of action. Should a public statement need to be made, lean on the support and guidance of your attorney and a reputable publicist to draft and deliver the statement.

Take a media break. Consuming social media, reading the news, or watching TV while enduring a crisis is bit like willfully drinking poison. Step away from public opinion — to preserve your own sanity, if nothing more. Depending on the severity of the crisis, you may need to turn off social media notifications or shut down your sites altogether until the matter is resolved. If your accounts remain active, update your passwords and security settings to protect against hacking. Also, be vigilant for imposter accounts.

Plan for a (potentially long) rebuilding phase. Whether it was a minor infraction or a major event, there’s no easy fix for negative media attention. Not having a strategic plan in place makes rebuilding a personal brand even more painful. Forgiveness doesn’t come easy, but it does come faster when you manage your response thoughtfully and begin the brand repair process as soon as possible.

When Scandal Strikes an Employee

Have a plan in place. In this day and age, having a crisis communication plan and an employee social media policy that addresses crisis communication is an absolute necessity. Be sure both plans address all audiences, external and internal. Those who are impacted by a crisis situation need to feel they are part of the team and know how to respond to possible inquiries.

Act quickly. In the eyes of the judging masses, seconds feel like days. When crisis strikes, have team members prepped to deploy information across all media channels as quickly as possible. If necessary, have your team practice crisis communication drills so they’re fully prepared when needed.

Remain consistent. How organizations elect to manage an employee scandal will vary with the culture. Whatever course of action your organization chooses, they must remain consistent. How the organization disperses information, responds to inquiries, and develops post-event content must also remain consistent.

A scandal doesn’t have to mean that your brand sinks to the abyss. Whether the employee or employer, remaining calm, rational, and authentic will always help keep you or your company’s head above water.