One of the biggest mistakes athletes make is only posting highlights, workouts, or game clips. Yes, your sport matters but brands partner with people, not just performance. If your page only shows one side of you, brands can’t see how you fit into their world. Here are content ideas outside of sports that help you look more well-rounded, relatable, and brand-ready. 1. Daily Life Moments These make you feel human and approachable. Post ideas: • Day in the life of a student-athlete • Morning routine or night routine • Studying, commuting, or class breaks Brands love lifestyle because it feels natural. 2. Get Ready With Me (GRWM) This works in every niche. Post ideas: • Get ready with me for class • Get ready with me for practice • Get ready with me on game day This type of content easily integrates fashion, skincare, grooming, and wellness brands. 3. Personal Interests & Hobbies You don’t need to be an expert, just consistent. Post ideas: • Music you listen to before training • What you do to relax or reset • Gaming, cooking, art, faith, fashion, fitness, or reading This helps brands see where they fit into your life. 4. Mindset & Growth This builds trust. Post ideas: • A lesson you’ve learned recently • Something you’re working to improve • How you handle pressure or setbacks You don’t need a speech, one clear thought is enough. 5. Behind-the-Scenes (Non-Athletic) Quiet moments perform better than you think. Post ideas: • Packing your bag • Walking to class • Recovery days • Rest days These feel authentic and real. 6. Your Niche (This Is Where Brands Lean In) This is how you stand out. Your niche is the lane where your interests, experience, and value overlap. When you consistently post around it, brands know exactly why they should work with you. Examples: • An athlete creating healthy meals for game day or practice • A runner sharing recovery routines or mobility tips • A football player breaking down mental prep or film habits • An athlete showing budget-friendly meals, routines, or tools

want to take a moment to give a HUGE shoutout to @Sage Abdullah , one of our community members and someone who was also part of my very first NIL Accelerator last year. Since then, Sage has gone on to land many, many more NIL deals, and it’s not by accident. What changed? ➡️ He started posting consistently ➡️ He applied what he learned about content creation ➡️ He stayed patient and focused on building, not chasing quick wins Sage is a track and field athlete at Prairie View A&M (HBCU), and he is a prime example of what it looks like when you DO THE WORK. His growth didn’t come from luck, talent alone, or one viral moment. It came from showing up, refining his content, and treating his brand like something worth building long-term. And here’s the part everyone needs to hear: Everyone in this community has the same opportunity — but only if you actually apply what you’re learning here. Proud of you, Sage. Keep going. This is just the beginning 👏🏾🔥

Happy Friday, everyone! As we head into the weekend, I’m praying that you and your families stay safe and warm as this winter storm moves through. Please take care, be mindful of travel, and look out for one another. This is a good time to slow down, stay in, and prioritize safety. Wishing everyone a peaceful and safe weekend.

If you’re creating content for your personal brand, especially as an athlete, check out Edits, Instagram’s new built-in app designed for editing Reels. 🎥 With Edits, you can do more than just trim clips. You can adjust the speed (slow down or speed up your footage), add music or your own voiceovers, and even view performance stats for each Reel you post. These insights help you understand what connects best with your audience and strengthen your NIL strategy. It’s an all-in-one tool for athletes and creators who want to produce professional-quality content without leaving the Instagram ecosystem. If you want more specific tips or a quick walkthrough on how to get the most out of the Edits app, comment below and I’ll share some step-by-step advice.I’ll be posting more tips soon on other editing platforms to help take your NIL content to the next level! 🚀

Do you feel your school or coaches have provided enough resources to help you with NIL? What more could they be doing to support you in your NIL journey? Let us know here 👇