Let’s be real… every athlete wants an NIL deal. But not every athlete is ready for one. Before any brand pays you, they need to know one thing: 👉🏽 Can this athlete help me reach my audience and make an impact? So here’s how to check if you’re actually NIL-ready 👇🏽 1️⃣ You Have Proof of Consistency If you post once a month, you’re not building a brand, you’re whispering in a stadium. ✅ Post 3–4 times a week. ✅ Mix content: game highlights, training, lifestyle, and values. ✅ Show up even when you don’t have a big win to post about. Brands don’t buy moments, they buy momentum. 2️⃣ Your Bio Tells a Story Your bio is your digital resume. It should answer 3 questions in seconds: - Who are you? - What do you do? - What do you stand for? - - Example: 🏈 D1 RB | Faith | Family | Community Helping athletes balance books & ball 📚🏈 3️⃣ You Know Your Audience Brands pay for access, not followers. Go to your insights and look at: 📍 Top cities 📊 Age range 👀 Engagement rate If 30%+ of your audience lives near your school or hometown, that’s local gold for NIL. 4️⃣ You’ve Practiced Your Pitch Every athlete should be able to answer this question: “Why should we partner with you?” If your answer starts with follower count, you’ve already lost. Try this instead 👇🏽 “Because my content builds trust with the exact audience you want to reach, student-athletes, parents, and fans who actually take action.” 5️⃣ You Have a Game Plan Beyond Sports Brands love athletes who are more than their stats. What causes do you care about? What future do you want to build? That’s what makes you stand out. If your story connects emotionally, your value multiplies. ⚡Parents, Here’s Where You Come In You’re your athlete’s first manager. Ask your athlete: ✅ Do we have a clear brand story? ✅ Do we know what brands align with our values? ✅ Do we have content that shows personality, not just performance? Your job isn’t just to protect your athlete from bad deals… It’s to prepare them for the right ones.