Non-sport related brand is your favorite to follow on social media

1) What non-sport related brand is your favorite to follow on social media? What makes the brand stand out and what could sport-related brands learn and take from your favorite brand to improve their presence on social?

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2) Identify three different athletes who you feel have strong personal brands. Make sure the athletes you choose are distinctive by selecting ones from varying categories (male or female, professional or collegiate, individual sport or team sport). What factors have made them successful in establishing their personal brands? What differences do you see in these athletes' social strategies?

Full Answer Section

     
  1. Patagonia (Surfing, Apparel Brand): While not an athlete, Patagonia is a brand strongly associated with athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Patagonia's social media presence reflects its core values of environmental activism and sustainability. They use their platform to educate followers and advocate for environmental causes.
  2. Ja Morant (Basketball, Male, Professional): Morant is a rising star in the NBA, known for his electrifying dunks and flashy playing style. His social media presence reflects this – it's fun, energetic, and full of highlights. He also interacts with fans through playful banter and challenges.
Factors Contributing to Strong Personal Brands:
  • Authenticity:All three individuals project a genuine image that resonates with their audience. They don't shy away from expressing their personalities and beliefs.
  • Social Impact:Biles and Patagonia connect with their audience by addressing social issues they care about. This creates a deeper connection with their followers.
  • Content Variety:Each athlete tailors their content to their sport and personality. Biles focuses on inspiring stories and advocacy, while Morant keeps it light and entertaining.
  • Engagement:All three actively engage with their followers, responding to comments and participating in online conversations.
Differences in Social Strategies:
  • Focus:Biles and Patagonia target broader social issues, while Morant primarily focuses on basketball and entertainment.
  • Tone:Biles adopts a more inspirational and motivational tone, Patagonia is informative and advocacy-driven, and Morant keeps it fun and playful.
  • Content Type:Biles shares inspirational stories, Patagonia uses educational content, and Morant focuses on game highlights and behind-the-scenes glimpses.
Lessons for Sports Brands: Sports brands can learn from these successful athletes by:
  • Supporting Athletes' Passions:Empower athletes to advocate for causes they believe in.
  • Creating Authentic Content:Move beyond just game highlights and delve deeper into athletes' personalities.
  • Engaging with Fans:Respond to comments, host contests, and foster a sense of community.
  • Social Responsibility:Align with social causes relevant to their sport and audience.
By incorporating these strategies, sports brands can build stronger connections with fans and create a more impactful social media presence.  

Sample Answer

   

Option 2: Analyzing Strong Personal Brands in Athletes

Three Athletes with Distinctive Personal Brands:

  1. Simone Biles (Gymnastics, Female, Professional): Biles is a dominant force in gymnastics, but her brand extends beyond athletic achievements. She's a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, having spoken openly about her own struggles. Biles also uses her platform to promote social justice and body positivity.