Looking beyond sponsorships and endorsements, NIL is most lucrative when activating personal brands

As the world of sports continues to evolve and change, athletes are starting to recognize the value of their name, image, and likeness (NIL) beyond just sponsorships and endorsements. While these traditional avenues are certainly important and can provide significant income for athletes, there are many other ways that athletes can leverage their NIL to build successful careers outside the arena.

One area that has seen significant growth in recent years is entrepreneurship. Athletes can use their NIL by starting their own businesses or investing in existing ones. Many athletes have successful entrepreneurial ventures, such as LeBron James' partnership with Blaze Pizza and Michael Jordan's ownership of the Charlotte Hornets. Others have used their NIL to invest in a variety of ventures, such as technology startups or real estate projects.

With the rise of social media and the increasing accessibility of online marketplaces, it has never been easier for athletes to start their own businesses and sell products directly to their fans. This can be anything from athletic apparel and equipment to nutrition and wellness products. By leveraging their personal brands and reputations these entrepreneurs are able to differentiate themselves from competitors and build a loyal customer base.

Another way that athletes are utilizing their NIL is through content creation. This can take many forms, from starting a YouTube channel or podcast to creating Instagram content or writing a blog. Athletes like Neymar Jr, has a youtube channel with a lot of subscribers. Others may share their content on social media, either way, by sharing their experiences, insights, and personal brand with their audience, athletes can build a following and monetize their content through sponsorships, advertising, and merchandise sales. This platforms can now be used to promote their entrepreneurial ventures and the good thing is, they don’t even need so much audience as small audience can drive more ROI.

In addition to entrepreneurship and content creation, many athletes are also turning to ecommerce as a way to monetize their NIL. Athletes can utilize their NIL through the creation and sale of their own merchandise. With the rise of e-commerce platforms and print-on-demand services, it has become easier than ever for athletes to design and sell their own branded clothing, accessories, and other products. This can be a great way for athletes to connect with their fans and showcase their personal brands, while also generating an additional source of income.

Many athletes are able to monetize their NIL through trademarking their NIL and getting licensing deals with companies that want to use their name, image, or likeness on products such as clothing, toys, or video games. Michael Jordan is one of the famous athletes whose name is a trademark. For his wildly successful clothing and shoe business with Nike, the former basketball player holds a trademark on the name "Jordan.". This can be a great way for athletes to generate passive income and reach a wider audience. 

Now it's clear that NIL means much more than just sponsorships and endorsements for athletes. With the proliferation of online platforms and the increasing importance of personal branding, there are many ways for athletes to leverage their NIL to build successful careers both on and off the field. Whether it's through entrepreneurship, e-commerce, or content creation, there are endless opportunities for athletes to monetize their NIL and build a lasting legacy beyond their time on the field.