For decades, college athletes have essentially lost their rights when they agreed to play a sport for a college or university. The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) has previously enforced long-standing rules against the payment of student-athletes and the monetization of their athletic performance.
However, in 2021, the NCAA adjusted its rules, giving players more control over their name, image and likeness (NIL). Your newfound NIL rights could turn your social media presence into a revenue stream and help you build a brand as an influencer.
You don’t have to be a superstar to monetize your following
College athletes can inspire others to try certain kinds of clothing or exercise equipment, along with many lifestyle products. Your recommendations may carry weight among those who respect your abilities, and you can turn that influence into income and a brand.
If you have 10,000 followers on social media or a popular blog related to your athletic career, you could turn your online presence into an income stream. The NCAA will now allow you to engage in small-scale licensing agreements with businesses.
Whether they want to use your image in one of their advertisements or they hope to have you promote their products on your social media feed, you could earn income through such agreements without endangering your right to continue playing collegiate sports. The bigger and better-developed your online platform becomes, the easier time you will have securing endorsements from businesses.
Keeping track of the rules that apply to college athletes, like the recent NIL rule changes, can help those competing at the collegiate level make the most of their exposure and their online following.