Talking about sponsorships

Oftentimes,  my friends and fellow athletes ask me how to get sponsorships from sports companies.

First and foremost, for professional athletes and for competitive amateurs alike, being sponsored is not about YOU!

A sponsorship is a partnership, a long-term relationship between the athlete and the company. It is a give and take relationship with mutual benefits. The athlete gets product and support (and rarely a stipend if the athlete is at a world-class level) and the company gets publicity with the hopes to increase their profits and sales.

You gotta LOVE the companies you are looking to get sponsored from. If you are not using their products, if you do not like the quality, if you are not agreeing with the goals and overall mantra of the company then do not attempt to form a partnership because you are not the right representative for them.

A sponsored athlete should act as an ambassador with passion and credibility: representing, supporting, and advertising along with the company's character and target audience. Nothing is free in this world and if you love a company and are willing to be part of their team then you have to give back, you have to spread the word, you have to support them the same way they support you.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 2016 Pinarello GAN RS review

Image
The Pinarello brand has a unique character in the bike business. From the engineers to Fausto Pinarello himself, the company focuses on the bike. Pinarello does not make low-end bikes. It does not go after massive marketing strategies. It does not need to produce accessories and parts. Instead, the entire production team of Pinarello DOES focus on their bikes. They DO make high-quality, scientifically sound, detail-oriented and breathtakingly beautiful boutique bikes. And they DO care about their customers. After riding for over ten years on multiple bikes, from non-branded steel frames, to the over-sized aluminum Cannondale (the R800!), the carbon Trek Madonne, and the race-oriented Specialized Amira, I jumped into the Pinarello entry-level Razha last year. The Razha was different than anything I had ridden before. The entry-level, reliable Razha It was a solid training machine. Not super-light but very stiff, quite responsive and very stable on the pavement. Th
Read more

Ενας δρομος υπερβασης πολλαπλων δυσκολιων, συνεχους προσπαθειας, αντοχης, ανοχης, υπομονης και επιμονης στα ονειρα και στις αξιες.

Image
Η αγωνιστικη μου σεζον τελειωσε πριν δυο βδομαδες με ευχαριστο τονο. Τερματισα 12η στο Παγκοσμιο Πρωταθλημα της ITU μεγαλης αποστασης (απο 35 γυναικες που προκριθηκαν στην κατηγορια μου). Δεν ειμαι απολυτα ικανοποιημενη. Ωστοσο, κανοντας μια μικρη αναδρομη στο παρελθον και αναπολωντας τις δυσκολιες που καταφερα να ξεπερασω για να φτασω στο στημειο που βρισκομαι σημερα, μπορω να πω οτι ειμαι ευτυχισμενη και πανετοιμη για την καινουρια χρονια. Ας σας διηγηθω μια μικρη ιστορια για να σας δωσω να καταλαβετε απο που προερχομαι και που εχω φτασει σημερα. Στις αρχες του '90 και οταν ημουνα στις τελευταιες ταξεις του δημοτικου, η νεο-σχηματισμενη ομαδα αθλητισμου και τρεξιματος στην πολη, διοργανωνε ενα διημερο ασκησεων-τεστ αντοχης και δυναμης προκειμενου να επιλεξει τους καλυτερους νεους αθλητες. Ημουνα παντα ενα δραστηριο παιδακι με πολυ ενεργεια και παθος και ηθελα με ολη μου την καρδια να γινω και γω μελος αυτης της ομαδας. Εβαλα τα δυνατα μου και προσπαθησα με ολη μου την ψυχ
Read more

The progressive overload as part of a periodization plan

Image
As a cyclist, I used to train hard every day. I was just tagging along with the men's team and hoping for the best. I used to peak randomly, somewhere in the middle of the season but at the end of the season, when the National Championships were taking place, I was dead tired, dragging my feet on the pedals trying to push through my heavy legs. Agh! A simplified view of the overload training period as part of a periodization plan As a triathlete now, I had the chance to experience a periodization plan with specific training periods, tailored exactly for my level and ability: base, transition, overload, (taper), race, and rest for the following season. It is hard - and probably boring - to give you all the details behind each period, and I am actually not qualified to do so, but here is a summary and a simplified scheme to help you get into the idea behind my training plan. Base : long, comfy, steady pace miles and weight-lifting. Transition Overload period: racing with tire
Read more