No Sponsorships? Is Your Page Private?

 

For those of you looking to land spots as affiliates, ambassadors, and sponsored athletes with major companies in the fitness industry, you absolutely MUST have a PUBLIC page on Instagram. Reach is the name of the game; therefore, if people need to request to follow you, get screened, and then then  (hopefully) get approved, you're greatly limiting how many people have access to you. I mean, that's the whole point of having a private page, right? Well, that may be so, but when you're applying to join a team, you're asking them, they're not asking you. IF you expect to be taken seriously, you need to do things right.

I do realize there are perfectly valid situations where having a private profile is completely necessary. If you're in a country where the body isn't to be shown (this is especially applicable for women) or if you're in a profession where competition shots may cause a problem (corporate world, teaching, public service), then companies may give you an exception; however, most applicants won't get that far.

Companies gets hundreds, sometimes thousands, of submissions a week. While there may be perfectly valid reasons for some to have a private pages, most marketing departments simply don't have the time to look more closely.. Once they see a private IG page - or worse - no IG page, it's a quick rejection. 

If you're in a situation where you need to protect your anonymity, but still want to have a place in the fitness industry, here are some suggestions, that might offer you some middle ground:

1. Consider creating a secondary IG
2. Consider a stage name (no, that's not just for strippers, PLENTY of competitors have them. One guy I know in Michigan, competes under FIVE different names!!).
3. Try to get the DOT COM for your stage name. All other URL's (e.g. dot net, dot org, dot US, etc) are secondary. Nothing denotes ownership and legitimacy more, than the DOT COM.
4. Promote, promote, promote!! When you take on your stage name, it's as if you were born again. No one knows you, so get out in the world and make connections!! 

There's plenty more I can say on building and developing relationships in the industry. If you'd like to learn more, be sure Follow @StrengthAddicts on IG !!

If you're looking for a great program to join, let me suggest the Blackstone Labs Legion !! I run it and I can assure you that you'll be joining a family, will get TONS of exposure, and will meet some AMAZING PEOPLE in the process!! 

Another fantastic company to join is Team Titan!! Titan Medical Center is our supporting sponsor and they can be seen in full force at bodybuilding contests, car shows, and talent searches throughout the country. When you join the Titan Family, you'll interact with go-getters such as yourself and you'll make key connections in the process!!