Many people frown upon the usage of social media and there’s often a negative connotation attached to the term ‘social media influencer’.
Those who grew up without the presence of social media view these platforms as a waste of time and often focus on their negative aspects rather than the positives.
As someone who majored in communications in college and took various classes not only about media, but also about the impacts and benefits (as well as negatives) of social media, I think that having a presence on social media isn’t just beneficial for my job as a professional golfer … it’s also instrumental in progressing it.
Why?
One of the biggest reasons is sponsorship. In this day and age, it’s highly unlikely for an individual to get a sponsorship agreement that does not include some sort of requirement with regard to social media postings. Although not everyone is a fan of social media, it’s undeniable how powerful it is in relation to marketing and promotion. Every brand and company will have some sort of social media presence.
So how does using Instagram help my career as a professional golfer?
Although using a social media platform such as Instagram does not guarantee any kind of sponsorship, having a decent online presence does make you more marketable and will help give you some recognition as well. With a strong social media following, brands and companies will consider a sponsorship deal because their return on investment would potentially be much higher than someone without.
For instance, in a situation where there are two professional golfers looking for apparel sponsorship, and the main difference between the two is one has 100 followers on Instagram, while the other has 1,000; the brand/company is likely to be more attracted to the one with the larger following. Although some people might think that this is “unfair”, this is today’s reality – social media has indeed become such an instrumental and influential form of marketing.
The main objective for a brand in a sponsorship deal is to help promote their own products; this is the ‘return’ expected for their investment, which could be the sponsorship of apparel, gear, etc. Therefore, having a social media presence not only makes you more marketable, but also helps attract more sponsorship opportunities.
As a professional golfer, a big factor that allows us to continue competing is sponsorship; this is just the reality of the job. No matter how big of a tour you are on, it is impossible for you to perform at your peak every single week. Furthermore, let’s not forget that in order to reach the peak performance level that is required to play on the bigger tours, there is a lot of self-investment that needs to happen on the player’s side.
These investments come in various forms.
First, technology. To compete with the best in the world, there is no denying that technology plays a role. If this wasn’t true, brands would have stopped focusing on technology and just made the same clubs in various colours and designs to attract customers. Technology plays a role in enhancing a player’s ability to compete with the best because it puts everyone on a level playing field. If you are already using the same products as the No 1 golfer in the world, then the technology that you are using is not inferior; therefore, advancements in your golfing ability might have to rely on other forms of investment.
One other kind of investment might be in the form of physical well-being or fitness. As a professional athlete, proper training and nutrition are also required. The hiring of a personal trainer, getting a gym membership, the cost of various physiotherapy sessions – these are all forms of investments that a professional golfer has to make in order to perform at their highest level. If a golfer is already as fit and as strong as the best golfers in the world, then the next form of investment needs to be looked at.
This other investment is perhaps the most significant; investing in one’s game. This could include coaching, green fees, driving range balls, and perhaps even membership at a club, so that they have the facilities required to advance their game to the next level.
Let’s be realistic here. I’m not saying that using social media platforms will open every door and allow every from of investment to be covered. However, even if it just opens one door and allows one aspect to be taken care of, this is a huge load off a player’s back.
Although money should not be the focus of a professional golfer, money is required to continue pursuing this career. There is no certainty in the career of a professional athlete. Therefore, as a professional athlete trying to pursue a very expensive career, I think that using every form of assistance available out there is not only smart but necessary.
Of course I’m not saying everyone should invest the hours that should be spent practicing on Instagram. However, it’s safe to say that almost everybody will spend at least an hour a day on a social media platform. How about making that hour beneficial and, instead of scrolling mindlessly on Instagram, using it to create a post that would attract others to start following your journey? Not only could this start opening doors for you, but it is also a great way to help others who are on the same journey as well!
I’m grateful to be living in a society in which social media has become such an instrumental part of, so much so that almost every athlete in the world engages in some sort of social media activity. This allows me to emulate and take inspiration from the best in the world.
We have always heard about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right kind of people. Although this might not be physically having brunch with Tiger Woods, reading or watching videos about him, his routines and how he’s become the history-making golfer that he is, can also help inspire us to do the same. We never know what the future holds but we can always give ourselves the best opportunity by opening as many doors as possible.
The follower count is not the most important aspect of social media. I take significant joy in receiving messages from children or their parents telling me that I have helped inspire them or that, in some way, somebody gained motivation to pick up their clubs again after seeing my posts. Even if social media does not bring you sponsorship deals, the things we do and what we share with others can make a difference.
Let’s use social media to inspire and to encourage. It is truly a powerful tool and, as clichéd as this may sound, with great power comes great responsibility!
