Professional athletes are the darlings of the world. They can do things kinesthetically that most people cannot do, and they get paid handsomely for their abilities.
For all of the young people that play sports in high school, a tiny fraction makes it to the professional level. It is a rarified stratum of society and one that people are interested in.
These days, being a fan isn't a regional phenomenon so much as a world one. Kids in California are wearing Messi and Ronaldo game jerseys and sports personalities are easier than ever to follow through various media platforms.
In truth, there are many ways by which athletes are able to engage with their fans.
Develop a Media Presence
Athletes that have a media presence are spending more time in fans' minds than if they were only seen on the proverbial pitch.
Fans want to peek behind the curtain, and examining details of your favorite athletes' lives is an activity that people happily engage in.
Twitter and Instagram are social media platforms that are perfect for low impact/high yield fan-reaching. It can take literally seconds to compose a tweet or sn wap a picture for an Instagram, and it could be anything.
The sum total of all of these posts is the burgeoning complexion of a personality. Maybe the athlete is always posting before or after games or snapping pictures of the localized weather that their community was dealing with.
It could be a reference to a topical situation or something goofy, like a caller ID spoofing video. Followers can elect to follow and be notified whenever new posts go up.
Be Consistent
There are a lot of personalities on social media, which equates to competition for fans' attention. The best way to stay in the public eye is to post consistently, and even take the time to respond to comments from time to time.
When a fan feels as though the person that they're following actually responded to their comment, that fan feels validated and titillated.
Go Public
Public appearances always make for happy fans. Circumstances can vary, but any time a professional athlete takes the time to step out and engage with the public, a good time is had.
Often this can be something like sitting in a pub with a few local DJs, shooting the bull for a little while, then signing some autographs.
Sometimes athletes make visits to medical centers to visit with sick patients. The dynamic between a famous personality and the child in the hospital bed who adores them is compelling and often generates favorable press.
Be a Prize
Occasionally, ownership or some other entity will hold some sort of contest in which contestants can win face time with the athlete of their eye.
This most often takes the form of a brief meeting before a game, with requisite pictures and autographs, and maybe even a little equipment giveaway.
Teams will also host charity dinners, which feature a panel of players that will mingle and sign autographs over the course of an evening.
Guests might be given a program of the night's schedule or a poster with pictures of the players in attendance, which those players will then sign.
Create Connections
Establishing and maintaining strong social connections is a powerful way to nurture a fanbase. The athlete can utilize conduits like radio hosts to connect with fans.
They could do annual events, which could be hyped on social media, and these events are things that could potentially endure long past playing years.
Reaching a fanbase is all about giving a little kind attention to the fans who are thirsting for it. Athletes can even engage with fans to transcend a poor performance.
