1851

Franchise brands utilize a range of marketing tactics, and endorsements by pro athletes are a powerful method. While having the backing of an athlete is exciting in its own right, the decision to work with one is much more strategic than it may appear at the surface level.One of the primary draws of seeking athlete endorsements is the audience that an athlete can bring along. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/2113/sports-on-tv/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-franchise-brands-love-pro-athlete-endorsements-2720900#topicOverview" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">millions of viewers</a> for various sporting events each year, and the relationship that people have with “their” team or favorite athlete is truly unique.In many cases, professional athletes build a following that will continue to engage with the individual with less of a focus on where that individual is. Whether they transfer teams or work with a different retail brand, the audience members who are committed to the athlete as a person or role model will continue to engage.Pro Athlete Endorsements Increase Exposure and DemandThis one is simple. If an athlete endorses your brand, their audience is also your audience. With many athletes having millions of followers on social platforms, having an endorsement is an easy way to see an immediate boost in visibility.As such, sales may also increase. There will be some members of that athlete’s audience that simply have never heard of the franchise’s product or service but would be happy to make a purchase. Bringing awareness to these people can boost sales.&nbsp;Further, for people who were previously aware of the brand but not entirely sold on the concept, hearing an endorsement from a pro athlete can be the final push needed. People generally trust the judgment of pro athletes due to their level of success. There is a common idea that if a product or service is good enough for a celebrity, it is likely more than adequate for an everyday consumer.&nbsp;Even if an athlete is endorsing a brand within a sector that they have no real knowledge about, their presence can override any need for expertise in the eyes of the broader audience. Take&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciajessop/2012/07/17/subways-partnership-with-michael-phelps-brings-the-brand-large-scale-exposure/?sh=59cc51e96b2b&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-franchise-brands-love-pro-athlete-endorsements-2720900" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michael Phelps’ Subway endorsement</a>, for example. Phelps is a swimmer, not a chef or master sandwich artist. But, rather than endorsing a pool cleaning franchise, he swam the length of the pool for a Subway sandwich in a commercial. Still, his demonstration of enjoyment of the Subway product reached the eyes of many Americans who were interested in him as a person, and their admiration of him was reason enough to cultivate credibility.Athletes Create Differentiation in a Saturated Market<a href="https://webtribunal.net/blog/how-many-ads-do-we-see-a-day/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-franchise-brands-love-pro-athlete-endorsements-2720900#gref" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Recent data</a> shows that the average person sees between 4,000 and 10,000 ads each day. With so much input, it becomes easier and easier for consumers to simply scroll by, tune out an ad on a podcast or look away from video ads. Having a pro athlete sharing an endorsement, as opposed to a more standardized advertisement, can be the unique content necessary to stop the perpetual scroll and win the audience’s attention over.While this differentiator can make ads stand out, which is certainly a useful benefit, it also just sets the businesses apart within the market. Not every concept can secure a pro athlete endorsement, so having one inherently makes the brand a part of a unique group, and this accomplishment permeates beyond the context of active advertisements. When brands are able to build this sort of reputation and create connections with their audience through an athlete, the consumer connection to the concept is typically stronger and enjoys more longevity. &nbsp;

Why Franchise Brands Love Pro Athlete Endorsements

1851 Franchise

Pro athletes connect with their audience in a truly unique way. As they foray into brand partnerships and endorsements, their fans typically follow, bringing great benefit to those companies.

why-franchise-brands-love-pro-athlete-endorsements

BooXkeeping

From Ice Cream to Income Streams: How Greg Cox Found His Sweet Spot with BooXkeeping

from-ice-cream-to-income-streams-how-greg-cox-found-his-sweet-spot-with-booxkeeping

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Named Among America’s Best in Customer Service by Newsweek

childrens-lighthouse-named-among-americas-best-in-customer-service-by-newsweek

KLA Schools

How KLA Schools Is Redefining Early Childhood Education Through a Hands-On, Academically-Rich Approach

how-kla-schools-is-redefining-early-childhood-education-through-a-hands-on-academically-rich-approach

Why Tennessee Is a Strategic Growth Market for Children’s Lighthouse

why-tennessee-is-a-strategic-growth-market-for-childrens-lighthouse

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers Eyes Salt Lake City for Expansion: Meeting the Rising Demand for In-Home Senior Care in Utah

comfort-keepers-eyes-salt-lake-city-for-expansion-meeting-the-rising-demand-for-in-home-senior-care-in-utah

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Keurig Dr Pepper Splits in $18 Billion JDE Peet’s Deal, Creating Global Coffee Giant

keurig-dr-pepper-splits-in-18-billion-jde-peets-deal-creating-global-coffee-giant

McDonald’s Rolls Out Major Value Push To Win Back Customers Amid Inflation

mcdonalds-rolls-out-major-value-push-to-win-back-customers-amid-inflation

Photo of Paris Baguette pastries and beverages 

Paris Baguette Celebrates 250th Café Opening in Frederick, Maryland, Accelerating Expansion and Reviving the Neighborhood Bakery Café

paris-baguette-250th-north-america-cafe

Amanda Evans - Stellar Service Brands - Franchise Marketing Leaders 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Amanda Evans — Senior Vice President of Marketing, Stellar Service Brands

stellar-service-brands-marketing-leader-amanda-evans

Before You Franchise: Answers to the Top 5 Questions of Franchisors-To-Be

questions-before-franchising-business

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Jack Mashini — Co-Founder, Wing Snob

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-jack-mashini-co-founder-wing-snob

Mike Revak - Chief Business Officer - Sky Zone - Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Mike Revak — President and Chief Business Officer, Sky Zone

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-mike-revak-chief-business-officer-sky-zone

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

graphic image of a franchisee spotligh aman kaur of voodoo brewing

How This Trio of Friends Is Brewing Up Community With Voodoo Brewing Co. in Prosper, Texas

voodoo-brewing-franchisee-aman-kaur-prosper-texas

Franchise Deep Dive graphic with i9 Sports logo

i9 Sports Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

i9-sports-franchise-cost-fees-profit

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Why Franchise Brands Love Pro Athlete Endorsements

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS