How to sign your first bodybuilding sponsorship contract.

Before anything, what exactly defines the word sponsor? The most common definition would be an organization providing a certain support to an individual in return of advertising rights. If we relate to bodybuilding, we will more often see a supplements company sponsoring an athlete and using him/her for advertising. The terms of the contract between the company and the individual are obviously different from one to another; the sponsorship has many variables and is customized and agreed between both parties.

[divider] The Background[/divider]

My name is Quentin Weber, 25 years old and I am from Montréal/Canada, I signed a sponsorship contract on October 31st, 2013, with Optimum Nutrition (www.OptimumNutrition.com) and became a True Strength official athlete (www.TrueStrength.com). This event was a great life achievement as most athletes dream of signing their first sponsorship contract, especially considering bodybuilding is still more of an underground sport. I was lucky enough to sign this contract with a company that I truly appreciate and fully endorse as I was a long time user of Optimum Nutrition products. I made the news public two weeks later through various social networks and received tremendous support and very motivating messages.

Most recently, ZELSH contacted me in order to write an article to elaborate on the sponsorship process. What I can already tell you is that it requires a lot of work, dedication and especially time. I decided to provide you with the 4 key factors that I believe need to be covered in order to maximize your chances to sign your first sponsorship contract. Please remember this article is addressed mostly to bodybuilders, but can be applicable to other sports as well.

Evaluate your sponsorship motivations

The first question you should ask yourself is for what reasons do you want to be sponsored. Your main concern should not be to look for a sponsorship in order to get a bunch of free supplements. Please remember that a sponsorship involves that both parties are getting benefits from the contract. If you truly want to be a sponsored athlete, you must understand that it requires work on your end in order to promote your sponsor as best as you can. I have a full-time demanding job in the financial industry, I represent Optimum Nutrition in the best way that I can and I also need to have a normal kind of life involving an awesome and lovely girlfriend, great friends and a wonderful family. It is important that you realize that your free time will be limited and that your responsibilities will be accrued.

Be valuable

Signing a first sponsorship contract is identical to looking for a career job. If you are a motivated individual and concerned about your professional career, you should already be aware that your curriculum vitae is crucial in order to find a suitable opportunity. You need to demonstrate to your future employer that you are valuable and that you can bring something different to the company. You also most likely do not want to work for just any company; you have specific companies that you appreciate because of their image and culture. This concept also applies to finding a sponsorship as you need to evaluate which companies appeal you the most. Your bodybuilding curriculum vitae needs to be backed up by your past performances, your status in the sport and any adding value features such as a personal training company or a personal blog. Be original, why would a company sponsor you and not that other guy in the gym?

Have strong interpersonal skills and a developed social network

Marketing plays a big role in order to increase your company image, your sales, and maximize your profitability. Remember that at the end of the day, you need to represent your sponsor in order to promote their values and what they have to offer. A well developed social network is definitely mandatory in order to reach as many people as you can. You need to be willing to go out of your comfort zone in order to meet with gym managers, shop managers, potential and existing clients. You must be well spoken and comfortable enough to approach people around you in order to spread the name of the company you are representing.

Prepare your attack plan

It is commonly accepted and known that you need to be on your A game for a job interview. The same concept applies when contacting a potential company for a sponsorship contract. Take the time to learn about your prospect, their values, their products and their history. Once you feel confident that you could add value to this company, think about how you can approach them. Are there any local shows coming up where I could meet with a representative? Should you contact them by e-mail? Should you call them? There are many questions that arise and you need to find suitable answers for all of them. Prepare a solid plan and be organized, be professional. You can compare this to your training; how are you going to improve your personal record on your squat? Are you just going to max out and squat every day? Most likely no, you are going to prepare a set and smart plan in order to achieve your new objective.

Be a dedicated athlete

The last but not the least, you have to follow the 3 D’s: dedication, desire and discipline (http://www.3dmusclejourney.com/). You have to be a dedicated bodybuilder, you need to be committed to your short and long term goals and convinced that bodybuilding is one of your top life priorities. You need that desire to push through those hard moments and that will to accomplish and perform at the best of your ability. You absolutely need that discipline in order to maximize your genetic potential and surpass your weaknesses. You will definitely have people looking up to you and people putting you down. Be sure you are committed to this sport and that you are involved in it for the long run. Push yourself in order to be different from other athletes in the industry and find your true values.

My personal experience:

The first time I registered to a gym was back in 2007. I needed to fix a knee injury and since then I have been hooked with the lifestyle. Since day one, I have been delivering strong intensity in the gym, which definitely helped develop my physique. I also started really early to promote myself by being active on various social networks. I started competing in 2013 and won my first show as a Novice. Then, I won my second show in the Open category, which got me my Professional title during my first ever competitive season (be sure to read all the details at http://FitLikeQ.com/blog/). I went through a long contest preparation of a total of 46 weeks which was recognized and impressed by many. I also created my own personal training company and blog called FitLikeQ. (www.FitLikeQ.com), my coaching style is based on an up-to-date and constantly evolving scientific approach. I am a lifetime natural athlete, knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated to my clients. I focus on creating a strong relationship with my athletes in order to maximize their results and learning. I have always made sure to work on my bodybuilding curriculum vitae to promote myself and show that I had a lot to offer.

I truly hope this short article has provided you with a clearer idea on how to look for a sponsorship contract. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me at quentin.weber@FitLikeQ.com and I will be more than happy to hear from you.