How To Get Sponsored By A Supplement Company

7 tips to help you get noticed and earn a supplement company sponsorship

Aside from winning a show, a supplement company sponsorship is the Holy Grail for amateur bodybuilders, figure/fitness competitors, and physique athletes. I’ve spent over a decade putting together athlete contracts ranging from “product only” to some of the most financially lucrative in our industry, and I’m proud to say I’ve worked with athletes of all levels and in almost every organization. Here are a few tips to help you stand out and earn a sponsorship:

1. BRAND YOURSELF

Determine your marketability. How active are you online (GetBig.com, for example)? Do you have a following? Have you ever appeared in magazines? How often? Today we have access to all kinds of social media technology. I’ve seen many athletes with world-class physiques disappear because they relied solely on their onstage performances.

Making yourself a brand is the first thing you should do to establish yourself as a major player in this industry. It doesn’t matter if you’ve done just one show or 15 shows. Let it be known and create a following. Thousands of bodybuilding/fitness fans around the world are looking for inspiration, and that just might be you! These fans may very well be your biggest supporters. If a company sees that you have a following, you immediately become influential and, therefore, marketable.

IFBB pro Antoine Vaillant is a shining example of a highly marketable athlete with an established brand. Before his big win in Edmonton in 2011, Antoine had posted numerous training videos on YouTube that generated thousands upon thousands of views. In addition to his YouTube following, he also has 44,000 Facebook friends. With this kind of loyal following, it’s no wonder Antoine has the financial support of a sponsorship through Universal and Muscular Development.

2. PRODUCT-ONLY SPONSORSHIP

Since the beginning of the year, I’ve seen many Facebook postings regarding whether athletes should take “product-only” sponsorships and how much work they should do if this is the case. I was surprised by the number of responses saying, “No, I know my worth” or “I’m worth a lot more than that.” No offence to the athletes that replied with those comments, but I’ve never heard of you. And if we haven’t heard of you, it’s unlikely that supplement companies have heard of you and would take the time to invest in you.

One amateur bodybuilder told me about a product sponsorship that he was offered, saying he was going to wait for something better and comparing his situation to basketball legend Michael Jordan. He explained that Michael wouldn’t take a sponsorship that consisted of just shoes, so he shouldn’t take one that consisted of just protein. Having worked very closely with countless athletes over the last decade, I’m certain just about none of them have done Michael Jordan-like things, and this definitely isn’t the mentality to have unless you just finished in the top three at the Olympia or Arnold Classic or are appearing regularly on the covers of our most cherished magazines.

If you get the opportunity for a product-only sponsorship, grab it! And work closely with that company in building your brand and a name for yourself. Many companies have strong Facebook and Twitter followings, and to have your images seen by tens of thousands of their followers is a lot more effective in building your brand than having just your friends and family see your accomplishments.

3. HUSTLE AND MEET INDUSTRY INSIDERS

Know the right people in the industry and be a professional. When you’re at your next competition, always portray yourself in a positive light and socialize with the right people—judges, promoters, magazine editors, photographers, and supplement companies. We all talk to each other.

Be prepared with your portfolio and business cards that highlight everything about you and why you’re a marketable athlete. Include information such as your competitive history, your clients, your fans/followers, and what other publications you’ve appeared in or work that you’ve done.

One of the hardest working athletes in the business today is my good friend IFBB physique pro Mark Anthony Wingson. Over the last few years, Mark made every effort to get to know everyone very closely in the fitness industry, and now that his physique has won him some shows, he was able to pick and choose from the many sponsorship options he had on the table.

4. DO PHOTO SHOOTS WITH THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHERS

Having a portfolio to present to supplement companies is important, but does your portfolio contain the right images? Working with the right photographer—one knowledgeable in bodybuilding and fitness—will ensure that your physique is translated through images correctly and shows off your best body parts. If you’re a bodybuilder, take shots in the gym lifting heavy weights with the right lighting. If you’re a physique or fitness competitor, take shots with the right clothing so companies can see how great your body is. Photographs are an investment. If you don’t want to invest in yourself, it’s unlikely a supplement company will either. You can't go wrong with great lensmen such as Alex Ardenti or Dave Laus.

5. COME TO A PHOTO SHOOT IN SHAPE

Often a photographer will get assigned by a magazine or supplement company to shoot an athlete. If you’re lucky enough to get that call, come into the photo shoot in shape! If you’re not ready to shoot, kindly let the photographer know. Showing up in off-season mode is a gigantic waste of the photographer’s time, and they’ll never print those images. My advice is to always stay two to three weeks out from photo shoot condition.

I cannot stress how fast your reputation will be sullied by not being in shape for a photo shoot, and being unprofessional will always make it into the ears of supplement company owners. Don’t squander opportunities.

6. “BEFORE AND AFTER” TRANSFORMATIONS

Many companies also look for athletes who are willing to document the use of their products through “before and after” transformations. This is a golden opportunity for athletes who happen to go off-season to make gains or make a competitive comeback after taking some time off. Seize it! This is a great way for any amateur athlete to get a foot in the door and start a relationship with a supplement company! Many of today’s biggest sponsored stars started their careers with me through “before and after” transformations, such as Ben Pakulski, Andre Rzazewski, Antoine Vaillant, Johnnie Jackson, David Henry, and Matt Tsinkorang. These opportunities come and go quickly because a lot of work goes into producing a photo shoot, so the window of opportunity for the recruitment process is small.

7. WORK WITH A RECOGNIZED TRAINER

Invest your money in a champion trainer who’s respected in the industry. Doing this can increase your chances of taking your physique to another level and possibly win you a show. Working with a trainer who has a lot of influence in a company can also speed up the process of getting sponsored!

Charles Glass used to make my job as athlete relations recruiter very easy. I had a respected champion trainer giving me the inside scoop on the most promising athletes with the best attitudes. Today many of the best athletes and coaches hold solid positions with supplement companies. Ask for their credentials and try to work with these top coaches.

I hope these tips are helpful in getting you noticed and sponsored by a company. With today’s technology, it’s far easier to get noticed than it was a decade ago, but that also means competition is that much fiercer. If you’re willing to put in the hard work and follow as many of these steps as possible, there will definitely be a supplement company ready to work with you. Good luck!

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