NFLPI Teams Up with opendorse for Online Marketplace

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WASHINGTON D.C., April 14, 2014 – NFL Players Inc. (NFLPI), the marketing and licensing arm of the NFL Players Association, today announced the launch of Activate – professional sports’ first online microendorsement marketplace, that will provide brands large and small the opportunity to build robust digital endorsement campaigns with NFL players.

NFLPI’s Activate marketplace, powered by opendorse, provides all businesses, from local and regionalized companies to established global brand owners, a simple platform to leverage the social media influence of NFL players, enhance brand awareness, and grow revenue. By logging on to www.nflplayers.com/activate/, brand owners can browse through a list of registered NFL players, connect directly with their marketing representatives, and build targeted digital endorsement campaigns that offer real-time results. 

“The nature of athlete endorsements has evolved significantly over the years, and the Activate platform enables us to immediately and effectively deliver endorsement opportunities to brands seeking to capitalize on a player’s social media reach and influence,” said Keith Gordon, President of NFL Players Inc. “The innovative technology that opendorse created allows the platform to accurately adjust to changing market conditions – increasing or decreasing value based on quantifiable results.”

opendorse, an official licensee of NFLPI, was recognized by Entrepreneur as one of 2013’s “100 Most Brilliant Companies.” Their proprietary platform, which is based on valuating a player’s social media influence, offers an easy way for brands to connect with players for digital endorsements with the goal of creating direct interaction, awareness and credibility with consumers. The marketplace currently offers valuation for player tweets, with plans to expand for Facebook and Instagram postings in the coming months. opendorse is in the early stages of leveraging NFLPI’s direct access to NFL players and marketing representatives as a means to increase the amount of players using the Activate platform, with nearly 200 already on board at the time of this announcement.   

"The NFL Players Inc. team has proven they will go above and beyond to provide the best marketing solution for their brand partners and players. The Activate platform is the first step in creating a better future for the athlete endorsement industry, and our team is proud to be a part of it,” said Blake Lawrence, CEO of opendorse. “By providing easier access to the digital influence of players, NFLPI has opened the door for businesses of all sizes, and further established themselves as a leader in sports marketing.”

Highlights:

  • Accessibility: Businesses can partner with active NFL players faster than ever before. When a player delivers an incredible performance on Sunday, companies can have that player tweeting about their brand by Monday.
  • Research: The Activate platform uses opendorse technology to tell marketers the best endorser for their campaign, based on their target market, budget, and desired outcomes.
  • Campaign Builder: Selecting the right player, scheduling endorsements, and estimating impact is achieved in one simple step.
  • Automatic Fulfillment: The players via Activate deliver digital deals automatically at the time requested by the brand.
  • Measurable Impact: Real-time analytics provided on the impact of endorsements, ensuring the highest return on investment.
  • Contract Creation: Activate automatically generates a contract for each and every endorsement, saving time and resources.

"Through the influence of sports in social media, the athlete endorsement business is evolving and this really cool and innovative Activate platform is a perfect marketplace for brands to work directly with players so they have an authentic voice that reaches their consumers," said Eric Decker of the New York Jets, who has more than 256,000 followers on Twitter.

About opendorse
Launched in April 2013, opendorse is the athlete endorsement marketplace. The company uses social media data to tell marketers who should be endorsing their brand in real-time. Through partnering with sports agencies and players associations, opendorse provides access to the digital influence of thousands of professional athletes, allowing brands to receive digital endorsements in minutes, not months.

About NFL Players Inc.
NFL Players Inc. (NFLPI) is the licensing and marketing subsidiary of the NFL Players Association. NFLPI has been a trusted resource since 1994, delivering access to the influence, power, and personal stories of NFL players.  NFLPI is a “one-stop shop” for businesses seeking licensing rights, access to players through hospitality and events, marketing strategy, and player procurement. For more information visit nflplayers.com.