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Social Networking Sports Agents

Should Sports Agents Be Using Social Networking Sites?

If you browse through the Social Networking category, you will find that I have blogged about athletes using social networking sites in the past. The most recent post in the category thread; however, deals with an effort to connect sports agents on a social network called LinkedIn. Which leads me to a question: Should sports agents be actively involved with social networking sites? What are the potential advantages and what pitfalls may be involved?

For those of you that know me at all, you know that I have completely embraced social networking. I am on Facebook, LinkedIn, sports-related Ning social networks, Twitter, etc. I have also created Dynasty-specific pages on Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, etc. There is even a range of cannabis business social network these days. Through my personal accounts, I have been able to meet impressive new people in the sports world, connect with friends and family, and provide quick and easy updates about my life to others. The potential negative, which I believe are heavily outweighed by the positives, is a claim that if you open yourself up too much, you are inviting others to have information to use against you. This is why it is important to pre-empt such a strike by not putting up provocative pictures on your personal Facebook page or not talking about how wasted you got last night on your Twitter account. Take the necessary precautions, and exploit these networks for what they are worth.

I also decided to involve my business, as a completely separate entity from myself, in social networking. As far as I know, no other sports agency has a Facebook profile. Few have MySpace pages. By creating a presence on such sites, many athletes, executives, entertainers, etc. are familiar with Dynasty or at least have seen our logo now and have some idea of what we are about. We are also able to get information about potential clients through these services. Where else can you get such information legally and free of cost? If you use these tools in a proper way, they are invaluable. Dynasty has seen tremendous growth in branding and reputation from leveraging these social networking sites, alone.

Is it annoying when you open up your email inbox and find twenty Facebook friend requests and ten unread LinkedIn messages? No doubt. But taking a few minutes a day to keep your social networking pages up-to-date can do wonders personally and professionally. And we all know how tough it is to find a job in this economic climate. Building a powerful network of friends and connections not only will help you in your current profession, but may also come handy if you are looking for a new occupation in the future.

If you have already decided to create your online presence by joining these sites, congratulations! You are a step ahead of most people in our profession. For some reason, many agents and agencies have not fully embraced the new climate of the internet. Many agencies have very old websites with little interactivity. Some agencies do not have a website, at all. Even less are using new social networking tools to gain an advantage over the competition. In an industry as competitive as ours, it is vital to use whatever you can to have a leg up on others. And I am not talking about buying athletes so that your competitors cannot or will not compete with your tactics. Figure out what you are comfortable with and wait no longer to join. And go ahead and add me as a friend!

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

One reply on “Should Sports Agents Be Using Social Networking Sites?”

Very timely piece. There is actually a similiar article that has just been written for Laywers Weekly concerning the question of whether attorneys should use social networking (sorry, can’t find it online).

As an attorney who has been practicing for 6+ years and some one who is presently going through the certification processes to become an agent, I like the approach of making seperate accounts for you, personally, and your firm or practice.

I’ve been saying for a couple of years now that Facebook is a “lawyer’s best friend,” in that it allows you to efficiently reconnect with old contacts and generate new business. It’s a big mistake if you are an agent and / or an attorney and do not have some type of social networking presence at this juncture. You’re missing out in a big way.

What needs to be developed, however, is a concise protocol of do’s and dont’s for attorneys and agents on social networking sites.

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