What role does social media and personal branding play in getting sponsored today?

Building your personal brand and community through social channels is crucial for modern athletes. You have tools available today that didn't exist before - use them to build your audience authentically, engage with followers, and showcase who you really are. The size of your following matters, but authenticity matters more. Create content consistently, be yourself, and let your personality show. Sponsors will notice athletes who have built genuine communities around their personal brand. As one panelist noted, even Jesus built a massive following with just 12 initial followers - you have far more tools available to build yours.