Strategies for finding sponsors for your event?
Posted on Jul 06th 2021
1) Define Your Event Fundamentals
Before you can begin finding the right companies, you need to articulate your event's differentiators clearly. Here are some questions to consider to get to the heart of event identity?
What general goals are you trying to achieve with the event?
What are the brand values of the event?
What is the overall vision?
2) Analyzing Why Companies Want to Sponsor Events
When it comes to finding companies interested in sponsoring events, the primary step should be to understand why they want to sponsor. Ultimately, sponsoring an event is a significant investment, so knowing what type of event ROI these companies expect is essential.
3) Define the sponsorship criteria
As already mentioned, it is essential for you as an event planner to communicate the vision and goals of your event when talking to potential sponsors. It is also crucial that the sponsor articulates your company's image and brand values for you as the organizer.
4) Research Companies That Have Sponsored Similar Events
Great, you did your due diligence. You have formulated the event's goals, anticipated the sponsors' needs, and defined the criteria of the sponsors. Actively look for ideal companies that match the profile. So far, if you haven't noticed, the topic was intentional and calculated with your outreach strategy. If you continue on this topic, look for potential sponsors who are more likely to fit the profile.
5) Use an online marketplace to find potential sponsors
If you are looking for a big group of companies interested in sponsoring events, many online resources cater to that purpose.
6) Focus on the Key Decision Makers
In the end, only a few people will make the final decision to sponsor your event. With that in mind, you should contact these people as soon as possible.
7) Event Organizer Network
Don't forget that getting sponsorship is not a new endeavor, as countless event organizers have already exceeded and accomplished the task. So don't overlook the value of your event planning network. Reach out to those whom you think you could learn from. As long as the organizer is not a competitor, connecting with them is a great way to discover new ideas and add industry contacts to your list.