Have You Sponsored the Elevator Yet?
You read my Title right . . ,
Before I let you in on why I am asking this, I’ve got a little scenario. Let me know if this strikes a cord with you.
Selling Event SPONSORSHIP'S
This isn’t the first year you have done a fundraising event and you have a fairly high rate of return sponsors. Your team knows the drill. They reach out to the companies that have sponsored in the past, they check them off the list and call their work done. Along comes a new company interested in your event, they inquire about how to become involved, and they are told all of the event sponsorship slots are filled; but you would be happy to put them on a list for potential sponsors for next year. (I mean your package did say there were only X amount of spots per level, right?)
You can never run out of sponsors
Some of you might be thinking, no way, why would you turn away money? But, I’m telling you it happens ALL the time! If you are on the other side of the coin and agree that the best solution was to take the companies information and contact them next year . . . read on.
One of the #1 topics I am asked about during my one-on-one coaching sessions is how to secure more sponsorship’s for a fundraising event. When I start asking additional questions about what they are doing now, I frequently find there are a lot of cards being left on the table; so to speak.
Starting Point
Though sponsorship packages are a great starting point, in my experience, they should only be used as just that; a starting point. They most definitely should not be used as the end all be all of the number of sponsorship’s you have available.
Create Value
Often sponsors find more valuable in a creative marketing opportunity at your event; rather than their logo printed on signage and mentioned 100 times throughout the night. So though you might find companies that are fine with the $5,000 traditional Gold Level Sponsorship Package, with the above concept in mind, your event could be filled with TONS of additional opportunities for creativity. I mean seriously, there really is nothing at your event that is not sponsor-able.
Get Creative
Let’s go back to the elevator as an example. It is quite common for a venue’s ballroom to be located on an upper level of their facility. This means Every. Single. Person. that attends your event has the attention of a sponsor for minimum 5-10 seconds. So why not take advantage of this? Set up an impromptu self station, decorate the elevators with their brand messaging, provide an elevator host . . honestly the possibilities are endless and so are the social media posts that are sure to naturally follow (Sponsors definitely LOVE this!).
So the next time your think your event has run out of sponsorship opportunities. Put down your sponsorship package and take a little ride in the elevator for some inspiration. You can thank me later for it.
Need some more creative sponsorship ideas, download my FREE sponsorship guide.