How to Get Sponsors for an Event

When you are thinking of organizing an event, you may ask yourself how to finance it. Big businesses can use money they have allocated for advertising purposes for such initiatives while smaller ones may need some assistance. One may think of getting a sponsor as the best alternative for financing events. Looking for sponsors is not easy, but if done properly, your event may become an irresistible sponsorship opportunity. 

Does your event need a sponsor?

Sponsorship is important for many events. They can create opportunities, such as:

• Increasing awareness about the brand
• Raising sales
• Enhancing brand reputation

However, not all events require sponsorship. Here’s how to decide if you need sponsors:

1. Big and high-profile events: In the case of celebrity speakers or guests, media sponsorship could ensure that such events receive wide coverage.
2. Expensive goals: If there are some additional line items in the budget such as smart event badges and mobile apps, sponsors can cover these costs.
3. Expanding customer base: Your brand will be solidified when influencers or industry leaders bring their audience to your venue.
4. Major planning elements: Sponsorships may assist with venues, transportations or catering.
5. New events or brands: Established companies who sponsor can lend credibility to your industry.

How to find sponsors for an event

The best way to choose a sponsor for an event is by identifying the goals of your event, knowing what you want from a sponsorship and outlining clearly the values of your event to prospective sponsors. These 5 tips will help you find the right sponsor:

1. Define your event goals – Budgetary and logistical objectives must be clearly identified so as to establish who your potential sponsors are.
2. Make contact with sponsors from related events. Companies that sponsor such functions as yours are aware of the worth and the advantages.
3. Agree firms that sync your event values – this makes pitching more effective as it is done with brands sharing similar goals and image as your event.
4. Let your audience choose: Use target market research to identify companies your customers love.
5. Use sponsorship tools 
   • SponsorPark: Ideal for corporate sponsors and events under arts, entertainment, sports, festivals, and special causes.
   • Sponeasy: Offers a drag-and-drop builder for sponsorship desks, including templates.
   • SponsorMyEvent: Used by brands like Forbes and TEDx.
   • OpenSponsorship: Caters specifically to athletes, teams, and sports-related events.
   • SponsorPitch: Provides a database, CRM, and export sponsor data tool.

15 companies that sponsor events 

For businesses, small or big, they are happy to support events that relate to their ideas and marketing objectives. By providing visitor profile information, a brand could be excited by demographic data about his/her audiences’ target markets. Here is a list of companies sponsoring 15 events:

• Google: Known for supporting technology events like IIT Techfests and Developers Meet. Reach out to them through the Google Grant Program for nonprofits.
• Amazon: A provider of on-demand cloud computing platforms, partnering with organizations like TiE.
• Ernst & Young (EY): Partners with events in entrepreneurship, healthcare, and more.
• Microsoft: Supports sports and IT events focusing on innovation and growth.
• IBM: A big supporter of technology conferences and virtual events.
• Deloitte: Supports events in real estate, technology, and business.
• JPMorgan: Sponsors nonprofit activities, arts, culture, and sporting events globally.
• Chase: Assists clients with philanthropic interests and community-focused events.
• McDonald’s: Sponsors sports events from the Olympics to local minor hockey.
• Puma: Involved in Olympics and other sports events.
• PepsiCo: Supports major sports events like the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• Red Bull: Major supporter of sports and cultural events, including adventure sports and urban dance.
• Nokia: Supports technology, networking, communications, energy, and sustainability events.
• Bridgestone: Sponsors sports events, mainly racing and auto expos.
• DHL Express: Promotes its logistics expertise through motorsports, business, lifestyle, and fashion events.

How to get sponsors for an event, and securing them

These steps will aid your journey of how to get sponsors for an event, and securing them.

1. Create a compelling proposal

Your proposal needs to stand out. Include:

• The story of your company: Share your journey so as to make an emotional connection
• What you do: State what you aim at doing daily in relation to social needs
• Audience demographics: Indicate how the target market matches the sponsor’s
• Specific funding requirements: What exactly the money will go for

2. Offer incentives

Sweeten the deal with:

• Free booths at trade shows or exhibitions.
• Logo placements on promotional materials.
• Mentions in blogs, newsletters, and social media.
• Event-related freebies or discounts for the sponsor’s customers.
• Sponsored posts on a social wall.

3. Propose a trial sponsorship

Offer a smaller sponsorship amount in exchange for smaller benefits to let the sponsor test the waters.

4. Partner with established companies

If your company lacks brand recognition, partner with a more established brand to enhance credibility.

5. Study potential sponsors

Do your homework on each sponsor. Check their recent events, company changes, and product launches to tailor your proposal.

6. How to get sponsors for an event involves the right data

Use event data to make a compelling case for ROI. Share past event performance metrics like revenue, attendance, and social media engagement.

7. Timing

Start early and respect the sponsor’s time with brief emails and meetings. Pitch during high sales months like May, June, and September.

8. Find the right contact

Target brand managers or people in charge of budgeting rather than obvious sponsorship managers. Start within your network if possible.

How Walls.io can help you get sponsors for your event

Using a Walls.io social wall can immensely increase chances of getting sponsors on board. Sponsored Posts enable you place prominent ads on a social wall made by Walls.io throughout an entire occasion. You can upload specific images, videos or even text and regularly display them on your social wall.

Benefits of sponsored posts

• Ad placement: Offer the sponsors choice locations to place their ads making it simpler for them to get financial backing.
• Blended content: Sponsored ads are mixed with user-generated ones maintaining the wall’s aesthetic outlook.
• Clickable links: Drive traffic and engagement by directing visitors to sponsor landing pages through just one click.

For example, Tomorrowland successfully used Sponsored Posts to showcase ads from BMW and Vallformosa on their festival’s social wall, linking directly to the sponsors’ landing pages. 

Getting sponsors for an event is easy!

Securing sponsorship for events requires clear communication and confidence. Show potential sponsors what they will gain, and maybe you will receive a favorable response. Good luck in your event planning as well as finding sponsors!