A blueprint for beginning event marketers on how to get sponsors for your event including tips on presentation.

1. HOW TO
GET SPONSORS
FOR YOUR
EVENT

2. When
approaching a
sponsor be
prepared with
information
they’ll need for
consideration.

3. Is the sponsor a good
fit for your event?
They will evaluate
whether the event
aligns with their
values and goals as
company too.

4. What sponsors are
really looking for
is value and
esteem in
exchange for their
money, goods, or
services.

5. Have solid
messaging when
selling the event
sponsorship because
that is what you’re
doing. You’re selling
an idea.

6. Share the following with
the sponsor:
What is the purpose of
the event? How is your
audience valuable to the
sponsor? Is your event
unique? Who is
expected to come to the
event?

7. Develop a realistic
persona of the expected
attendee. This is the type
of person that would be
interested in the event
with consideration to
what your event offers,
the cost to attend, the
location, and dates.

8. Create a story how
their involvement will
benefit the sponsor.
It’s really helpful to
provide a compelling
presentation with
every statistic you
can manage.

9. A business will want to
research your event to
authenticate it. Have a
professional looking
presence for them to
find. The information on
your web page should
mirror conversations or
emails to them.

10. Define what sponsors
will get like event
announcements, banner
ads, social media, email
call outs, logos on your
custom event
t-shirts, and other
promotional items that
will be part of the event.

11. Offer different levels of
sponsorships like silver,
gold, and platinum with
bundled offerings for each
tier. Include VIP passes or
tickets to the event if it
makes sense. If your
different levels of
sponsorship aren't getting
results, be prepared to be
flexible.

12. Start with your own
network of contacts
including professional
contacts you've given
business to in the past.
These are excellent
candidates. Ask your
friends to be a referral
source as well.

13. If you get shot down by
one company you
thought would be a good
fit for your event, search
for similar types of
businesses by looking on
a search engine for
“businesses like
[company name].”

14. While an onsite visit or a
phone call seems personable,
candidates may be less
receptive to a suprise
intrusion on their day. One of
the easiest ways to reach out
to possible sponsors is
through social media. Don’t
give up if you don’t hear back
initially. Follow up with an
email.

15. Make contact personal and
craft each message for the
individual business. Explain
how their sponsorship to
your event could make a
positive impact and describe
what you’re expecting from
them. Do you want money,
services, or products?

16. Present your entire value
proposition upfront because
it’s rare to get a 2nd chance.
Document that you’re
planning on sending X
number of email blasts to X
size list and that you have X
number reach on social. Will
you be doing flyers, radio, or
TV advertising? Get
granular.

17. When you land a
sponsorship, you’ve done
the hardest part by
building a relationship. To
cultivate, deliver what was
promised to the sponsor.
Giving them more than
expected will keep your
event top of mind in the
future.

18. After the event, follow up by
providing all the relevant
statistics and results from
the event like how much
money was raised, how
many people attended, and
all social statistics like
reach, likes, shares,
comments, interviews, and
press mentions.