When you think of organizing an event, you may ask yourself how to finance it. Big businesses can use their allocated money for advertising for such initiatives, while smaller ones may need some assistance. One may consider getting a sponsor as the best alternative for financing events. Looking for sponsors is difficult, but your event may become an irresistible sponsorship opportunity if done correctly.
Does your event need a sponsor?
Sponsorship is essential 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:
- Big and high-profile events: Media sponsorship of celebrity speakers or guests could ensure that such events receive wide coverage.
- Expensive goals: If the budget includes additional line items, such as smart event badges and mobile apps, sponsors can cover these costs.
- Expanding customer base: Your brand will be solidified when influencers or industry leaders bring their audience to your venue.
- Major planning elements: Sponsorships may assist with venues, transportation, or catering.
- New events or brands: Established companies who sponsor can lend credibility to your industry.
Display Sponsored Posts on a social wall at your event
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 clearly outlining your event’s values to prospective sponsors. These 5 tips will help you find the right sponsor:
- Define your event goals – Budgetary and logistical objectives must be clearly identified to establish who your potential sponsors are.
- Contact sponsors from related events. Companies that sponsor functions like yours are aware of their worth and advantages.
- Agree on firms that sync your event values – this makes pitching more effective as it is done with brands sharing similar goals and images as your event.
- Let your audience choose: Use target market research to identify companies your customers love.
- Use sponsorship tools
- SponsorPark is ideal for corporate sponsors and events in the arts, entertainment, sports, festivals, and special causes categories.
- 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
Small or big businesses 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 audience’s 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 the Olympics and other sports events.
- PepsiCo: Supports significant 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 getting 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 to make an emotional connection
- What you do: State what you aim at doing daily about 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.
Offer Sponsored Posts on a social wall as an incentive
3. Propose a trial sponsorship
Offer a smaller sponsorship package 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. To tailor your proposal, check their recent events, company changes, and product launches.
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 budgeting rather than prominent 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 the chances of getting sponsors on board. Sponsored Posts enable you to 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 a choice of locations to place their ads, making it more straightforward 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.
Below you can see different examples of how other types of sponsored posts can look on a branded social wall.
Getting sponsors for an event is easy!
Securing sponsorship for events requires clear communication and confidence. Show potential sponsors what they will gain, and you may receive a favorable response. Good luck with your event planning and finding sponsors!