How to Get Sponsored – 4 Easy Steps to Get Ready

How are you currently funding your own programs, podcast, or events? Are you struggling to self-fund your business ventures while people follow you both online and offline because you have expertise and influence?

You've spent countless hours on creating or establishing your business but realize how much money you're actually breezing through just to get the word out there. When you enter the marketing world, you realize you need to spend money to make money.

Enter sponsorship.

Many others are already trying to attract sponsors for their brand, but depending what steps you take, will determine if you will succeed.

If you're stuck, this article will help. Read on to learn how to get sponsored.

Why You NEED Sponsorship for Your Brand

Instead of continually struggling, why not find corporate sponsors for your brand?

Think of this win-win scenario: you have the access they need to their target market, and they can move your business financially.

Don’t believe me?

Consider this – corporations spend a lot of money on advertising. They have the budgets to pay business owners and influencers nearly $22 billion each year.

When you leverage your brand with theirs, your overall impact and reach in the marketplace improves.

It is even possible to start your year in the black with a profit before you sell one item. (I’ve seen it happen to one of my clients.)

Believe it or not, it is much easier to get a corporate sponsor to send you a check for $25,000 than it is to get paid from an entrepreneur for a $49 e-course.

Before you quit reading because you have already listed all of the reasons you are not ready, or you don’t think you are worthy – remember this…theyneedyou!

People avoid commercials and ignore billboards, so driving brand awareness and gaining customers requires new methods. That’s where you come in.

When you have several ways to serve your target market, you are in a great position to become a fantastic partner for a corporate sponsor. Moreover, you don’t have to be hosting live events to be a partner. So you can breathe a little easier.

By providing access to your audience and target market, corporations garner future customers, and you make money on what you have already created.

The best part? You have very little additional work to do.

What this means for you is that you can make money from what you have already been creating with almost zero additional work.

You just need to be able to show that you have adequate influence in the marketplace.

They want to know you have additional avenues to reach their target market that extends past what they currently do internally.

How to Get Sponsored by Making Your Brand Sponsor Ready in 4 Easy Steps

Step 1: Demonstrate conversion by tracking your existing marketing efforts.

• Pick a channel, like Facebook or Instagram, and find out how many of your ads convert followers into paying customers.
• Note the amount of engagement with your social media followers and email list. Do they share your posts, open e-newsletters, and participate in your contests?
• Get media coverage via the radio, television, and in print for additional validation.
• Have products and programs that can help your target market online

Step 2: Identify companies that are an excellent fit for you and your target market.

• Begin building relationships with the decision makers in those organizations.
• One way to create your target list of sponsors is to list out five products and services your target market purchase. Then, research five corporations that sell these products and services and list them under each.
• Aim for 25 total companies that will become your potential sponsors because you share the same audience. This makes it easier to talk with them about sponsorship opportunities because they will generally have the same goals and objectives as you.

Step 3: Network at local events and scouring LinkedIn.

• Look for the advertising and marketing executives who work for the companies on your target list. Your goal is to share what you do in your business and how a partnership with you will give them increased exposure to potential customers.
• To set up the meeting, let them know that you serve the people they are trying to reach in unique ways both online and offline. Suggest a meeting where you can discuss how to help each other.
• If you noticed, I didn’t say “become my sponsor.” I suggest you don’t do that. You will have more doors shut than open for you.

Step 4: After landing the meeting

• Once you get that meeting, dig deep to find out more about how they want to accomplish their goals and how you can help reach their objectives. Before you know it, you’ve got your first sponsorship check in hand!

Additional Resources You May Want to Check Out!

5 Ways to Get Corporate Sponsorship for Your Small Business

by Melinda Emerson (succeedasyourownboss.com)

5 Ways to Influence with Leadership Presence

by Lisa Martin (BusinessSuccess.com)

​6 Simple Tricks to Get your Creative Energy Flowing

by Carrie Greene (BusinessSuccess.com)

Shayna Rattler offers her FREE book, Secrets to Landing Corporate Sponsorships. Grab your copy at www.corporatesponsorsecrets.com

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