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Get Sponsored
Copyright Cathy Stucker
Your business may be approached as a possible sponsor for
community sports teams, television or radio broadcasts, trade
shows, and other events, but have you ever thought of seeking
sponsors for your small business?
Why would anyone want to sponsor you? Because you can offer
them some form of visibility they see as beneficial, such as
putting them in front of their potential customers. Your best
prospects for sponsors will be businesses that provide a
different product or service than you, but serve the same
market.
Sponsorship can be obtained for many business activities.
Here are some examples to get you started.
Sell advertising in your customer newsletter or online
ezine, or on your Web site. You may choose to sell advertising
directly to sponsors, or join a program that automatically
feeds ads to your Web site, such as Google AdSense. You can
learn more about AdSense at http//www.idealady.com/google-adsense.htm
Speakers can obtain sponsorship for keynotes and workshops.
What products or companies would like to be associated with
you and your message, and get in front of your audience?
Consider obtaining sponsorship to publish a book. Although
it is rare to see advertising in books, it is sometimes done.
Or, your sponsors may be identified in other ways, such as in
the acknowledgments or on the back cover.
Hold a contest and get sponsors to donate prizes in return
for promotion during the contest. Contests often draw
publicity and other interest, so sponsors will be seen by a
lot of people.
You may be able to represent a business as a corporate
spokesperson. The corporation would pay you a fee to represent
them in personal appearances, advertising, media interviews
and other public venues. These opportunities are usually
available to people who are viewed as experts, such as authors
or those with credentials in a specific field.
Host your own radio show and get sponsors to pay for it.
You can buy blocks of broadcast time from radio stations, then
sell advertising on your show. If you collect more advertising
revenue than the station charges you for the air time, you
make a profit. Even if you don’t, you get others to help pay
for an activity that promotes you and enhances your
credibility.
So how do you get sponsors? First, identify the businesses
that would be most interested in reaching your audience. Then
approach them with a proposal. Networking can help here Do you
know anyone who knows anyone with connections to your
prospective sponsors?
Explain what sponsors will receive when they work with you.
Let them know how you can help them reach their target market,
and make it cost-effective for them. Show the visibility and
credibility your business has in the community, and how they
will benefit from association with you.
Be on the lookout for new opportunities to collect
sponsorship dollars. The Internet offers possibilities such as
Internet radio shows and podcasts, and you may be able to
attract sponsorship if your audience is large enough or
targeted enough.
As the Idea Lady, Cathy Stucker helps entrepreneurs and professionals attract customers and make themselves famous. Get free marketing tips at
http://www.IdeaLady.com/
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