Out With the Old And In With the New

Looking for ways to keep your sponsors happy beyond the good old (but not so innovative) gold/silver/bronze packages? With the tightening constraints on sponsorship dollars, generic packages is no longer sufficient to secure repeat sponsors. It is imperative that planners not just meet but exceed expectations of their sponsors in order to be one step (or ten steps!) ahead of the rest. What is in it for them?

Every sponsorship idea should reflect not only the brand of your sponsors, but the brand of the event itself. You need to go beyond the traditional ways in which sponsors are highlighted at an event. You need to think of and execute innovative ideas that keep your sponsors happy and the event remembered in the minds of all who attend.

We all know the traditional methods of giving your sponsors opportunities for advertising. These have often been in the way of banners, signs, brochures, flyers, magazines, etc. While these methods have been tried and tested and will always have their merits, here are a few ways to include your sponsors in the process while adding value for your attendees:

• Ask your sponsor how they would like to showcase their brand at the event. Their ideas may surprise you and enhance the attendee experience. From branded refreshment stations, charging stations, or video walls, aligning your efforts is a win-win opportunity.
• Utilize your event app to give your sponsors ample opportunity to advertise, for example, by using banner ads that appear inside the app window, etc. Not sure how to leverage your app? View 5 Ways to Generate Revenue from your Event App by DoubleDutch.
• Offer your sponsors a VIP experience. Having a meet and greet with your sponsors and keynote speakers is a great opportunity to reinforce your event goals and expectations.

It is no longer enough to just come up with innovative ideas, it is also vital that these ideas be of interest to your sponsors and add value to your event. In order to strike the perfect balance between what works for your attendees and what works for the sponsor, it is important to align your event with sponsors who share similar objectives, vision and goals. Innovative ideas paired with your event objectives equals positive win-win relationships for both the sponsors and the organizers.

How do you ensure you are meeting the needs of your sponsors? What sponsorship ideas have you introduced to your events? Do you have any resources you would like to share? We would love to hear from you.