Whether your business is looking to gain visibility or reach new customers, event sponsorship is a valuable marketing tool in your portfolio. It allows you to better connect with potential clients and establish your brand on the local market. Not yet convinced? Scroll down to discover 10 solid reasons why sponsoring a local event creates a win for your business.
1. Brand Visibility
Sponsorships put your brand visuals in front of large audiences who haven’t heard of your business. The bigger the event, the more press and social media mentions you get before, during, and after the event day. With many sponsorships, you get featured ads, signs, or radio spots that boost brand recognition.
2. Targeted Marketing
Whether you’re involved with a local charity drive or craft fair, the right event attracts highly interested customers. Sponsored events often cater to niche audiences or member organisations. You gain opportunities to engage one on one with people looking for relevant product solutions.
3. Consumer Perception
Public perception can make or break your business. Customers form positive opinions when your business is tied to high-profile events. Customers assume your business is reliable and reputable if you can sponsor other organisations.
4. Efficient Lead Generation
Not only do events bring you a host of compatible customers, but they also show the human side of your business. Forming an emotional connection is half the battle of building brand loyalty. By attending in person, you can learn about customers, promote your products, and build a mailing list. Event holders typically provide data about attendees or attendance rates in advance. Do your research well, and you can plan a strategy for meeting as many people as possible.
5. Sales Goals
Along with leads, consumer events allow you to rack up sales on the spot. Picture a restaurant that sponsors a local music venue or sports team. Setting up a branded booth to feed hungry fans is an easy way to get new business. Many companies make the bulk of their purchases at trade shows, and you can quickly earn their respect as a sponsor.
6. Community Goodwill
Strengthening your business image is one of the most valuable benefits of event sponsorship. Customers love brands that care about spreading positive messages and helping the community. Linking your business to a worthy cause can draw lasting support and media attention.
7. Content Strategy
Event sponsorships provide fresh material to expand your content strategy. By connecting with the event holder on social media, you can find relevant audiences to target. When attendees share photos, quotes, videos, and blogs, you get exposure to much larger networks. User-generated content has a greater impact on customers, so make it easy for people to tag your business on social media.
8. Audience Insights
Established organisations and member associations often hand out data about the event performance. Event sponsorship is a beneficial learning experience for new and veteran business owners. After all, a roomful of great minds is better than one. You get a firsthand look at how other businesses differentiate themselves and attract customers.
9. Business Relationships
Are you in the market for new partnerships or supplier relationships? Events are great places to find non-competing businesses you can collaborate with in the future.
Small business owners are busy folks, so most are happy to share leads and cut their legwork in half. Find out what businesses are participating, and prepare pitches to introduce yourself to key players.
10. Return on Investment
Whether you plan to sell or not, events are about starting quality relationships. The goal is to leave with a list of leads to follow up on afterward. You don’t necessarily need to make a huge profit on event day, as long as you have a long-term way to leverage your investment.
The Startup Club offers your business a unique opportunity to gain visibility through our monthly events around the world.