5 Strategies to Secure Event Sponsorships

Hello, EastPro Friends!

Are you already familiar with organizing events or considered “event person”? If you are so, you certainly know that sponsorships are a must, especially for larger events. Sponsors play a vital role in making an event happen. But landing the right sponsor isn’t easy, especially if you’re targeting top brands popular with Gen Z and millennials.

Whether you’re a professional event organizer or just starting out, it’s essential to know the strategies for securing sponsorships that will support your event’s success. So, here are 5 strategies for attracting top brands to sponsor your event. Stay tuned!

Quick Guide to Event Sponsorships

Sponsorship is a collaboration between an event organizer and a third party, usually a company or brand, that provides support in a mutually beneficial marketing sponsorship or a donation where the sponsor expects no return.

Sponsorship can be in the form of funds, goods (in-kind sponsorship), services, or promotional media in which the sponsor covers the cost of event promotion. Aside from attracting cool brands, financial support is the most common goal of event sponsorship. Sponsors can gain exposure through logo placement across event media, a sponsor booth, event ad-libs, social media exposure, and more.

Event sponsorship categories are often based on the level of financial support. For example, some events may have categories like Exclusive Sponsor, which covers the entire event cost, or Main Sponsor, which covers more than 50%. Other common types are general sponsors, technical sponsors, and participation sponsors.

5 Strategies to Secure Event Sponsorships

Securing an event sponsor is about more than financial support, it adds value to your event. Plus, getting backing from top brands boosts your event’s credibility, making it more appealing to audiences who see big-name brands associated with it. Here’s how to do it! 

1. Identify Suitable Brand Target

Before sending out proposals, identify brands that align with your event. Research their vision and mission, target customers, their needs, and see what you can provide for them. Select brands that match your event’s concept and audience. For instance, for a youth-oriented festival, consider lifestyle or trendy brands that resonate with a young audience. Look for brands with a creative and youthful vibe. 

2. Create an Irresistible Proposal

The next step is crafting a sponsorship proposal that stands out! A strong proposal should be clear, concise, and engaging, detailing the event and target audience. Highlight the benefits sponsors will gain by supporting your event and consider including a success story from past events.

Add high-quality visuals for a professional touch. Aim for an attractive, easy-to-read layout, and inject some urgency by including a deadline for sponsor confirmation. This encourages a quicker response.

3. Offer a Collaborative Experience

Your proposal should make the benefits clear, so that sponsors can already see how profitable it is for them. Make sure you go beyond basic logo placement. Create value by suggesting fun collaborations, like interactive booths, joint digital content, or exclusive giveaways for attendees.

Cool brands targeting younger audiences are usually flexible and open to collaboration. In this way, sponsors become part of the excitement of the event. This approach is beneficial to both parties, strengthening the partnership and open up opportunities in collaboration for the future events.

4. Send Proposals at the Right Time

Timing is key! Send your proposals between 8:00 - 10:00 AM when people are starting their day with fresh energy, increasing the chance your proposal will be read. Use an engaging subject line, keep the email concise but informative and avoid sending overly large files.

5. Follow Up and Don’t Give Up

Don’t stop at just sending the proposal, but consistent follow-up is crucial. After the initial email, check in to confirm receipt and ask if there are questions. Wait for a response (typically within 7-14 business days), and follow up regularly until there’s a decision. Once a brand expresses interest, prepare a solid presentation.

Event Collaboration with EastPro Event Organizer

Sponsors are essential for covering high production costs and broadening event promotion. However, it’s difficult to attract well-known brands without an exceptional event. In addition to these five strategies, you need a creative, unique, and appealing event concept with a strong unique selling point.

If you’re aiming to host an exceptional with top-tier brand sponsors, consider collaborating with EastPro Event Organizer. From music festivals to corporate events, EastPro’s creative team will design a concept that catches the eye of sponsors. EastPro is the best event organizer and MICE event organizer expert with experience in handling corporate and MICE events for various companies. Surely EastPro is a MICE event organizer expert that you can rely on and can be your “event alliance” every step of the way!