Level Up Your Event Marketing by Becoming a Sponsor!

Marketing strategies and plans come in many different shapes and sizes. There is the traditional print marketing we all relied on as our marketing mainstay in days gone by; and often still included in many marketing plans in one way or another. Then there is online marketing. And more specifically, social media marketing; a very successful strategy widely used by most online businesses today.

You can also add online and off-line (in-person) networking to the marketing mix. Online networking is done every day via social media and forums and other online venues like Facebook or LinkedIn groups. Off-line networking can be something as simple as getting together with a business connection or prospective client for a cup of coffee, a Chamber or BNI meeting. Or on a much larger scale, by attending a conference or other big event.

While attending a large event where you can mingle and network with the speakers and other attendees is a great way to introduce your business to others in a very up close and personal way, there is something else you can do to take it up a couple of notches and put yourself in a situation where you’re not dependent on the networking Gods shining down upon you, but instead, positioning yourself in a way the other attendees come directly to you because they want to know more about your business. It’s called event sponsorship!

Become an event sponsor to market your business one on one to those who are attracted to your business and want to know more about what you do.

Sponsoring an event gives you so many more opportunities to market your business than simply attending the event. Your logo is on display and your company is mentioned on the website and in the program directory if there is one. Sponsors have the added benefit of having an  exhibit table where they can show off their businesses with give-aways and brochures and other cool stuff on their table to entice people to stop by and take a closer look at what they do and who they are. And the cool thing is, you don’t have to seek them out and bring up the conversation … they come to you because they want to know more!

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In fact, I’m going to be sponsoring two events over the next few months. The first one is the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) Conference in Edmonton, CA December 4-6. The 2nd one is Tish Time’s Unstoppable Confidence Networking Conference in Phoenix January 4-6. I’ve got my business cards of course. And I’ve got some really nice branded pens and lots of branded post-it notes to give away, one-sheet brochures, and a vinyl banner for the front of my exhibit table. I also just ordered a way cool retractable banner display to attract attendees to my table. I’m excited about getting out there and meeting all of the attendees, speakers and other sponsors, and letting them all know more about how we help professional speakers and coaches turn time into money.

The next time there is an event you want to attend and you know your target market and ideal clients will be there … check out the options for becoming a sponsor! And, if you’re at either of the two events I’m attending in December and January … please do stop by and say hello!

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