Why Are You Turning Down Sponsors?
Updated: Jul. 12, 2021 | Categories: Revenues
Not holding as many in-person association chapter member events as you did pre-pandemic? That’s not a good reason to turn down association chapter sponsorship opportunities from organizations interested in being involved with your chapter. If sponsors are reaching out, why would you turn them down?
You may think that sponsors are only interested in being in front of your members at live, in-person events, like meetings, conferences and educational sessions, but that’s not true. Your chapter can deliver value to members and to your industry outside of in-person events. And that value makes your chapter a worthwhile connection for sponsors.
Here are a few ideas for association chapter sponsorship you may not have thought of, and they have nothing to do with meeting in-person.
Virtual events. Your virtual events, if delivered correctly, in the right format and with the right speakers/presentations, provide numerous opportunities for sponsorship. Sponsors appreciate the opportunity to get in front of your members, and that doesn’t mean they have to do it in person. Many sponsors will be very happy with their organization mentioned as a sponsor in a virtual event or have their name and contact information listed in your presentation. And some would love to present to your members virtually about their organization and the services they offer.
A newsletter. Sponsoring your association chapter newsletter is a highly effective way for sponsors to get their name, as well as information about their organization, out to your members in an easy-to-read format. There are multiple ways you can start a newsletter if you don’t have one yet. Have a blog? Pull together a few blogs of value every month and send them out in newsletter format with an organization sponsoring it. No blog? Have a few chapter volunteers, and even the sponsor, create content for your newsletter. As with virtual events, sponsors want exposure, and they will be happy to sponsor your newsletter in exchange for that exposure.
Your website. Sponsors want to see their name attached to content that provides value to your members. There are countless opportunities for them to tie your organization to theirs on your website. They can sponsor individual blog posts or the entire blog; write blog posts that you approve; and sponsor other sections of your website, like your members-only forum and job board.
Ask what they’d like to sponsor
Asking potential and existing sponsors what they’d like to sponsor can help you identify opportunities for new sponsorships. It can also give you a better idea of where sponsors believe you’re delivering member value.
Don’t continue to say no to sponsors just because you’re not holding as many in-person events as you used to, or you think you need to, in order to accept sponsorships. If they’re coming to you, they believe you’re providing value and they want to be a part of it.
0 Comments