How do I find sponsors for my business conference?
I am hosting an entrepreneurship conference that will host over 300 entrepreneurs, investors, students, and corporations. I am looking for sponsors interested in targeting this demographic. Is there an efficient way to go about finding and closing these partner deals?
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Feb 3, 2014
Josh, can you send me more information on this event? I'd like to learn more about it! Feel free to contact me at sarah@ican-global.com.
Feb 1, 2014
Because this is a business conference I assume that you are providing useful, timely and relevant information that will add value to the attendees.
Why are you not just straight out charging to attend the event ?
If you can work out what the added value is to attendees over the next 12 months you can then safely charge them 10% of that.
For instance if I can show you a way to add $100,000 to your business over the next 12 months will you pay me $10,000 to teach it to you?
Savvy business owners will bite your arm off IF you can prove your claims.
If you can't then why are you running the conference?
Hope this helps,
Mike Noone
Jan 31, 2014
I apologize if this sounds glib but I'd refer to basic sales training. There is no difference selling sponsors on a conference than selling widgets to a manufacturer. There's no shortcuts, you need to follow a quality selling process, the rest is just details...
Jan 30, 2014
You can try VC's, usually they are the money makers from startups, and it services both ways. Also you can try to receive it from the chief scientist. Universities are also targets while they send their students.
Jan 30, 2014
Make a list of potential sponsors. Chose the ones who are most interested in your audience. Those are their target audience too.
Jan 30, 2014
What you're looking for are service providers, especially people with "free to start" solutions. CRMs, CMSs, Accounting Software, etc.
You may also want to think about recruiting people like me (strategy consultants). Or coaches, etc.
Also, consider hitting up some of the A-list schools that are getting into start-up and entrepreneur classes.
Jan 30, 2014
A sponsor has to have a reasson to BE a sponsor at the conference so one question to ask is, 'What can you offer a sponsor to induce them to be a sponsor?' What advantagte would there be for a sponsor to so act?
Once you have that question answered you will have something to offer and then marketing and promoting the conference with that in mind would become the order of the day.
Jan 30, 2014
There are many potential sponsors depending upon where you are located. Typically, accounting firms, some banks, legal firms, and other organizations that serve the entrepreneurial community are targets. Sometimes universities with entrepreneurship programs get involved in these type of conferences. For example, I am part of the regional entreprenurial activities where I live and I participate in many of these events as a moderator, speaker, and advisor.
Jan 30, 2014
Good question. I would consider some of the online educational companies that offer business and entrepreneurial classes as well as local universities. Both groups might enjoy the affiliation with your event and the ability to reach people who understand the benefit of continuing education. If things work well you may even be able to sign them up for long-term sponsorship.