Recently I received a couple of emails from anglers who are achieving sponsorship success. More than likely youll read their names in upcoming Sponsorship Newsletters if you are a subscriber. If youre not yet a subscriber you can sign up for free at http://www.FishingSponsorship.com
Now, back to the reason for this communication Sponsorship can be achieved but you have got to be prepared. And I dont necessarily mean prepared to be sponsored. I mean youve got to be prepared to show your sponsor exactly how you can and will benefit them.
Its almost impossible for me to convey to you, the reader, exactly how much better your chances are if you come in P-R-E-P-A-R-E-D when you discuss sponsorship options.
Let me see if I can relate this to bass fishing. Hmmmmmmm Lets say you have a tournament and in preparation for the tournament you do absolutely nothing. You dont: check your plastics to see if you need more, you dont check your hooks to see if theyre good and sharp, you dont change your line if it hasnt been done in the last month, you dont check anything in your tackle box, and so on. You get the picture.
If that is how you approached fishing a tournament, challenges would arise during the event that would definitely hinder your chances of fishing successfully, let alone standing a snow balls chance in you-know-where to succeed.
Prepare. Form a proposal of what you can offer to your sponsor. First youll need to do your homework and find out what it is they want to accomplish with their business model: exposure and market share and/or prospect accumulation and attraction.
Dont know what you have to offer? Polish up on your marketing read Guerilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson. Then read Positioning: The Battle For Your Mind by Jack Trout & Al Ries. (Not very exciting reading, but itll make a difference in your offerings to sponsors).
In order to have a shot at landing cash paying sponsors you are going to have to pull out a tab of paper and start writing down the avenues for marketing and advertising you can bring to a business. Believe me, Im not trying to twist your arm here, but its not all that difficult.
Then when you have your notes and thoughts and ideas written down, let someone else make them look pretty. Have a professional proofread, edit, rearrange and prepare it so it looks professional. When youre ready for that next step, let me know and Ill point you in the direction of a professional to make your proposal the best it can be.
Bottom line: You must prepare in order to get sponsored.
Scott Rauber
Author:
www.fishforfree.com
