You want to attend a blog conference but the costs are adding up and you don’t think you’ll be able to swing it. You can do one of two things, K… three things:
1) Pack it in and don’t go anywhere
2) Pay for it yourself and use it as a business write-off
and 3) Find a sponsor to pay for you to attend
Many of you reading this have already crossed out the third option in your mind with the thought, “No one would ever sponsor me” or “I’m too small (new, inexperienced, unknown… add your favourite adjective that you use to describe your blog) …
I hope this post inspires you to think differently when it comes to finding sponsorship for a blog conference.
Let’s bust a few myths first…
Myth #1 ~ You need to be The Bloggess or another big name blogger to get a sponsor.
It’s simply not true that the people who are always in the headlines, have more followers, or a bigger Klout score only get sponsored. Companies are looking for people at all levels to help promote their products and brands.
But first… you must believe in yourself before a company will believe in you!
Myth #2 ~ There are very few sponsorship opportunities available.
Canada may be a bit behind the US in the blogger outreach / social media marketing trend but if there’s $17 BILLION going towards sponsorship-advertising in the United States and they’re going through a recession… think of the untapped potential Canada has!
When thinking about who to approach, think outside the box! There are plenty of businesses, big and small, local, family owned & run businesses, brands, etc out there needing the publicity.
Don’t just approach one place, ask dozens and see who bites. You may just end up with a biding war on your hands! Wouldn’t that be cool?! 🙂
Myth #3 ~ Getting a sponsor is hard.
Well, OK, that is more true then false… unless you know what you’re doing.
Know your total budget first! Then put together an email that includes your media kit (PR) and explain to the company WHY they should invest in you and how much it’ll cost. Go door to door in your city if you need to, use the phone to call up businesses and give them your “Elevator Pitch“.
DO NOT just send out random, “I need a sponsor!” tweets or Facebook posts.
I cover more details on this subject in my “Flogging my Wares” post, which includes some of the different sponsors I’ve had.
Just like my Daddy says, “You have not because you ask not!” so if you want sponsorship to attend a blog conference this year… get asking!!
Best of Luck!!
Awesome stuff Shannon! You are always so great at helping out and have just inspired me to ramp up my efforts in getting to Dad2Summit in Houston this January!
Thanks for everything. Sincerely!
great post Shannon, I would say it is hard to get a sponorship and I have secured to full ones in the past. but it's worth the effort
Excellent post. I wonder if you could write one about how YOU have succeeded at getting sponsors.
Paula, if you click the link I included in the post, it talks about the different sponsors I've had over the years. 🙂
Thanks Shannon, found this very inspirational. I would love to hear more about what services you offered your sponsors in exchange for their sponsorship. Trying to brainstorm some options of how I could apply this to my business.
Very good post Shannon! I completely did not thing I could get sponsorship, but for the #cybher conference in June, I got a hotel sponsor! Okay, okay I still have to pay a bit, but I got the hotel at 1/5 the price it normally is WITH breakfast! And it is a 5 star hotel (wooo!) and I am so tiny. I haven't gotten the nerve to ask ppl to sponsor an entire conference for me today, but it is a start and it has me inspired!
Thanks to you and other bloggers that I've interacted with – I think my self-confidence in these matters have truly gotten better. Thank you and maybe one day I can approach sponsors to fly me across to Canada for a future Blissdom! or perhaps Blissdom could look into coming to the UK? (hint hint)
Thank-you for this! Great advice!