• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Frank J. Kenny's Chamber Pros Community

Chamber of Commerce Training and Resources.

  • Small Business Season™
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Free Resources
  • CPEd
    • Login
  • Contact

Recruiting Sponsors for Chamber Business After Hours Events

Once there was a chicken and it laid an egg or there was an egg and it became a chicken. Which is it?acquiring sponsors

Recruiting sponsors for Business After Hours events seems to be much the same story. You get amazing sponsors by hosting well-attended chamber events or you get well-attended events by having amazing sponsors host.

???

A member of the Chamber of Commerce Professionals Group on Facebook asked:

Any hints on making members more interested in hosting an After Hours mixer?

It’s easy to get sponsors if your events are already well-attended but what if they’re not?

For Sponsors, the First Word is Business

 

The sponsor wants one thing. More business.

Assuming they have to pay a sponsorship fee and pay for food, for them to see a return on investment they’ll need some significant business from the event.

What can you do to ensure they get some future business out of the event?

  • Help them market. Feature them on all of your social media channels.
  • If you use Pinterest, use their map feature to map out the locations of all of your past BAH sponsors.
  • Don’t just take pictures of the event, take pictures of the food. Use descriptive words about the ambiance of the location (if appropriate).
  • After the event, post about a dinner you had there or takeout you purchased.
  • See if they’re willing to offer a special on dinners that night (in case people decide to stay after the mixer) or at a later date.
  • Recruit people to attend the mixer. It not only helps the chamber, your sponsor will appreciate it as well.
  • Thank the sponsor publically over and over. Others will see this and want the same attention.
  • Promote them on your website when mentioning the event. Highlight their signature dish in a funny or memorable way. It will refresh previous customers’ memories and get potential new ones thinking about it. For instance, “This month’s BAH event will be held at Ruby’s, home of the mouth-watering Double-Decker Club. Mmmm bacon.”
  • Mention them in your newsletter as well and ask members to tell them “the chamber sent me.”
  • If the sponsor has catering or takeout, make menus available at the door or in the event.

In addition to marketing the sponsors you have, doing the following will help you get more chamber event sponsors:

  • Provide testimonials from other sponsors so potential sponsors can see the advantage to their business.
  • Make an announcement at events asking for sponsors. Use a sense of urgency. “These spots fill up fast so…”
  • Treat your current sponsors so well and be so publically appreciative that others will see your actions and want to be a part of it as well.

Recruiting sponsors becomes easier once you have well-attended events so concentrating your efforts in recruiting for these will pay off in the long run.

How do you recruit sponsors?

 

Guest post by Christina Green

Image via Flickr by Thomas Vlerick

Related Chamber Articles

2023 5-Day Engagement Challenge

Join us for the 2023 5-Day Chamber Pros Social Media Engagement Challenge. Go to to enroll. It's free!

Grab a time on Frank's calendar.

Search (1,500+ Articles)

Get the Chamber Pros Community ENewsletter. 7,247 subscribers. Don’t be left out. It’s FREE.

Let us make your life easier…

Explore these new posts

  • Membership Sales: How to Answer “But What Have You Done for Me Lately?”
  • What I Wish I’d Known as a New Chamber President or CEO
  • Tiered Dues Structure: 9 “Must Dos” for Chambers
  • Why Chamber Pros Should Set New Year’s Resolutions – Even if You Hate Them
  • 6 Best Businesses for the Final Week of Small Business Season
  • 51 Small Business Season Social Media Post Ideas
  • How to Use Hallmark Christmas Movie Magic During Small Business Season
  • 3 Big Ways to Help Small Business Members Have a Big December
  • Support Shop Local or Shop Small? How to Do Both

Archives

Our Authors

Frank Kenny is a successful entrepreneur, chamber member, chamber board member, chamber board of directors chair, and chamber President/CEO. He now coaches chamber professionals, consults with chambers, trains staff and members, and speaks professionally. He helps Chambers and Chamber Professionals reach their goals. See full bio.

Christina R. Green teaches chambers, associations and small businesses how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular guest blogger on this site and Event Managers Blog. Christina is just your average bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere.Visit her site or connect with her on Twitter @christinagsmith.
Faculty Member:

Institute for Organization Management

W.A.C.E. Academy

Chamber Pros Online Conference

WACE
ACCE

Testimonials

“This workshop was a major success and the attendees loved it.” -Mark Sturdevant, President/CEO La Habra Chamber Testimonials

Legal

Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2023 · WordPress · Log in