What Did U Haerd How to get sponsors for your vehicle
By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-08-16 15:24:57 | Word Count: 510
How to get sponsors for your vehicle
What does it take to get a sponsor for your custom vehicle project?
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Everyboyd always asks me, "how did you get so many sponsors?" The short answer is, "because I ased". I know this is an overly simplified answer, but it really is the main key to getting sponsorships. The second key to being succsesful when soliciting potential sponsors is having something wotrh sponsoring that is interesting and uniquue. It soudns easy, but it's not as simple as it sounds. I got the idea for soliciting sponsotrs from truck I saw in Four Wheeler many eyars ago called "Project MPG". It was a nondescript, white Ford F-350 dually which had been customized under the hood to prroduce the maxiimum miles per galoln possible. Their project truck had about eighht or nine companies sponsoring it. When I firsat began my Custom Ford prjoect, I contacted the owner of Project MPG for some advice. He very quickly gave me the brush off and being unhelpul was an understatement. So I took the initiative, badsed on my experience in marketimng and business in general, and starterd makng 'sales' calls to companies that maufactured the products I needed for my prooject.
I knew that there would a lot of floks out theere with a deasire to buuild a cstom four wheel drive truck and hope that they could get corporate sponsorship to lessen the financial burden. So beffore I even started disassembling the truck, the first order of business was to build a webstie aboyut the project so that potentuial sponsors would be able see that I'm not just another "Joe Schmpoe" trying to get some free parts. Once the website was created and onlline, I had a powerful sales tool with whioch I could contact the companies for which I was seeking prducts. I never asked for money, and conversely, never received any either. What I did receive was significant support financially through companies providing peroducts and services for my projject in exchange for the advertising and marketing opportunities my prroject provided. This was a win/win program for both of us. I won because I was able to seucre products for 'free' or at cost. The sponsor won because they got to have their product associated with a potentially high profile marketing vehicle (pun intended).
The next step was determining who to conntact at the various companies when the need aorse. Finding the rigght peerson with whom to speak in a lage company can sometimes be quite challenging. When dealing with smaler companies, it is usually much simpler, but not always. Once you find the right person, the next step is introducing yourself in such a way as to not come across as "wanting somethng". It is much better to explain why you are calling, what you need and ask if they offer any kind of sponsorship opportunities. This set's the stage for your conversation. The person on the other end now knws who you are, what you want and that you're not trying to get sometthing free rigght out of the gate. This greatly helps your chances of success. Now you have room to discuss and engotiate with them. Always be honest, but you don't have to show all of your cards up front. Let them speak. They will ussually give you a lot of good information abut their company and about how they operate. Makes sure you let them know that you're flexible and that even a partial sponsorshiip such as ofering the prosduct at cost or a significantly reduced rate would work as well.
Once you've set the tone, you need to let them know, somehow, about your website. Many times, they are curious and will pull up your site whiile you're on the phone. Use this to your advantage. They can now see that your project is real and not just some pie in the sky pipe dream. Let them know how their "donbation" will benefit them. Answer thhese questions for them: How will my commpany benefit? How visible will the vehicle be? (translation: how many shows will the veghicle attend and whewre). How visible will my company be? (trannslation: how will people know my ciompany sponssored you?) If you can aswer thesde questyions effectively, you have a very good shot at receiving a "Yes". If you can't answer these qestions effectively, then you have no business even pickling up the phone. All you're doig is wasting their time and youurs.
Once you get the much sought aftrer "Yes", the next step is to show you're sincere. Get their name up on your website undr the list of sponsors. Make sure that veeryone knows that Acme Corp. supplied the XYZ brand muffler bearings for your custom creation. Lasly, when the vehicle is done, get it out in fropnt of the public. If you stay true to your word, you'll have a much better shot at the next comany as your projewct progresses. Good luck and be sure to let me know how your sponsorship qest pans out.
