With the growing shift from in-person events to virtual ones, finding the best online sponsorship approach is always a common question for organizers.
In 2020, a LinkedIn survey found that 85% of B2B event organizers ran webinars, talks, and other online events.
As a result, the number of organizers focused exclusively on virtual events grew eightfold.
Even more, for most of the 200 organizers surveyed, ROI — a metric based on return on investment — turned out even higher than for in-person events.
So, many people might be wondering how to bring that kind of growth to their own event too.
With that in mind, we’ve put together 5 tips for organizers who want to move into virtual events and offer the best online sponsorship experience.
Do you already know all the possibilities? In this blog post, we’ll cover:
- Why online events are valuable to sponsors;
- 5 online sponsorship tips for your event;
- Free online sponsorship features on Even3;
- 3 strategies used by Sobratafe to attract more sponsors.
Why Are Online Events Valuable to Sponsors?
First, before diving into the tips, organizers need to understand and be able to communicate the value of their event.
After all, this will make a big difference when pitching proposals to potential sponsors.
So it’s important to align expectations!
In other words, don’t forget to study the market carefully and look for sponsors who are a good fit for events like yours.
Then, it’s time to communicate clearly and explain how your event can help sponsors reach their goals.
At this point, it’s essential to highlight the advantages online events can offer, such as:
More Brand Awareness
Have you thought about the possibilities for reinforcing your sponsor’s brand at online events?
Brand awareness techniques carry a lot of weight online, and it’s time to bring that into events too!
So, show sponsors the different ways they can be featured at your event, whether through emails, graphic materials, social media, videos, an online booth, apps, and much more!
Lead Generation
Another big advantage of online events is that you can use them to generate leads.
After all, the data generated at events gives us powerful insights. So it’s time to make the most of it!
During registration, you can collect the most valuable information about attendees.
But of course, don’t forget to be fully transparent, avoid overreaching, and, above all, pay close attention to your local data protection regulations.
Afterward, you can nurture those leads with email marketing, valuable materials from your sponsors, and meaningful interactions.
Bigger Audience and Engagement
Speaking of interactions, events in general are always a way for sponsors to get closer to and connect with new people.
In this sense, an online event can expand that experience even further, since it doesn’t require travel and typically has a wider reach than in-person events.
So, you can show your sponsor the value they can get from sponsored sessions, presentations during event breaks, and moments of interaction with attendees.
But how do you put all this into practice? Let’s give you some tips!
5 Ways to Explore Online Sponsorship at Your Virtual Event
1. Show the Logos Everywhere!
At first, showcasing sponsor branding isn’t anything new for anyone already used to banners, giveaways, and printed materials.
But where do you showcase a sponsor’s brand now that we’re online?
While this is a common question and concern for sponsors, digital possibilities expand things even further, with options like:
- On the event website;
- In emails to attendees;
- On the event’s main broadcast screen;
- On social media.
Beyond these options, on Even3 you can also use the event website’s store to combine ticket sales with exclusive items and sponsor branding.
Remember that event t-shirt everyone loves? Or the books and educational materials that are so important for keeping the learning going? You can keep offering all of that while expanding the possibilities for sponsors and attendees alike.
This way, you innovate by combining the digital experience with something everyone loves about in-person events: the swag!
2. Use the Event App as Your Ally
For a while now, talking about online events has always meant thinking about app technology.
That’s because apps were already a trend at in-person events and grew even more as online events increased, along with their demand for even more interaction and an immersive experience.
So this technology is great for attendee networking, but how do you use apps with sponsors? We’ve put together some ideas for you!
In the Menu
First, the tip is to use the app’s own interface to dedicate a special section to sponsors.
This way, your attendees can access a kind of virtual booth that can be enhanced with descriptions, videos, and even exclusive sponsor offers.
On the Opening Screen
Another important tip is to display sponsor branding right on the app’s first screen, known as the splash screen.
Typically, that’s the screen where we see images or logos. This gives sponsors another opportunity for visibility, while also reinforcing their presence throughout the attendee’s virtual journey.
With Special Offers
Finally, app notifications can also be an important channel for promoting sponsors’ special offers.
But remember not to overdo it, okay? It’s best for offers to make sense for the attendee profile and deliver real value, like demos or discount coupons for the event.
In addition, any discount or advertising practice should follow your local advertising self-regulation guidelines.
This way, sponsors can capture more qualified leads through your event.
Since apps aren’t a viable solution for everyone, you might be wondering if there are other ways to promote a sponsor. And we have more suggestions!
3. Recorded Videos: A Powerful Tool for Sponsors
A much simpler and more practical alternative for showcasing sponsors is to use recorded and edited video content.
Since this material is recorded in advance, you can add sponsor logos, an opening bumper featuring the sponsor, short commercials in the middle of the broadcast, and even branded banners in the lower third.
In this case, your main effort will be video editing, along with, of course, thinking through the strategy that makes the most sense for your attendees, sponsors, and event overall.
After all, investing in bad advertising at the wrong time — like commercials unrelated to the video’s content and without a heads-up — will hurt both you and your sponsors.
Ultimately, the recorded video option is extremely valuable because it:
- Reduces the chance of errors and unexpected issues;
- Can be offered “on demand,” staying available longer for attendees who couldn’t watch live or want to rewatch it;
- Can be sold as a product after the event;
- As a result, keeps sponsor branding visible for longer and seen more times.
4. Offer Demos as an Online Sponsorship Option
Another way to show your sponsor your event’s value is to suggest creative, practical online sponsorship ideas, such as demos.
In this format, the sponsor gets a spot in your program, in emails, or even in the app to offer a free trial of their products or services.
After all, everyone loves free stuff, right? And it gets even better when it’s exclusive to event attendees!
This way, it’s also an opportunity for sponsors to capture leads, while you, as the organizer, ensure a unique experience.
5. Deliver Educational Materials
You’ve probably already noticed that delivering valuable content is a great opportunity for online sponsorship, and educational materials are one of the best bets in this space!
That’s because your attendees are likely looking for knowledge, and in this case, both you and the sponsor are stepping in to meet that demand.
This way, good educational material supports your event’s goal while also helping other people, opening the door for them to get to know and trust the sponsoring brands even more.
So, if it makes sense for your event and your sponsors, it’s time to offer educational materials at your event.
Online Sponsorship on Even3: Two Free Features for Your Event
1. Special Discount Codes
Besides all the alternatives already discussed, on the Even3 platform, organizers who create a free event can count on many features that set online events apart.
Among them, the ability to create discount coupons with custom codes is a great form of online sponsorship.
In this case, the sponsor can create special discount coupons with promo codes featuring the brand’s name, for example.
This is a great way to draw attendees closer to your sponsors.
2. Online Booths in Your Event’s Broadcast
Finally, Even3 launched a free solution for online sponsorship: the ability to customize the event’s broadcast area and add a dedicated section for sponsors.
Now, in addition to the traditional tabs with broadcast information and the full event schedule, organizers can add online sponsor booths with rich, detailed information about each sponsor.
This is a major differentiator when it comes to landing sponsorships for your event. After all, it gives sponsors:
- A prime, highly visible spot within the event’s broadcast;
- The ability to customize it with the best information about the product or service they offer, including demos.
So, a good tip is to highlight Even3’s differentiators right from the sponsorship pitch, just like Sobratafe did. Have you heard their story?
3 Strategies Sobratafe Used to Attract More Sponsors
The Jornada Paulista Sobratafe was already in its fifth edition when it held its first fully online event.
With the move to digital, the event’s organizers, a global reference in wound care, now had the mission of showing sponsors that Sobratafe wouldn’t lose its value.
To do this, they adopted a few strategies and made the most of several features offered by the Even3 platform to attract sponsors, such as:
Opening Bumper and Extra Sponsor Videos
Remember our tip about recorded video? Sobratafe’s organizers knew how to make the most of it!
Every piece of recorded content shown during the Jornada Sobratafe had an opening and closing bumper. In the bumper, sponsoring companies’ logos were displayed.
In addition, sponsors who wanted more visibility throughout the content could also pay for extra videos to be shown across the program.
Finally, all content stayed available for 3 months for every attendee.
Notifications as a Value Tool for Sponsorships
Another great insight from Sobratafe was using our notifications feature.
As the name suggests, the platform lets you notify registrants about information, news, or updates related to your event.
You can even use this feature as a value and differentiation tool to land sponsorships, since it offers sponsors countless possibilities, as Maristela explains:
“The notifications feature is fantastic. It’s a direct channel to registrants. You can invite attendees to your talk, share more information about your product — they loved it!” – Maristela Rizzo.
Discount Coupons
Finally, the Jornada Sobratafe also embraced discount coupons!
The organizers used this feature to secure support and sponsors, while also driving more registrations. And, of course, it all worked out great!
For them, Even3’s support and our tutorials were essential to making the event a success.
With our intuitive platform, creating an event is simple, fast, and free. But of course, with so many features available, our team is always ready to help you build the best possible event. Get started now!
