How to Get Your Sponsors to Pay for Your Event App

February 27, 2018

Wojciech Czajkowski

Wojciech Czajkowski is a marketing manager at Meeting Application. An experienced operations manager and entrepreneur, he has collaborated with brands including Intel, Cisco, T-Mobile and Orange.

Quite often event organizers struggle with tight budgets and see getting an event app as a luxury they cannot afford. “This year we can’t make it, our budget has been approved and closed” or “We don’t have the budget for it this year” or “Maybe next year.”

Any of those sound familiar? If you’re an event organizer, you probably have said those things more than once in your life and indeed those are perfectly understandable statements. However, in this post, we’ll try to present this issue from a bit of a different perspective.

Getting an event app doesn’t have to be a cost at all. It can and is a benefit that adds tremendous value to your event – first, by providing your guests with a useful tool and second, by giving your sponsors much better exposure.

Exposure is the key part of the equation. If you manage to convince your sponsors that an event app equals better exposure, they will be more than happy to pay for it and you won’t have to worry about your budget again.

Event sponsorship is all about exposure and event apps are the most powerful tool in this game. That’s why this article will focus mainly on all the different ways in which you can increase your sponsors’ exposure at your event.

Recognize Your Sponsors

The classic sponsorship package terminology is so vague that people don’t really care. What difference does it make if you are a gold, platinum or a strategic sponsor? Do the visitors really see any difference between those categories?

Do they recognize the value of your sponsorship? Probably, not. When they look at the huge logos on the sponsors wall all they’ll be thinking is “Oh, they must have paid a ton of money for that title!” or “They must have been the one who has put the most money on the table.”

It’s a completely different story when you become the Event App Sponsor.

“That’s nice, they’ve paid for this cool app which really makes getting around a whole lot easier!” This is the reaction you can expect. Which group would your sponsor rather be in?

Let Sponsors Speak to Your Audience – 100%

One hundred percent? Now, we’re talking exposure, right?

Event apps offer new exciting possibilities of reaching your audiences. You can really offer a 100 percent exposure to your sponsors. All you have to do is use the built-in PUSH notifications, which your sponsors can use in so many different ways.

They can send a reminder about a workshop they are hosting, inform about a special offer they have prepared or invite everyone to their stand. You can even help your sponsors collect leads by creating surveys inside the app which are triggered when a PUSH notification is received.

Don’t forget about beacons, which in the last couple of years have become more and more popular, especially at trade fairs. Those small transmitters will send you a notification whenever you are close to your sponsor’s stand.

Give Them the Numbers

Traditional sponsorship packages offer exposure without numbers and glitter without substance. Apart from providing your attendees with a useful tool, your sponsors will also be able to accurately measure their exposure.

Complex analytics offered by event apps allow them to know exactly how many visitors were reached by their push notifications, have seen their logo on the ad banner or visited their profile in the sponsors section.

All of those things are not only unavailable in the traditional sponsorship packages but also impossible.

Add a Cherry on Top

Using an event app allows you to satisfy your sponsors and give them exposure in a variety of ways. Previously I’ve mentioned some of the bigger and more popular ones (e.g. ad banners, PUSH notifications, beacons and sponsor’s profile), but there are many, many more:

  • Make your sponsor’s logo a part of the event logo in your app
  • Give them a separate component. They can use it to present their brand, advertise the latest products or even publicize their recent CSR activities
  • Allow them to upload their photos and videos into the gallery. Those can be photos from their office (if they are focused on employer branding) or videos from their company’s YouTube channel.
  • Organize a contest. Your sponsor can prepare a quiz and place it right in the app, collect the answers and reward the top participants with gifts.
  • Organize a photo contest. Use the built-in photo booth functionality and organize a contest for the best photo. Your sponsors can add custom photo overlays with their message or logo.

These are just some of the things you can do. If you need more ideas, drop us a line in the comment section or write us a message on our chat.

​​​​​

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact