Kate Dodd is the Marketing Manager for Expo Logic. With ten years of conference marketing experience and a BA in Marketing from Pennsylvania State University, Kate specializes in creating company-wide marketing initiatives for events, products and services.
Event professionals know all too well the pressure to increase revenue each year. Budgets get tighter, costs are cut and yet the attendee experience is expected to improve – and so is attendance!
So how do organizers balance this list of competing priorities while still increasing event revenue?
One solution is to find additional revenue where no one is looking.
For instance, by adding a few creative sponsorships, you can generate extra revenue without compromising the attendee experience. These kinds of sponsorships can fund other aspects of your meeting which you would not be able to afford otherwise. Just think of the keynote speakers, receptions and outings you could schedule if you had some extra funds!
If this has your wheels turning, then perhaps you should give these sponsorships a try:
Badge Sponsorships
This one is straightforward and simple. By adding a sponsorship logo to each attendee badge, you can sell a “badge sponsorship.” Implementing this is easy and can be done when the badges are printed. No extra work required! All that’s needed is the sponsoring company’s logo.
You can even have multiple badge sponsors if each sponsor wants to target a different segment of registrants. For instance, at a Solar Panel Conference, one sponsor may want to advertise only on the badges of “solar panel engineers” while another sponsor may want to advertise on the badges of “solar panel sales executives.” This allows you to charge more than one sponsorship fee.
Self-Check-in Kiosk Sponsorship
Adding self-check-in kiosks to your on-site registration can dramatically improve the attendee experience by expediting the check-in process and reducing or eliminating lines. This is also a great place to offer a sponsorship. On each kiosk screen, you can highlight a sponsor using the sponsor’s logo and/or text saying something like “(Company Name) is the Official (Kiosk) Sponsor of the (Name of Event).”
Registration Check-in Screen Frames Sponsorship
Our clients came up with this one and we think it’s pretty creative! By adding a foam frame around each check-in screen, you can sell a screen frame sponsorship. Allow your sponsor to design the graphics and message for the kiosk and then have the frames made at a local printer or office supply store.
Lanyard Sponsorship
Lanyard sponsorships offer companies exposure to all your conference attendees. By offering a lanyard sponsorship, you can offset the costs of the lanyards and add extra revenue to your bottom line.
WiFi Sponsorship
Attendees love free wifi and if you need help covering the cost, create a wifi sponsorship. Print an extra ticket out with attendee badges that advertise the wifi network and password. Include the sponsorship logo and the company’s website.
Charging Station
Many people run out of battery power on their phone or device while attending a conference. Help your attendees out by placing charging stations in and around your conference session rooms and the exhibit hall. Each charging station can be branded by a sponsor. By offering charging stations, your attendees will know you care about their needs and you will make money doing it.
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