Proven Ways to Incorporate Sponsors At Virtual Events

Sponsors are a great way to generate revenue for virtual events. However, gaining virtual event sponsors might present a challenge.

During a recent survey, 36% of businesses said securing sponsors was an area of concern.

Why Virtual Event Sponsorship Is A Challenge

Many businesses are familiar with incorporating sponsors at in-person events, but virtual events are a different game.

With no in-person signage, posters, giveaways, or lounges, virtual events appear to provide fewer chances for sponsor visibility.

This can scare away potential sponsors as they feel their investment won't be worth it.

What You Can Do

They might appear to lack opportunities, but virtual events have plenty of ways to incorporate sponsors. You just need to know where to look.

One of the main reasons businesses sponsor events is to increase their brand awareness. By learning how to highlight your sponsors throughout your event, you show potential sponsors that their investment will be worth it.

In this article, we take a look at different ways you can highlight sponsors before, during, and after your virtual event.

Feature Sponsors BEFORE The Event

Don't wait until event day to highlight your sponsors. Take advantage of the multiple ways to include sponsors in your event promotion.

1. Via Emails and Social Media

Include sponsor logos, messages, and offers in your pre-event emails. This reinforces their contribution to your event. Create social media posts that feature your sponsors through event countdowns, links to special content, and tags to the sponsor's social media page.

2. On Your Event Website

Display sponsor logos prominently on your event website and registration page. Create a dedicated sponsor page on your event website to highlight your sponsors and show their importance to your event.

3. Through Invitations From Sponsors

Allow sponsors to send personalized invitations to their clients or network. Sponsors benefit by keeping communication open with their clients, and you benefit as your event promotion skyrockets through your sponsors.

Highlight Sponsors DURING The Event

1. Sprinkle Branding Throughout

Show sponsors that their contribution wasn't wasted by including their logo when possible:

• During Breaks or Transitions - Feature sponsor logos or even short promotional videos during breaks or transitions between sessions.
• Through Gamification - Incorporate sponsor branding into event games, challenges, or leaderboards, even offering sponsor-provided prizes to winners.

2. Sponsor Acknowledgments

Simply acknowledging your sponsors throughout the event is a great way to highlight them:

• Opening and Closing Remarks - Mention and thank sponsors during the event's opening and closing sessions.
• Session Introductions - If your sponsor's support relates to a specific session, begin that segment with a sponsor acknowledgment.

3. Event App Integration

• Push Notifications: Send push notifications featuring sponsor messages, reminders, or special offers throughout the event.
• Sponsor Profiles: Include detailed sponsor profiles within the event app, with links to their websites, contact information, and any special offers.

4. Get Sponsors Involved

If it fits into the agenda, involve sponsors on event day with:

• Sponsor Booths: Set up virtual exhibitor booths where sponsors can display their products.
• Interactive Demos: Allow sponsors to host live or pre-recorded demonstrations.
• Sponsor-Led Sessions: Allow sponsors to host their own sessions, such as workshops, panels, or demonstrations.

Keep Sponsors In The Picture AFTER The Event

1. Digital Swag Bags

When designing your digital swag bags keep your sponsors in mind. Include sponsor discounts and exclusive content like promotional codes, eBooks, whitepapers, and video tutorials.

2. Recaps and Recordings

• Publish blog articles that recap the event with mentions of sponsor involvement.
• Share post-event social media content with shoutouts to sponsors.
• Include sponsor logos or messages in on-demand videos of the event.

3. Incentivized Surveys

Give attendees a little push to participate in post-event surveys with sponsor-branded prizes.

They Won't Regret It

Virtual events don't offer fewer opportunities for sponsor visibility, they simply offer different opportunities. Stay alert to any opportunity to take advantage of the unique ways to incorporate your sponsors before, during, and after the event.

Our many years in the field gives us the experience to answer those questions and more. We've seen everything there is to see and we know what makes an event worth sponsoring.

Will you let us help you put on a high-quality virtual event? Let's have a free conversation to discuss what you can do to put on an event that you're proud to showcase and your sponsors are grateful to be a part of.