How to engage sponsors at your virtual event

Virtual event sponsorships can help turn your online event into a success. However, the digital nature of virtual events may make it more challenging to engage your sponsors. You need to ensure they feel like a valuable part of your big day to earn event sponsorship revenue. Use these ideas to keep your potential sponsors excited at your event.

1. Offer sponsors the virtual microphone

Giving sponsors an active role in your virtual event provides a chance for them to connect with your audience. You don’t have to surrender the microphone for long, though. Let them briefly:

• Introduce the next guest.
• Explain why they support your organization.
• Issue a fundraising challenge to your guests.

For whatever reason you hand over the stage, it will be memorable and fun for your many virtual guests to see your sponsor speaking.

2. Let your sponsors film a toast

One fantastic aspect of virtual events is that you can tape things in advance to air during the program. This enhances rather than takes away from the production value and shines a spotlight on your sponsors. Invite them to film a toast to your organization, cause or featured guest that you can play during the event. This gives sponsors a welcome platform and allows them to verbalize why they support you.

3. Add wallpaper and logos to your breakout rooms

Does your virtual event have breakout rooms where guests can interact or learn more about a particular subject? Take advantage of the branding opportunity. You can put up wallpaper and logos on the screen to give each breakout room a distinctive feel and spread your sponsor’s message further.

4. Put your sponsor in the room where it happens

Does your speaker have a podium in the room you film in? Plaster your sponsors’ logos on it. Are your moderators sitting behind laptops while they lead discussions? List your sponsors on the computer’s cover. Is there a curtain behind your speaker? Turn it into a billboard for your sponsors. Use any extra space as a promotional inventory.

5. Focus bonus content on your sponsor

Give your sponsor a chance to shine with a special breakout room focused on their unique content. Ideas may include:

• An “ask-me-anything” presentation where participants can ask questions related to the sponsor’s industry.
• An appearance by a local celebrity where the sponsor conducts the interview.
• A game that encompasses information presented during the event.

6. Film ads for the post-event video

Many virtual events send out a video of the highlights afterward. Allow your sponsors to create ads to air before, during and after the content, giving them a more prominent position in the day’s footage.

Turn to GiveSmart for Virtual Event Sponsorship Help

GiveSmart’s software can help you raise more money while focusing on your virtual event and guests. If you want to learn more about event sponsorships and how to generate revenue, join us for our upcoming webinar on fostering sponsor relationships.