How to select the correct sponsor for you?

Weather you’re the local Boys and Girl club or the next number one draft pick preparing for the professional level of your sport, beware of your agent sending out generic sponsorship packages that are lacking strategic alliances.

In the past corporate marketing and advertising departments were unable to quantify the value of sponsorship packages they were asked to participate in, they were given the sky the limit pitch for providing a check for the event. That is no longer the case, advertiser have learned to calculate the value of the marketing and able to determine the rate of return for each sponsorship campaign.


What's your strategy?
Strategic alliances are something that is over looked on both sides of the campaign. Both must do their homework and research to consider the lifestyle, target consumer, emotional connection, but more importantly, what is the impact their market share. The main questions are how do you know if it’s the correct fit.

Before the sponsorship package reaches the potential client, the brand value must match and meet the value of all parties connected with the project. The athlete must have complete by in and have corporate loyalty for maximum results. Is this a product that the athlete will use if he does not receive any benefit or compensation?


Blue Print to Activate Plan
From a corporate perspective, the opportunities to build a stronger brand alliance value with the event or athlete they are partnering with. Linking or collaborating brands can be brilliant or it may show a flaw and misconception to the target consumer. Prior to any contract signed, corporate analyst review the economic cost and effective measured by increased sales, additional exposure and over all brand achievement.

Entertainment marketing has evolved to a detailed scientist research database of reliable information of do’s and don’t. IEG sports sponsorship report provides audience research newsletter discussing everything from sponsorship strategies, selling points, associations and who is seeking deals. IEG sponsorship content is subdivided into industries, property types and sponsorship topics. As a novice, you can now speak the same language as professional advertising marketers and branding companies. Consider this the equivalent as the, Internal Revenue Code book used by the IRS. A subscription is just a click away!

Should Professional Athletes be paid for participating in the Olympics?

In recent weeks there have been a major controvesy over professional athletes being paid for participating in the Olympic games. The Ray Allen and Dwyane Wade interview with reporters agreeing that NBA players should be compensated for giving up there summer vacation.
Most Americans are upset with the Miami Heat star for not being considerate of the economic woe’s that most americans are feeling these days. The compensation that is provided for the players bring home the gold is, $25k per player, free promotion and advertising that leads to additional endorsement and the opportunity to go down in history as the 2012 gold medal winner.

Ever since the US Olympic committee were allowed to include professionals in Olympic basketball there has been a fear of players putting money before the game or country. In the early years the Olympic basketball team were decided by the US olympic committee selecting the coaches and the coaches inviting the best college players to tryout for the team and represent America.

My memory of the 1972 USA Olympic basketball team against the then, Soviet Union. The championship game with three seconds remaining, Doug Collins made two free throws to put the americas in the lead by one point. The Soviet’s were given three chances to win the game with one after another, do overs. After the third attemp the Soviet’s won as time expiered. That was the one final moment the sealed BASKETBALL and USA, synonyms in my heart. The 1972 team played with moxie, each of them aged 19 – 22 of age going against grown men of the Soviet’s team. Every collegiate viewing that game wanted to stay in college for the opportunity to wear the uniform of team USA.

To play for your country is an honor, to where the red, white and blue is a dream come true.

What is not discussed is the sponsors of the US Olympic team. Nike is one of the largest sponsors. The USA Olympic basketball team have more than half their roster endorsing Nike products. Dwyane wade made just over $26.2m in total wages, $13m from the Miami Heat organization and $12m from Nike. Part of Dwyane’s endorsement contract is appearance fee, he should look at performing in the Olympic games as a paid appearance fee from US Olympic team sponsor, Nike!