3 Ways to Drive Loyal, Repeat Event Sponsors

June 28, 2024

1. Encourage and Incentivize Attendee Engagement with Event Sponsors

Encouraging attendee engagement with event sponsors increases sponsor satisfaction and loyalty. This strategy uses an event app to facilitate interaction. Touchpoint Ignite offers gamification features to turn event activities into engaging experiences. Gamification features enable activities such as scavenger hunts, badge games, or competitions. Attendees earn points for badge scans or booth check-ins. Attendees accumulate more points for taking photos with swag and posting them to the event's social feed. A demo can be viewed or sponsors can engage in the app to earn more points. Prizes or incentives can be offered to participants. This approach creates a dynamic environment that motivates attendees to interact with sponsors in meaningful ways. One of Certain’s customers implemented a gamification strategy for events and witnessed a record high number of booth check-ins. The increase in booth check-ins enhanced sponsor visibility and attendee experience.

2. Offer Early Bird Discounts for Future Events with Post-Event Survey

Offering exclusive early-bird discounts for future events promotes sponsor loyalty. Early-bird discounts are exclusive discounts offered to sponsors for future conferences. On the last day of the event, sponsors receive a post-event survey that includes a discount code for next year’s conference upon completion. This tactic serves two purposes: it encourages valuable feedback from sponsors and incentivizes participation in future events. This approach not only boosts the chances of retaining sponsors but also provides critical insights to improve future events. By making sponsors feel valued, the method offers exclusive benefits and an opportunity to share feedback. This approach enhances the sponsor experience and fosters long-term loyalty. Furthermore, this strategy helps secure early commitments from sponsors. Knowing that sponsors have committed well in advance allows for more effective planning and budget allocation.

3. Package and Share Relevant Event Learnings with Event Sponsors

After the event, the practice is to package and share relevant learnings and insights with sponsors. Touchpoint Ignite’s conversational AI interface allows the generation of tailored reports for event sponsors. Sponsors can ask specific questions such as “What sessions had the most positive feedback from C-level security professionals?” or “What types of content are CMOs viewing?” Providing sponsors with detailed engagement stats and attendee feedback helps plan for and optimize future events. The insights help sponsors understand what to expect of event audiences and enables them to plan accordingly. This extra step demonstrates commitment to sponsor success and shows that the partnership is valued. Sponsoring events is a significant investment. Event marketers note that sponsors constantly evaluate the ROI of participation. Offering tailored insights and actionable data goes a long way in proving the value of the event. If any event hosts offered these options, they would be at the top of the list when planning future budgets. Building loyal, repeat sponsors is essential for the success and sustainability of events. By encouraging attendee engagement with sponsors, offering exclusive discounts, and providing tailored event insights, the value proposition for sponsors becomes compelling. The goal is to create a mutually beneficial relationship in which event sponsors gain significant value from the investment. With the right event management software, teams can transform events into valuable sources of revenue generation and customer engagement. Focusing on these strategies can enhance sponsor satisfaction, increase event revenue, and build a strong community of loyal sponsors and exhibitors. For more ideas on how to drive attendee and sponsor engagement, check out Certain’s Learning Center. Written by Marcela Ricci, Event Marketing Manager.

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