connecting people,opportunities and ideas

As we kick off the New Year, I wanted to personally invite you to join and/or connect more deeply with your peers in the sponsorship and marketing community. We are the largest online social media community for sponsorship professionals and have grown so quickly because we provide value and are dedicated to helping people like you.
Our group of 4,500+ members comes from the top positions at such agencies as IEG, IMG, WMG, AEG and more. They come from leagues – NFL, NBA, NHL, CFL, MLB, AVP, MLS, NASCAR, MMA and more. The brands represented come from a who’s who of Fortune 500 companies. Both physical and intellectual properties have representation and more than 30 countries have members who participate!
Members enhance their knowledge, further their careers and interact online via our discussion forums and blog. We are committed to being the best, free business networking site for sponsorship and marketing executives on the internet.
We also send a monthly, e-newsletter which includes exclusive discounts, enhancements tools and appropriate vendors.
All of this is provided free for you and appropriate associates.
To join, please click on the link below and forward to your associates.
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/59380

About Sponsorship Insights Group (SIG)
We are a global networking group and sponsorship consulting/sales agency. We connect properties with brands. We help buyers and sellers increase efficiency and profitability. How can we help you?
We have a unique business model developed to maximize ROI/ROO.
For more information, please click on:
Sponsorship Insights Group

Dan Beeman, Founder – Sponsorship Insights Group
818.433.4239 – Office
Skype: danbeeman1
dan@sponsorshipinsights.com

Join/Connect and/or follow me on:LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter: @sponsorinsight

Every day, our members from our social media groups/fans/friends and followers tell us that they need effective sponsorship solutions, but struggle to identify cost-effective representation or services that actually deliver customized solutions for them.

On the property side, the options usually are:

A. Commission-only representation with no results
B. Retainer plus commission with lots of reports on “sales activity” but unsatisfactory results
C. Consultants who “value” their property, and provide “advisory services” but don’t actually help them sell
D. Go it alone mode. They use the shotgun approach to send proposals that either miss target, are miss-priced or poorly thought-out.

There are a few websites that “connect” properties with sponsors. Most of them are in BETA-mode and have yet to hit critical mass or have many success stories.

We came up with a model that meets the needs of the marketplace and serves our community at the same time.

Problems:
• Many properties don’t understand their value, have poor representation and need sponsors
• Many agencies spend too much time trying to get clients instead of providing services
• Many agencies are either too general or too specific with their competencies
• Many agencies have high overhead (staff, offices, equipment and travel) which creates higher fees
• Many agencies are geographically restricted with capabilities by the location of their offices
• Many talented former agency folks are looking for work as independent contractors
• Social media as a tool is under appreciated, underutilized and not understood

Solution:

• SIG uses social media and a virtual workforce to maintain a low overhead and worldwide team
• SIG has a natural pipeline of inquiries and sponsorship help from our huge social media community
• SIG outsources sponsorship fulfillment and sales to our members to meet client needs
• SIG consult with clients and then build a proposal according to their needs, time line and budget
• SIG is comprehensive, global, scalable, transparent, efficient, geographically and competency-relevant

Thoughts?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Popular LinkedIn Group for Sponsorship Professionals Creates New Business

Los Angeles, CA – In less than two years, Sponsorship Insights Group has become a worldwide network of more than 4,200 sponsorship industry professionals including senior executives with such agencies as IEG, IMG, Wasserman, Momentum and Octagon as well as professional sports leagues such as the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, CFL, AVP, MLS, NASCAR and more.

The group has expanded beyond its LinkedIn roots to include a Web site and blog, a Facebook page and Twitter profile in order to keep its members informed and connected to the latest news, opportunities and ideas in the sponsorship industry.

“In response to member inquiries and requests, we’re now offering a range of best-practice products and services through our growing alliance of agencies and companies,” said Dan Beeman, Founder of the Sponsorship Insights Group. “We can provide clients a customized solution based on their need, timeline and budget that can be scaled up or down on short notice worldwide.”

The new look SIG offers properties staff sales training workshops, strategic property analysis and valuation, asset inventory and development, sales material development, prospect identification, lead generation, program creation, sales representation and negotiation, program and partner management, and recap services.

For sponsors, SIG services include sponsorship workshops, corporate consulting and objective development, strategic analysis of objectives, sourcing and negotiation with relevant properties, program development and implementation, recapping and program evaluation and renewal negotiations as appropriate.

About Sponsorship Insights Group (SIG)

SIG is a global, principle-centered sponsorship agency that connects People, Opportunities and Ideas. We serve the entire sponsorship industry through our comprehensive services and deep relationships. We help both buyers and sellers of sponsorship programs increase efficiency and profitability. We provide valuation, advisory and sales representation services to support properties in their quest for new revenue generation. We provide guidance to brands in valuing and securing efficient platforms for promotion of their products and services. To support our services, we have embraced social, viral media and founded and host the most dynamic and largest online sponsorship and marketing professionals group. Based in the Los Angeles metro area, we have virtual offices throughout the world.

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Contact information:

Dan Beeman, Founder – Sponsorship Insights Group

818.433.4239 – Office/Mobile

Skype: danbeeman1

dan@sponsorshipinsights.com

www.sponsorshipinsights.com

Blog: www.sponsorshipinsights.com/blog

Join/Connect and/or follow me on:

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter: @sponsorinsight

I often re-post links to blogs by Jason.   He articulates the keys to social media success in such a simple, clear way.  If you apply just these principles consistently, you’ll have great success no matter what your objective or discipline.

Read it here

How does this relate to sponsorship?  Keep you eye here for some exciting announcements about alliances we are developing in this space and webinars we will be giving on social media and sponsorship.

Here is the Tuesday Morning briefing e-newsletter from my friend Brent Barootes and his take on sponsorship management.

I once heard the term (and have since used it on many occasions) that sponsorship is like babysitting. As a property (someone who sells sponsorship) you really become a “babysitter” for your sponsors. The longer I am in this business, the more I agree. But recently I have felt the term may better be “mentor” or “consultant”.

I do believe it is the role of the property to educate, to advise and to work with a sponsor to truly understand sponsorship. No one knows the property better than the property owner. The property must hold the hand of the sponsor and walk them through, show them what they can provide within their organization to help the sponsor achieve their goals. (Or for those of you that read this commentary last week, to ‘take away the hurt’.) Sponsors are busy. On average according to the 2009 Canadian Sponsorship Landscape Study, sponsors have investments in 12 properties and receive hundreds of submissions. The property that can “help” the sponsor to better understand how they can assist; who can hold their hand to give them ideas on activation; show them unique opportunities that will WOW their target audience and watch over their budgets for them will be successful.

Perhaps when we start out with a property we need to babysit our sponsors. But as we grow our role changes from babysitter to mentor or consultant. Properties are not there to “sell” product to sponsor. In the best of all worlds, they are there to consult, mentor and advise sponsors and prospective sponsors on how to “take away the hurt” and gain results that matter.

This is one person’s thoughts. Yours are welcomed as well so email me at brent@partnershipgroup.ca or visit our web site for more information by clicking on Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists and thank you for reading.

Brent Barootes
President
Partnership Group – Sponsorship Specialists

I am a proud Chicagoan by origin (well, River Forest to be exact).  Despite the loss in the Olympic competition for 2016, there are still many great things that make Chicago a unique destination for tourists.  Our city of broad shoulders will collectively shrug them and move on.  We have overcome adversity and loss before.  Can we blame it on Steve Bartman? Just kidding…
The Chicago fire destroyed the city in 1871, and also led to an amazing design revival led by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright.  Their design created the open space along the lakefront with flowing yet efficient integration of spaces and buildings.  Currently living in LA, I have seen the communal pride and lasting legacy it enjoys from the Olympics in 1984.  I was hopeful that Chicago could have enjoyed  the same.
I am confident that; the fire, second city status, the challenging winters and the working class mentality is what makes people from Chicago so special.  They are resilient, have a great sense of history and place.  They also have collective patience and humor – I mean, after all, they have the Cubs…
For being a big city, it is also a small town where ethnic diversity is celebrated through unique communities.  The summer festival season in the neighborhoods around the city provides the opportunity for Chicagoans to connect and celebrate.  The city is also evolving – I remember the post college days when I lived in a shoddy apartment in Wicker Park for $100 a month.  Now, I wish I bought that building!
I also remember when Millennium Park was abandoned railroad tracks and the adjacent Prudential Building (the old one) was the tallest building in Chicago.  Civic leaders came together and help fund a dream.  Now, they provide a seamless, authentic connectivity between the bustling downtown and serenity and beauty of the lakefront parks and museums – the old and new.  The Prudential Buildings demonstrate creative architectural design – celebrating the past while modernizing for the future.
Tourist tip to Chicago – Three things you must do:
1.  Take an architectural river cruise
2.  Go to the observatory room at the Chicago Board of Trade at the closing bell and watch the action – their version of the human zoo
3.  Go to a Cubs Game during the day at Wrigley, sit in the bleachers with friends; without necessarily watching the game, sing “take me out to the ballgame” in your finest Harry Carry impersonation, shout out, “how about another Falstaff” or Old Style -depending on your era and finish by doing a home run trot – visiting each of the sports bars which encircle the park and finish at the Wild Hare and Flying Armadillo Frog Sanctuary while dancing to reggae.
Other activities include the aforementioned Millennium Park, the band shell for concerts at night, Navy Pier – where you can rent a bike and ride along the lakefront path (25 or so miles), play volleyball at North Avenue Beach, visit the observation tower of what used to be Sears Tower (can we still call it that?  While we are at it, Marshall Fields will still be Marshall Fields in my mind), beat traffic by driving lower Wacker, walk through the connected underground tunnel from office buildings, check out the lakefront museums and watch a sunset from Adler Planetarium.
Last, but not least,  it is a phenomenal sports town.  The Jordan years were always fun and that old stadium rocked!  My memories ranged from sneaking in and sitting with Rory Sparrow’s wife and kids in front of Jerry “Crumbs” Krause.  I remember, halftimes in the President’s Club with the likes of Jesse Jackson, Belushi and Siskel acting important while claiming to be underground security for Reinsdorf when pressed.  I often exited with beverages for the Ladaudio brothers or other compatriots.  Da Bears ’85- who can forget Ditka, Sweetness, The Fridge and the Super Bowl Shuffle?  Topping it off was the division-street celebration after the Super Bowl victory.  The Sox – iconic of the South Side and The Cubbies – lovable losers.
So, hang in there Chicago.  You/we have overcome much before.  Remember, we are defined by how we respond to challenges and adversity.

Yesterday I took my kids to to Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor in Valencia, CA.  I had promised the trip all summer and waited until the crowds died down and the weather was still warm.  It was a good strategy – we had fun and there were few lines.

As you know from reading this blog, I am always thinking about sponsorship and revenue enhancements for properties, so I took a few mental notes.  Overall, I saw lots of opportunities for new revenue and other ways to better enhance their existing partners activation.

Opportunities

• Property naming rights sales opportunities.  What does Six Flags even mean anyway?
• Ride, parking lot or area naming rights
• Partnerships with non-profits to drive traffic in slower season, create third party promotions
• Adult-area sections.  This may include beverage, clothing and music preferences for over 18 that might not appeal to the rest of the park.  Naming of this could be sold to a casino.
• Music partnership – they played a certain play list which consisted of lots of Tom Petty.  They could partner with Rhapsody, XM/Sirius, a record label, Apple/Itunes or a radio station.
• Dodge and Chrysler were the automotive sponsors, but there appeared to be no activation or displays besides their signage.  The Tram ride from our remote parking would make an excellent opportunity for transportation-related branding and, of course the valet area s well
• Coke was the beverage sponsor and had some iconic and creative recycling trash receptacles, but there seemed to be no water sponsor unless Coke successfully negotiated the water category as part of an overall beverage deal (they like to do that).
• Kodak had their intercept locations to take photos, but did not capture us with any memorable offer or creative merchandising of their location upon exit.  They had a few staff members that looked like to just wanted to go home.  Why no high-speed cameras when we came out of the Tornado or other rides?
• Apparel Sponsorships – lifeguards and staff could all wear some cool, noticeable apparel that could be sold in their retail locations
• First Aid locations could tie-in with a local hospital

I know they have a corporate sponsorship team, but it appears they could use some help on a local level.  What do you think?  We welcome your feedback and encourage you to share this with others.  If you are not already a member of The Sponsorship Insights Networking Group on LinkedIn and Facebook, I wanted to invite you.  Our group of 4,000+ sponsorship and marketing professionals has grown quickly and members come from the top positions at such agencies as IEG, IMG, Wasserman, Momentum and leagues – NFL, NBA, NHL, CFL, MLB, AVP, MLS, NASCAR and more.

Members connect with each other to enhance their knowledge, further their careers and interact online via our discussion forums and blog.  We are committed to being the best, free business networking site for sponsorship and marketing executives on the internet.  We also send a monthly, e-newsletter and provide exclusive discounts for conferences and appropriate vendors.  All of this is provided free for you and appropriate associates.

To join, please click on the links below and forward to your associates.

http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/59380

Lastly, you can follow/find Dan at:

http://twitter.com/danbeeman

dan@sponsorshipinsights.com

www.sponsorshipinsights.com

www.facebook.com/dan.beeman

http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=45136322100

I have blogged in this space before about an organization I belong to which has provided endless value to my career.  They are now doing a member drive and have a great offer.  Please read below and let me know if you are interested in joining.  As you’ll see, there are a few requirements and costs.  But, if you qualify, it is well worth it!  Go to www.mengonline.com for more information.  To apply, go here and tell them I sent you for the discounted membership. NOW is the Best Time to Add Your Voice to MENG’s Vibrant Community of Senior Marketers! Right now you have a unique, one-time chance to join MENG at half the Initiation Fee.  That saves you $100! This offer has never been made before, and is good only through Nov 15, 2009.

MENG – Marketing Executives Networking Group MENG career advancement Get unprecedented access to senior-level marketing positions. Connect with category leaders who offer their insights and support. Access MENG preferred recruiters. Tap into Career Maximization Webinars Develop relationships with blue-chip brand CMOs. MENG benefits Pose a question in one email.  Get same-day responses from experts. Ask top marketers for a company contact. Join monthly seminars on careers, social media and marketing best practices. Enjoy discounts from Netshare, Salary.com, Execunet, The Ladders. Discover opportunities ahead of the marketplace. Member profile Most members are VPs, SVPs, and Presidents. 84% have Fortune 500 experience. 70% have graduate degrees. Individual specialties span the gamut of marketing functions. All business categories in B2B and B2C are represented.

Click here to read our latest newsletter To subscribe, please go to www.sponsorshipinsights.com/blog

Summertime = heat, swimming to keep cool, relaxation and reflection (at least the last two weeks of August).  I recently read a couple of books – The Waxman Report and The Alchemist, by Paul Coelho.  I won’t review the Waxman Report in this space as it is probably too political for some of my readers.

However, The Alchemist got me to thinking a bit and how it relates to sponsorship.  Okay, full disclosure, I am always thinking about sponsorship!

According to Paul, in order to fulfill your Personal Legend, one must be also connected to the Soul of the World and know The Language of The World.  To get connected in this deep way, one must be committed to the journey and the process and facing the inherint challenges.  Wow, pretty deep.

In sponsorship, this means being an evangelist of the medium, truly and authetically building integrated platforms for brand promotion, through creatively leveraging the asset or property.  In order to do this, one needs training and understanding and of course, being connected.

A couple of interesting ways to train and get connected are coming up soon.

• LA Office is hosting their annual conference in Hollywood, CA.  They are offering free movie passes for brand representatives who want to take advantage of the special rate for our readers.  Just click on this link and type in the word SPONSORSHIP, when booking.
• IEG has expanded their training and are offering a couple of unique courses and a combined course which brings together many of the necessary tools for sponsorship success. Their next one is on Sponsorship Activation.  Click here to register and find out more information.

Both of these institutions have helped me learn, grow and get more connected.  I hope this is helpful and look forward to your feedback!