Sponsorships take shape in a variety of ways, representing many companies such as Squarespace and Audible.com. Even companies as popular as Ford have displayed an interest in the sponsorship scene. With all of the intimidating potential for extra cash and publicity, many people believe that they cannot be the recipients of sponsorships because their series is just getting started. One of the biggest myths about sponsorships is that you have to be one of the top podcasts or video series on the Internet to receive any kind of recognition. That is entirely false! Many smaller podcasts and video series do, indeed, have sponsorships. Below are 4 steps to achieve your first sponsorship: 1. Keep your content interesting. Content is the biggest first impression that a sponsor could get. No one wants to watch a podcast or video series that is boring; people want to listen to and watch worthwhile shows about new, pertinent, and specific topics and 'how-to's'. Just like the audience, sponsors want to support ventures that bring something fresh to the table. Consistent content should always be a focus when pitching sponsors! 2. Set your sponsorship rates and create a sponsorship guide. This one may seem obvious, but I was guilty of hosting my video series for several months before putting together a straight forward guide. You cannot progress in the world of sponsorships without having an organized, clear resource for potential sponsors regarding monetary rates and reasons why your podcast or video series should be supported. So, get organized, set your rates high, and convince people to sponsor you (even if that means giving big discounts to get started)! Seriously, don't be afraid to ask a friend to sponsor you for $5, just so you can get the wheels spinning before the rubber hits the road. 3. Go above and beyond any expectations. Set goals for your show, then go even further beyond those goals. These goals must have numbers, and those numbers are how you can measure your success. Pick 3 and we'll call them key performance indicators. Sponsors love to see a high-achieving series that delivers more than expected, so make sure you understand what their #1 goal is. Email 5 potential sponsors the following: "I'd like to leverage my video series to help promote your product. If you'd like to chat more about this, what would be your #1 goal?" Once you have gotten a sponsorship, continue exceeding the expectations of your sponsors. I've sent out lots of e-intros introducing sponsors to possible clients, even if the potential clients didn't want my video series. Exceed expectations or die trying. This is how you will not only get more sponsors, but also how you will get more influential sponsors. Hard work is the key component of any success! 4. Don't be afraid to start with smaller sponsorships and allow them to grow with your podcast or video series. The idea of sponsorships is still rather new, so please do not be discouraged or become impatient if your podcast or video series does not immediately take off with an elaborate sponsorship. Your first sponsorship will probably be rather small and take a little time to develop. Remember about taking $5 from a friend? ---> If you do that right now, at least you can tell your first sponsor about 'your experience with your previous sponsors,' which can help with credibility. After securing a few smaller sponsorships, your podcast or video series will naturally grow over time and consequently yield bigger, more important sponsorships. Remember that all good things take time! Whether your series is up-and-coming or still in the process of being created, it is important to note that sponsorships come at a price: hard work.
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