People often make the mistake I am a sponsor 'finder.' I am actually a sponsor matchmaker. I don't 'sell' sponsorship packages, I match opportunities; besides, sponsors should not be solicited to 'spend' money, they should be asked to 'invest' their money.

I create campaigns to attract sponsors to invest in what you have to offer. The harsh reality is you need help developing your proposal, not in selling it; if your pitch was 'sellable,' you would have done it already. And until you realize the 'true' Sponsorship agent/consultant is not the one who is hired only to sell your proposal but is the one who helps you develop it first, you will continue to wonder why the sponsors are not knocking at your door.

You desperately need an activation strategy and an interactive campaign attracting sponsors to the table willing to invest in your common agendas. Also never forget concept is great, but execution is key, so choose your agent/consultant/partner accordingly.

Keep in mind the 'saturation' point of having to go to sponsors with different proposals all the time, representing different products/pitches/clients. That's not what a 'real' sponsorship consultant/agency should do. It's not about burning bridges, it's about building relationships. I love allowing the sponsor access to an exploitable business potential that we both helped define. The 'selling' is just a matter of fact then.

Involve your potential sponsor prior to approaching them with your finished offer of sale. Involve your sponsorship consultant prior to asking them to sell your sponsorship deck. Instead, have them develop it, because they know how to approach their sponsor contacts and what 'they' want. They speak the same language. Invest in sponsorship consultancy to find the ways for sponsors to invest in you.