As a Meeting Planner, How Do You Get New Sponsors (and keep them happy at your event?)

As a sponsor of many events, I want to get the most bang for my buck. If I don't see value in sponsorship, (i.e. new business) I may not return.

1. Sponsors want to know how you will get attendees in front of them. Nothing is as disheartening to a sponsor as having a booth on the exhibit floor when floor hours run concurrently the educational sessions. Try not to have a sponsor room or exhibit floor that is off the beaten path from where attendees will be walking from session to session.

2. Encourage all of the attendees to approach and thank the sponsors and exhibitors for attending. If applicable in your situation, sponsors help keep costs down, and that should be acknowledged.

3. Sponsors want to talk to the right attendees. Help sponsors understand who the attendees are so they can determine if attendees are in the target segment.

4. Encourage the sponsors to offer a "special show discount”. The more sponsors can tie the ROI of sponsorship to new business, the more likely they are to return year after year.