Working in IFMA’s Corporate Connections department I not only sell ads for the FMJ but assist with sales in other areas like sponsorships. Of course we have our materials like a media kit that includes demographic information, rates, etc…. but what about sponsorships on a personal level? For example, my daughter started softball this year and we had to find a company to sponsor her team. This being my first experience with little league sports, I was not sure what or who we should ask or even how to ask.

First I had to do my homework and figure out how much does the sponsorship cost, what does it include and how would this benefit the company. To my surprise, the softball league provided us with a handy document almost similar to IFMA’s media kit that included demographics of the people in the community, average household income and how these types of sponsorships reflect on a company’s image. Have you ever visited a restaurant or a business with team photo plaques on the wall? Do you stare at them and get some sort of good feeling about the establishment you are visiting? I know I do and going back to one of my earlier blogs about slogans, I can say the company that did sponsor our team – their slogan of “Making Life Better since 1952” hit the nail on the head for me. It’s nice when companies support their community – whether it’s their local community or their professional community!

DM