Tips on raising sponsorship money!?

CyclingBantam
CyclingBantam Posts: 1,299
edited November 2009 in The bottom bracket
Now I regularily have read on here about people who are doing sponsored bike rides and other things for charity but has anyone got any tips on ways to maximise the money they raise?

I'm going to be riding from Bradford to San Remo (Italy) in June next year. I will be cycling in aid of the Bradford Burns unit who are needing to raise £100k to keep going. There is lots of publicity in the local paper and via my football club (Bradford City) which will allow plenty of people to hear about what I am doing but I am concerned that that doesn't add up to lots of money.

How have other people managed to convert publicity into hard cash?

I am thinking that I need to somehow involve people in what I am doing. I am writing a blog (See link below, please have a read) which hopefully people will follow. I am also going to get in contact with the football club fanzine and potentially write a few short articles about what I am doing.

Has anyone any other suggestions or tips? Is it worth me calling local companies to try for sponsorship? I have heard it is better to ask in the 1st instance who people know that I can speak to as opposed directly for sponsorship (theory being people like to show they know people).

Any tips would be super.

Thanks

Ben

Comments

  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    Guilt!
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    I did a Livestrong event earlier this year. I sent loads of emails to companies asking for anything they would like to donate in return for advertising on our promotional literature, news articles etc. I made most money from 2 signed jerseys - one by Wong Kam Po and another by the Garmin squad. They went for about 70 quid each.

    I'd suggest you email as many people as possible, and be creative.

    Good luck,
    Steve
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • shouldbeinbed
    shouldbeinbed Posts: 2,660
    Publicity Publicity Publicity.

    contact other hospital or burns units, cycling clubs & the local papers on the route a month or two in advance and get the story told all the way down and bring out a sympathetic audience as you pootle through

    find a gimmick e.g. do it in some sort of fancy dress, detour through the town centres at a busy shopping time and stick a bucket to the side of the bike.

    I guess BCFC are supporting it on the back of Valley Parade - use their expertise and press office.
  • CyclingBantam
    CyclingBantam Posts: 1,299
    Thanks guys. Hopefully should get a nice slot in the local paper and on the club website so the more people that know the better I guess. Just not sure how to convert people from knowing about it to sponsoring me.
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 992
    Get a justgiving page.

    http://www.justgiving.co.uk/
    Old hippies don't die, they just lie low until the laughter stops and their time comes round again.
    Joseph Gallivan
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,545
    iainment wrote:
    Get a justgiving page.

    http://www.justgiving.co.uk/
    +1 far easier to get money off friends and family you don't see regularly. Add to that, set up a Facebook group for your ride.
  • crymble
    crymble Posts: 17
    Setup a turbo in a local shopping center or at the entrance to Tesco/Sainburys etc.

    Sit on it and spin away all day with posters etc around you.

    Rasied a couple of k for Marie Curie that way. People see that you are making a real effort for the money not just sitting with your palm raised asking for money.

    K

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