Understanding Sponsorship in PlanetT Active Range Rider Team Club

Almost daily, we receive sponsorship requests from individuals worldwide seeking support for their son, daughter, or themselves. However, it is often evident that these requests are made with little understanding of what sponsorship truly entails. Many times, individuals are simply asking for free products, rather than genuinely seeking a sponsorship arrangement. To assist aspiring riders and ensure they present themselves effectively, we have crafted the following explanation about what sponsorship really is and what is expected from both the athlete and the sponsoring business.

WHAT IS SPONSORSHIP?

Sponsorship is fundamentally a mutually beneficial business relationship between two parties: the business (the sponsor) and the rider, team, or club (the sponsored). It is essential to recognize that sponsorship extends far beyond merely receiving free apparel or gear from a company, wearing it, and posting photos on social media. Businesses often gain similar visibility through loyal customers who purchase their products. Thus, requesting goods without any form of exchange usually presents a negative impression for the business, yielding minimal benefit. This behavior does not constitute a sponsorship request; rather, it amounts to seeking freebies.

True sponsorship represents much more than online photographs. The natural promotion occurs when customers genuinely invest in the products and share their experiences while using them. Sponsorship offers advantages like access to contacts, networking opportunities, audience reach, data acquisition, and the ability to influence public perception—elements that can be challenging to accomplish with standard personal marketing and branding efforts. When sponsors and sponsored parties collaborate, they can create a wider impact while sharing goals, pooling resources, and leveraging the strength of their connection.

I have emphasized the word "mutually" because many individuals approach their sponsorship requests without considering a reciprocal partnership. Most proposals seem one-sided, aimed solely at obtaining free items.

WHAT IS A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP?

When requesting a business to contribute products and forgo potential profits, it is vital to present clear, viable benefits to the business. The advantage for the rider, team, or club is easily understood—they receive gear. However, what tangible benefit are you offering to the business in return? If you cannot articulate a definitive answer, it may be more appropriate to directly seek free items instead of presenting yourself under the guise of a sponsorship request. This straightforwardness will likely yield more favorable outcomes.

Consider this perspective: Would you invest significant time and money in thousands of dollars' worth of goods only to give them away without a return on investment? If your answer is no, then businesses adopting the same mindset towards sponsorship requests will naturally feel the same way without clarity on benefits.

Businesses expect to see a clear benefit that outweighs the value of the products or financial support requested. This benefit may take the form of increased sales, enhanced advertising, or effective marketing strategies, among other avenues.

Avoid soliciting sponsorship or freebies unless you are already a customer of the brand, wearing and supporting their products. Approaching a request without having previously shown commitment to the brand is often viewed as a lack of genuine interest. Consider this question: Why should a business invest in you if you have not supported them?

WHAT NEXT?

Before reaching out to any business for sponsorship, be sure to have a comprehensive proposal ready. This should be specifically tailored to that business, as a generic proposal distributed to multiple companies may come off as disrespectful rather than indicative of a business partnership.

Reflect seriously on what you can offer in return. Your contribution should provide greater value than what the business receives from their existing loyal customers. It must present a genuinely beneficial solution for the business that surpasses the normal product transaction.

Establish your credibility by excelling in your sport and attaining an elite ranking. Engage in consistent training, raise your profile, and work diligently to become an authentic influencer. If you do this, sponsors will actively seek you out.

SO YOU ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Merely having a social media presence with a couple hundred followers does not qualify you for a sponsorship agreement. Generally, businesses regard a social media platform with any real potential for sponsorship to require at least 10,000 followers to be considered a micro-influencer.

ONE FINAL THING.

Refrain from contacting businesses through social media with requests for sponsorship. Do your research first. Review their website and understand their objectives; most legitimate companies will provide a Sponsorship Explanation page detailing their goals and guidelines. Additionally, contacting a business via social media without an attached proposal may appear lazy.

If you have any questions or seek advice regarding sponsorship opportunities, please do not hesitate to ask.

Cheers

Planett