Fishing Sponsorship Help

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cityboyfromthenorth

cityboyfromthenorth

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2013
Messages
78
Location
Ontario
Hello everyone,

Hope everyone had an excellent weekend. I have a couple questions to ask. 2 years ago I got really into competitive angling. I began to promote myself and before I knew it I had a company approach me and ask to sponsor me. They sent me amazing baits to review and promote, sent a team jersey etc... 2 years later and not a word from them. I am now without a sponsor and I'm entering more than one amateur bass tournament this year. What I'm asking is what I should do. In 2 years the sponsorship process is way different and I'm not sure where to begin. If anyone has any advice please share. Im sure this info may be useful for others that are in my situation or a similar one.

Thank you,

Mike
 
Did you call the company and get an explanation? I dont think they hold back too much when they give out sponsorship's so I would guess that if you can get the decision maker on the phone they would start sending you stuff again.
 
NADO said:
Did you call the company and get an explanation? I dont think they hold back too much when they give out sponsorship's so I would guess that if you can get the decision maker on the phone they would start sending you stuff again.
Click to expand...
i tried contacting but no response
 
It might sound harsh but let me put some facts together and we will see if you are a "good investment" for a company.


So in the last 2 years:
1. No website
2. Less than a hundred posts on this board
3. 8 videos on your youtube channel
4. No real achievements in the tourneys

As you can see, from the business perspective you are a bad investment, as I do not see how the fishing company benefit from you. Every fishing company is here to sell sell sell. You need to be recognizable, otherwise you're just another Joe.

You have to be active on most popular fishing forums, twitter, facebook. Once you will have +100 videos on youtube and a good number of subscribers, only then you can approach the company and sell yourself. It all goes back to how to help a company. You bring eyeballs to them through the web, print, and in person. They get more exposure, they sell more. They see value in you and send you free stuff. And don't jump from one company to another!

And my favorite quote that can relate to you looking for sponsors.

There is no such thing as a no sale call. A sale is made on every call you make. Either you sell the client some stock or he sells you a reason he can't buy. Either way a sale is made, the only question is who is gonna close? You or him?
 
It's a hard world man. As Drifter2k mentioned you have to always do something to promote the people to support you. The supporter(s) need to see your committed to what you want to do. The bass tourney world is a pretty harsh place to get sponsors since there are so many people to compete against to obtain sponsors.


But send me a PM I maybe able to help you out with how to approach them.
 
Well if you want some tips here is what I have to say.

1) Be different than everyone else. Have a marketing angle that keeps you above other applicants.
2) Have a cover letter which describes your experiences and connections and what you can do for the company.
3) Have a resume which tells the company your list of tourneys you will be fishing and what previous high end finishes you have as well as any experience in sales/fishing you have.
4) Be involved in Social Media such as facebook/twitter/youtube/instagram/nationalprostaff
5) MOST IMPORTANT! Do NOT approach a company because you just want free/discounted products. If you want a sponsor and you feel you are right for them then you will actually be extremely familiar with their product and have been using the product extensively for a long period of time.

I have experience with approaching sponsors and having them coming to me. It really is an amazing feeling when you sign a contract with a company that is willing to be there for all your achievements. I can tell you now that I myself am involved with 2 fishing clubs, I fish tournaments all summer, I am in college which keeps me in a marketing bracket separate from most and I engage in Social Media every day.
 
basically, its you selling yourself as an advertising medium for these companies. the better you do, and the more attention your bring to yourself, makes you worth more to the company, and makes them want to put more support behind you. but its up to you to build the foundation for them to work with
 
drifter2k said:
It might sound harsh but let me put some facts together and we will see if you are a "good investment" for a company.


So in the last 2 years:
1. No website
2. Less than a hundred posts on this board
3. 8 videos on your youtube channel
4. No real achievements in the tourneys

As you can see, from the business perspective you are a bad investment, as I do not see how the fishing company benefit from you. Every fishing company is here to sell sell sell. You need to be recognizable, otherwise you're just another Joe.

You have to be active on most popular fishing forums, twitter, facebook. Once you will have +100 videos on youtube and a good number of subscribers, only then you can approach the company and sell yourself. It all goes back to how to help a company. You bring eyeballs to them through the web, print, and in person. They get more exposure, they sell more. They see value in you and send you free stuff. And don't jump from one company to another!

And my favorite quote that can relate to you looking for sponsors.

There is no such thing as a no sale call. A sale is made on every call you make. Either you sell the client some stock or he sells you a reason he can't buy. Either way a sale is made, the only question is who is gonna close? You or him?
Click to expand...
Well developed in social media. 4 Local Amateur tourneys placed in top 3. Just filmed and am currently editing videos. Entering 2 Amateur bass tourneys this summer. I don't seem thaaaaat bad lol... I explain this all to any company that may approach me in the future. Anyways, thank you for your input. :mrgreen:
 
Social media, great pictures, great videos, like the hell out of everyone - even if you don't like them, more great pictures, like the devil and his cousins on Facegram or Instabook - people love that shit, double like - triple like, more pictures, push product, catch a fish with one product? No problem, replace it with your product hanging from its yap, more great photos, exposure, exposure, exposure, YouBook and Facetube likes. drifter2k is on point - think of how your company sees you vs. the next guy? Are you really worth their time? Or is next guy better?

Best of luck
 
Study what the winners are doing and copy them - then formulate a plan and create something unique. Dropped a triumphant one this morning? Update social media immediately.
 
Btw, no offense but having a skunk tail in your logo might not be the best idea :mrgreen:
 
If you want any help with National pro staff let me know. Alex Pinatsis on national pro staff. I have had quite a few of my articles featured on the website. It is a great way to get exposure but again, you need to follow the advice these gents here have given.
 
NPS is BS noobs spot burning, most sponsorship deals are BS IMO aswell. I make a point of never listening to anything someone sponsored says about their product.

Any dedicated angler could get multiple sponsorship deals with ease but many won't even consider it. Wonder why?
 
My question is....Why do you need/want sponsorship so bad? It wont make you a better angler. Is it a prestige thing?
 

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