Government Connections - Summer 2010 - (Page 17) SUPPLIER STRATEGY Strategic Partnerships Through Sponsorship By Charles Sadler, CGMP, CHSP, CHSC SPONSORSHIPS ARE AN essential part of the meetings industry. They are important to making events a success and are a major source of funding. Sponsorships are vital to non-profit organizations like SGMP that depend on corporate supplier sponsorships to help enhance the quality of educational programs, speakers, meeting technology and the entire conference experience for our attendees. M a ny org a n i z at ion s w a n t you r stretched marketing dollars, so you have to make wise decisions. What questions should you ask before you decide on a particular sponsorship? In my former position as a director of sales, I was tasked, every budget season, to pick my trade shows and sponsorships for the upcoming year. Going to the same shows every year, attending the ones my competitors went to or selecting shows because they were being held in fun, exciting cities just didn’t cut it. I made sponsorships and trade shows a strategic element of a successful marketing plan. Strategic sponsorship and trade shows can be turned into an important industry partnership that you can put to practical use in your selling toolbox. THINK STRATEGICALLY Strategic sponsorships are the ones that help you meet your business strategy and sales goals. And sales goals should be defined as meeting new contacts and qualifying more leads or potential business, www.sgmp.org 17 http://www.sgmp.org Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Government Connections - Summer 2010 Government Connections - Summer 2010 Table of Contents President’s Letter Editor’s Letter Going Places Education Edge That’s Technology Supplier Strategy Plan Green Travel Tips and Trends Dieting on a Per Diem Planning for the BIG Meeting Same Meeting, Different Day Room Set and Timing Tips Farewell Chris Middleton, CGMP 2010 National Education Conference was a Hit SGMP Nation Membership News Conference Connection Go Figure Advertisers’ Index The Meeting Minute Government Connections - Summer 2010 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0412 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0312 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0212 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0112 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0411 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0311 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0211 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0111 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0410 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0310 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0210 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0110 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0409 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/SGMQ0309 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com