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Active: 1856 users

The trials and failers of getting a sponsor

Blogs > Kangg
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Kangg
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States128 Posts
August 24 2010 21:32 GMT
#1
I am new to being a team manager and never thought it would be this difficult to get a team sponsor. I have been on many competitive teams for other games, and have gotten sponsored before but i was never the one running it. Now i see how difficult it is. I have spent nearly a week from 9 in the morning to about 3 in the afternoon calling businesses, staying up till 2 in the morning writing up proposals and reports. This a lot of work for something that i am not sure i am really qualified to do. I am going to college and have not been able to take all these professional writing courses so sometimes when i send the proposal it may not be exactly the company was looking for which frustrates me even more. I have also called so many companies and have heard this line so many times its ridiculous. "we do not usually sponsor teams." its a market that is untouched, the few companies that are in are making a bundle because of it and other companies for some reasan never see it. I know the money that can be made though marketing but for some reason the marketing departments dont. Idk i write this because im very stressed and pissed off and if anyone happen to knows a company that may be interested post up here and i will look into it. Thank you for reading my little rant god this has been a frustrating and pain staking process.

****
Creek
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States177 Posts
August 24 2010 21:43 GMT
#2
To be honest, I know little about all this stuff.
Take a break for a day and chill with SC2.
Kralic
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
Canada2628 Posts
August 24 2010 21:43 GMT
#3
What kind of companies are you approaching?
Brood War forever!
darkponcho
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States262 Posts
August 24 2010 21:51 GMT
#4
and how good is your team?
life
dani_caliKorea
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
730 Posts
August 24 2010 21:54 GMT
#5
failures
Lexpar
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
1813 Posts
August 24 2010 21:58 GMT
#6
I recommend that first and foremost you spell check all these proposals and reports you've been writing up.
Kralic
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
Canada2628 Posts
August 24 2010 22:02 GMT
#7
Here is the kind of things you need to ask yourself, I was able to get a few sponsors for my clans in the past.

1) Do you have a website?
2) Is your team's website professional?
3) How long has your clan been around?
4) What kind of achievments(not game) has your team accomplished?
5) How many people do you have on your team?
6) What kind of sponsorship are you seeking?(I only looked for and got free dedicated game servers and free ventrillo servers for FPS games)

There is a lot more I can ask but this will help you narrow down what could be going wrong.
Brood War forever!
Skyze
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Canada2324 Posts
August 24 2010 22:04 GMT
#8
from what i've seen on the three sponsored teams ive been on in the past, You really want to be putting up strong results before you talk about sponsors. Infact, some sponsors will make themselves known to you if you are putting up good results, dont expect to go up to a company asking for one if you have no success.

Also, only focus on sponsors that are somewhat relevant to gaming, such as PC gear, internet cafes, etc etc. Dont go contacting like Walmart or your local grocery store.
Canada Gaming ~~ The-Feared
Hot_Bid
Profile Blog Joined October 2003
Braavos36390 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-24 22:13:52
August 24 2010 22:07 GMT
#9
What team are you representing? Assuming you're not representing a top tier team (even if you were), did you really expect to find a sponsor within a week? That's just unrealistic. Teams look for sponsors for ages, even really good ones.

It seems you jumped into this without really considering how difficult it is. You need to have great people skills, experience, and professionalism to pitch a team sponsorship to a company. Especially if your team isn't super famous. You can't spend a week writing proposals and then expect to get hard results.

"we do not usually sponsor teams." its a market that is untouched, the few companies that are in are making a bundle because of it and other companies for some reasan never see it. I know the money that can be made though marketing but for some reason the marketing departments dont.

What you say here may be true, but you have to show experience in doing things. If you are the former manager for SK Telecom then it's easy to approach someone and say "this is what I did previously, consider sponsoring my new team." There's credibility there, and the company can see why it's beneficial. If you're just a college student emailing proposals to random companies about sponsorship for an unproven team, you're never going to find a good sponsor. They would have to be crazy to fund an entirely unproven team and manager. No company is going take that huge a risk.

Summary:
1. You need experience, time, and effort (way more than 1 week)
2. Your team needs results

I checked your post history and you seem to be representing "Team VzR." I don't recognize any of the players nor have your guys finished in the top of any leagues. I feel you don't have a correct picture of how difficult it is for a non-korean team to find a sponsor. Teams like Root who have top tier players have not found a suitable sponsor for months, what makes you think that an unknown team can just call up companies and find one in a week?

It's a very difficult road you are walking. Cold calling companies is frustrating and soul-crushing at times. I'm not going to say it's impossible, because amazing things can happen if you work hard, but the odds are really long. Good luck, and try not to get too frustrated after a week :p
@Hot_Bid on Twitter - ESPORTS life since 2010 - http://i.imgur.com/U2psw.png
Hynda
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Sweden2226 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-24 22:38:37
August 24 2010 22:37 GMT
#10
On August 25 2010 07:07 Hot_Bid wrote:
What team are you representing? Assuming you're not representing a top tier team (even if you were), did you really expect to find a sponsor within a week? That's just unrealistic. Teams look for sponsors for ages, even really good ones.

It seems you jumped into this without really considering how difficult it is. You need to have great people skills, experience, and professionalism to pitch a team sponsorship to a company. Especially if your team isn't super famous. You can't spend a week writing proposals and then expect to get hard results.

Show nested quote +
"we do not usually sponsor teams." its a market that is untouched, the few companies that are in are making a bundle because of it and other companies for some reasan never see it. I know the money that can be made though marketing but for some reason the marketing departments dont.

What you say here may be true, but you have to show experience in doing things. If you are the former manager for SK Telecom then it's easy to approach someone and say "this is what I did previously, consider sponsoring my new team." There's credibility there, and the company can see why it's beneficial. If you're just a college student emailing proposals to random companies about sponsorship for an unproven team, you're never going to find a good sponsor. They would have to be crazy to fund an entirely unproven team and manager. No company is going take that huge a risk.

Summary:
1. You need experience, time, and effort (way more than 1 week)
2. Your team needs results

I checked your post history and you seem to be representing "Team VzR." I don't recognize any of the players nor have your guys finished in the top of any leagues. I feel you don't have a correct picture of how difficult it is for a non-korean team to find a sponsor. Teams like Root who have top tier players have not found a suitable sponsor for months, what makes you think that an unknown team can just call up companies and find one in a week?

It's a very difficult road you are walking. Cold calling companies is frustrating and soul-crushing at times. I'm not going to say it's impossible, because amazing things can happen if you work hard, but the odds are really long. Good luck, and try not to get too frustrated after a week :p
Now I don't have experience with E-sports so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I do have experience with other sports. Having a poster-boy is of paramount importance when looking for sponsors. Even if you have a wellrounded team it's going to be alot harder to find a sponsor than if you have one big guy and a few perhaps not as good players. I can see it fit in even better in Starcraft since the individual players are in so much focus.

The thing they are looking for is people to go "I want to be like this guy so I'll get the stuff he uses" rather than "I want to be part of team X... yet I have no idea what sponsors they have, nor do I care".
Inkarnate
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada840 Posts
August 24 2010 23:04 GMT
#11
I do some marketing for my job and theres a few things to keep in mind:

  • They need to have a product/service aimed to to the type of people you hope to have watching you play or else there is no value for them in sponsoring you instead of say, their kids soccer team.
  • You will have to make A LOT of cold calls to even talk to the right person, let alone find someone that is interested in spending money.
  • Make sure your proposals look professional, you are proposing to companies, PM me for more info if you don't know what this entails and I can help you out.
  • Don't burn yourself out or else you will lose the passion for something that I hope you enjoy doing now, take a break.


Hope this helps, cheers.
SCC-Faust
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
United States3736 Posts
August 25 2010 00:20 GMT
#12
Hot_Bid said it all really nicely.

If you don't show results, who is going to sponsor you?
And not petty results either. No one is going to care if you win a clan war or two.
I want to fuck Soulkey with a Zelderan.
ProFail
Profile Joined August 2010
Korea (North)81 Posts
August 25 2010 00:29 GMT
#13
I would have thought that really you need to be getting top results, getting a professional website up and running and prove you have a loyal fan base who would purchase the goods of the sponsor. Show examples of other teams who are sponsored and how your team is better, no-one wants to sponsor the person who comes anywhere other than first, so just start to win and I'm sure they will come

Good luck.
Didnt play Beta, Never played any RTS, straight in plat.
alffla
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Hong Kong20321 Posts
August 25 2010 02:38 GMT
#14
yeah nobody knows who you are and who your team is ..

probably should just work on playing more and winning lots first
Graphicssavior[gm] : What is a “yawn” rape ;; Masumune - It was the year of the pig for those fucking defilers. Chill - A clinic you say? okum: SC without Korean yelling is like porn without sex. konamix: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!
ZeeTemplar
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
United States557 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-25 03:00:57
August 25 2010 02:59 GMT
#15
Make your proposal clear enough so that everyone can understand what your goal is(plain simple English), what does your team have to offer to their company, why you over the next team, etc..

Jangbi storms!!!
SCC-Faust
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
United States3736 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-25 03:00:34
August 25 2010 02:59 GMT
#16
On August 25 2010 09:20 SCC-Faust wrote:
Hot_Bid said it all really nicely.

If you don't show results, who is going to sponsor you?
And not petty results either. No one is going to care if you lose a clan war or two.


Edited for accuracy.

(I'm just kidding yo)

+ Show Spoiler +
Sponsors always come last. You want to find a team that practices hard, has good manners, and works well with each other. Without getting all those first, finding a sponsor will be near impossible. This is specifically for new teams though. Established teams such as fnatic and mym have been here before Starcraft 2. It all started with them recruiting a team (think when excello picked up MgZ) who I believe wasn't sponsored. That team, usually isn't sponsored. And... MIRICAL! No but seriously I've seen how sponsored teams worked in Brood War, and it is no cake walk. Your intentions have to be in the right place, and not just for whatever you think you're going to get out of a sponsor.
I want to fuck Soulkey with a Zelderan.
ZeeTemplar
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
United States557 Posts
August 25 2010 03:03 GMT
#17
Faust is correct. lol. You would probably need that first.
Jangbi storms!!!
Kangg
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States128 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-25 04:53:31
August 25 2010 04:53 GMT
#18
Seems like many people are iffy on my proposal, if you are interested in looking at it and wanna see it would love to see people make comments and see what i should change. Send me a pm asking me and i will email the proposal to u.
Kangg
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States128 Posts
August 25 2010 04:56 GMT
#19


I checked your post history and you seem to be representing "Team VzR." I don't recognize any of the players nor have your guys finished in the top of any leagues. I feel you don't have a correct picture of how difficult it is for a non-korean team to find a sponsor. Teams like Root who have top tier players have not found a suitable sponsor for months, what makes you think that an unknown team can just call up companies and find one in a week?


Look at the ESL open ladder and diamond ladder number one player is on our team on both ladders. Secondly we have placed top 4 in over 5 tournaments in a week. That is better than most established thats and thats from 3 players on our team. We have cridentials and have been streamed. We may not be well known know but anticipate it. In 1 month u will know of us.
GogoKodo
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Canada1785 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-25 05:18:44
August 25 2010 05:18 GMT
#20
Your location says US so I'm assuming you're approaching English companies. I understand your posts here don't necessarily show the level of work you put into your proposals and communications with companies but there are some pretty glaring errors. If you aren't already using someone to proof read everything you send out you should probably do that.
twitter: @terrancem
Kangg
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States128 Posts
August 25 2010 05:24 GMT
#21
i have 3 people proof read everything
Rekrul
Profile Blog Joined November 2002
Korea (South)17174 Posts
August 25 2010 11:12 GMT
#22
pm me your proposal
why so 진지해?
Inkarnate
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Canada840 Posts
August 25 2010 12:16 GMT
#23
I'd take a look too if you need.

However as everyone mentioned above, you need a lot more results before you look for a sponsor.
Diamond
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States10796 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-25 13:25:13
August 25 2010 13:25 GMT
#24
Sponsors are not an easy thing. The industry is not well understood by 99.99% of the rest of the world.

But if one week of searching is going to break you, than you're going to have problems. I sponsor search 5 days a week at a minimum of 5 hours a day and have been doing so since March. Only now am I starting to get better results.

IMO your team (and you) really needs to work on self promotion instead of making bitch blogs. I didn't have a clue your team existed before this blog and it's my job to stay on the up and up on these types of things. You should be out there screaming your team name all the time etc....

Also your accomplishments at this point are not all that much. One of your players needs to win something major not just the local weekly tournaments.

Best of luck but after reading this blog and this one I'm pretty sure you don't have what it takes for this cutthroat industry.
Ballistix Gaming Global Gaming/Esports Marketing Manager - twitter.com/esvdiamond
QuanticHawk
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
United States32130 Posts
August 25 2010 14:06 GMT
#25
On August 25 2010 13:56 Kangg wrote:
Show nested quote +


I checked your post history and you seem to be representing "Team VzR." I don't recognize any of the players nor have your guys finished in the top of any leagues. I feel you don't have a correct picture of how difficult it is for a non-korean team to find a sponsor. Teams like Root who have top tier players have not found a suitable sponsor for months, what makes you think that an unknown team can just call up companies and find one in a week?


Look at the ESL open ladder and diamond ladder number one player is on our team on both ladders. Secondly we have placed top 4 in over 5 tournaments in a week. That is better than most established thats and thats from 3 players on our team. We have cridentials and have been streamed. We may not be well known know but anticipate it. In 1 month u will know of us.


Anyone can stream games, so that means dick, and top 4 in tournies also means nothing. Unless you win a major invitational, no one gives a shit.

You are just breezing past what everyone is saying: Real deal, top elite teams don't have sponsors. These guys are well known in our community, but people who don't play the game have no fucking clue who they are. You are an unknown—people on TL don't know you. Your credentials don't even include a major tourny win. If sponsors are reluctant to give money to those guys, why would they give it to you??

Also, for the love of god, spell check and proof your shit. You are already being looked down on the second you approach for money for a game. I'm sure the second a suit reads it they think 'retarded kid's game' and you reinforce that notion with high school level writing that you didn't even bother to proof. There's errors all over the place. If you can't be bothered to do that, don't waste your time. And you might as well get used to it for posting other shit. I'm sure if you were to somehow magically lock up a sponsor, they'd want you to project a good image at all times.

Beyond the fact that your skill gives sponsors no real reason to consider your team, also remember that being a sponsor doesn't benefit most companies. Your average SC2 player is probably still in the midst of puberty and lacks a stable income. That cuts into the list of potential sponsors. If your demographic doesn't have money to burn, it's not worth it. Also, a local store gains nothing from giving you cash. Why would Mom & Dad's Hardware shop or the neighborhood computer store sponsor you? Exposure over the internet does nothing for them. Their business is all local. Even companies that have national or international appeal (not like you'd get these, but still), how many offer a product or service that would even interest players? You're going to be limited to looking at electronics companies, and those will typically have more internet savy people who will learn real fast that your team hasn't accomplished anything.
PROFESSIONAL GAMER - SEND ME OFFERS TO JOIN YOUR TEAM - USA USA USA
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