How to Get Your Gaming Clan Sponsored
Players of competitive online or local area network games form clans for the purpose of socialization and training for major events. Many clans seek sponsorship from companies in order to help cover the costs of gaming service providers, entry fees for major tournaments and even travel costs associated with the largest gaming events. Sponsorship provides the sponsoring company with a source of word-of-mouth advertising, and agreements also provide additional benefits or marketing opportunities to the clan and its sponsors.
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Instructions
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Create an organized clan structure document. This document should clearly outline the membership statistics and leadership of the clan. Include contact information for all clan leaders and clearly specify their roles within the organization. Information on the games played, competitive tournament history and awards or achievements gained by the clan can also help sway a potential sponsor in the clan’s favor.
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Contact the clan’s game service provider. The hosting company that manages the clan’s preferred gaming servers already has a vested interest in the success of players. Many service providers offer sponsorship in exchange for online recognition in the forms of banners, ads and similar exposure opportunities. Some even include gaming clans in their affiliate programs and pay clans directly for referring new gaming groups.
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Approach local businesses with a copy of your clan documents. Local businesses allow a clan to get a foot in the door with sponsors, and clans with a strong local presence make excellent advocates for the business. Game, book and toy stores can all benefit from clan sponsorship. Consider service organizations as well, including computer repair shops. Clearly explain the benefits of sponsoring a gaming clan. These include marketing, word-of-mouth advertising, online banners and even logos sported by the clan in major events.
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Contact major sponsors for the largest tournaments. Entry fees and travel costs for events can drastically restrict the clan’s activities. Corporate sponsors, including game chain stores and major companies with related products, can provide a great amount of assistance with these fees. Major sponsors typically have very stringent requirements and require a history of exceptional play and tournament wins. Most will also request a list of the benefits the clan has provided to smaller sponsors or local communities as it gained prominence in the field.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember that professionalism counts when approaching sponsors. Clan leaders should dress appropriately, as if they were interviewing with a job at the company itself, when approaching small businesses or corporate sponsors.
Don’t forget to establish firm guidelines for conduct within your clan. Sponsors will drop a clan very quickly if the clan's conduct reflects poorly on the company, and sponsorship contracts may prohibit certain activities during the tournament season.
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Resources
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