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Guy's here is one we can discuss..

How did you get your sponsorships? I think that is spelled right...

I mean boat deals, lure deals, everything..

Beening a full time guide you have to find ways to make ever pennie count.

I know beening able to sell the product is the major key, So I would like to here how everyone else as found and keep there deals..

Good Fishing

Don House

Don, first off, you need to learn to spell better or use spell check, maybe you're just in a hurry, but you do make some mistakes in grammer that could hurt you when contacting potential sponsors. No offense PLEASE!
You need to know all about the product you hope to endorse, how it's made, what it is capable of doing and be able to explain this knowledge to the general public. Most sponsors aren't looking for great anglers, they're looking for great communicators. I took classes in college in communications, public speaking and psychology to help prepare myself. The companies are only concerned with what you can do for them. You may have to agree to use only their products in high profile situations. You, no doubt, will need to do in-store promotions, seminars and basically be a pusher for the products your sponsors offer. You need to be either a consistent tournament angler, an outdoor writer or radio/tv host to have a chance with major companies. Start small!! Contact smaller bait companies and send them a short Bio-not your life story, tell them what you can do for them. Don't try to convince anyone you're the next Rick Clunn. Be honest-be yourself-and settle for whatever is offered, which to start with will most likely be limited supplies of product. Once you establish some credibility, then you can seek larger sponsorships. Hope this helps. I wish you well my friend. Johnnie

Johnnie, point well taken! Thanks. I guess I was in a rush for some reason? But thanks for being truthful.

I'm looking for information on how everyone found their sponsors. Did everyone send in letters and resumes to companies blind? How did you find the contact information? That type of information.

Well time to go crappie fishing on table rock, A new Christmas tradition..

Merry Christmas to All

Don, I got most of my sponsors from directly e mailing companies, I did some research on the products and tried to find out who to talk to or simply go with Media Relations. I find addresses in magazines, anywhere products are show cased. When I contact them I tell them I have a complete bio on Bassin' USA web site. That pulls some weight. Then I tell them truthfully what I can do for them. In my case writing, seminars and radio coverage, you're best shot is probably exposure to customers of your guide service and or tournaments. Many times I have gone to search engiones and typed in "say" fishing compaines, you can find a lot of products and usually some addresses and contacts. For any sponsors within two hours I contact personally. When I went with Blakemore Road Runner I talked directly to the owner and he told me flat out NO!! He had given product to too many bass anglers and never heard from them again. I looked him right in the eye and told him, what I could and would do for his company and that he would get sick from hearing from me. I got the sponorship. Hope this helps, keep in contact. Johnnie

Johnnie, thanks again for your help.. I will give it a try,

Thanks

TRG,

You have some real good questions here. A great resource for finding companies solicit for sponsorship is the annual Bassmaster magazine "Product Guide/Review". If you are a member of B.A.S.S., you should have a copy of this magazine. Inside is a list of many new and existing manufacturers with their contact information. It also discusses each product in some detail, which is helpful if you would like to really personalize each letter.

Johnnie touched on some good points in his posts and I would like to add a few things. I am both a tournament angler and the owner Bassin’ USA, so I can share some insight from both perspectives.

There are two primary reasons why a company will sponsor someone. First is to increase revenue and second is to increase brand name recognition. Companies look to achieve these goals in part through the endorsement of a well known industry personality, or a recognized expert from a comparable field. For example, if you were Michael Jordon, or in our industry “Kevin Van Dam”, companies would want you to say that you use their product simply because you are “Kevin Van Dam” and you have a following of dedicated fans and also the respect of many anglers worldwide.

At this point in our fishing careers, neither of us is a K.V.D., but we can utilize a similar approach when soliciting sponsors. Ask yourself this question: “How much exposure can I offer a sponsor?” You are a guide, so you have a customer base that looks to you for answers and guidance. What else? Do you write, if so, what publications or website do you write for and will you be able to deliver information about your sponsor(s) through these forums?

Are you a member of any fishing clubs and if so, can you speak at club meetings? How about speaking at fishing, outdoor or boating shows? Also any radio and television exposure you can offer is a bonus.

So let’s say (hypothetically) that today, you are a guide with 50 clients and you belong to a local fishing club with 30 members and you fish 15 tournaments a year at a non-televised event. You should approach a sponsor who will benefit the most from your network of people. When you approach the company, you should discuss how you can promote their product(s) to the network of people you are in contact with. Everything is proportionate… the larger your reach, the more compensation you can expect to receive. That’s why a guy like Kevin Van Dam gets paid so well.

The most critical part of the whole process is in the presentation of “yourself” to these companies. This means that your cover letter, resume and packaging must be well written and have a professional appearance. After all, if you can’t demonstrate your ability to market yourself in a professional manor a potential sponsor is not going to feel very confident in your ability to help market their product(s) or services.

Here is a list of the basics:

1) Call the company directly and find out who you should address your resume to. (Be prepared to give your “sales pitch” on the phone, because some companies with put you to the test on the spot). It is much nicer to start a letter with “Dear Mr. Smith” in stead of “To Whom it May Concern”. .
2) An effective cover letter that states exactly how you can help a particular company market and sell more products and/or services in exchange for sponsorship. If you spoke with someone be sure to reference your conversation in your opening sentence. Be confident and get right to the point… don’t add a lot of fluff.
3) You need to have a “fishing/sales/marketing” resume that focuses on why you are the right person for the job. If you have sales and marketing experience, emphasize these items more than the 2 years experience you have doing construction work. If you don’t have sales and marketing experience, you should try and get some, even if it means taking a class. Public speaking experience is also a BIG plus and if you have it, by all means let them know.
4) Print everything on quality resume paper. You should at least put everything into one of those clear covered resume binders.
5) Follow up every letter with a phone call to the person whom you either spoke with previously, or addressed your letter to and confirm that they received it!

When I first thought about approaching sponsors, I wanted to extend my reach, so I could attract bigger sponsors. Before I mailed out the first letter, I started building a calendar for myself. I worked hard filling up as many weeks as I could with promotional opportunities that I could share with my sponsors. It was nothing fancy, but right away a potential sponsor could see that I was going to be out in the public eye several days that coming year. I also included estimated numbers of attendees for each event.

I also began writing for my club’s newsletter and a couple of websites. I signed up to fish a televised tournament trail. When I was finished, my offer looked much more attractive to my sponsors and in return, they were willing to offer me more.

As a business owner, I have received many solicitations for sponsorship and I must say that about 95% of them never even mentioned how they could help my business.

Another important tip I can share with you (after you land a sponsorship) is that you need to keep your sponsors informed at least on a quarterly basis. If you want to continue to grow the relationship with a sponsor, you need to make sure they understand “what you have been doing for them”. I would include something in my initial letter stating “As part of my commitment to XYZ Company, I would be happy to provide detailed quarterly reports of my marketing efforts”.

Stick with these basic concepts and I can assure you that with a little hard work, you’ll be on your way.

I hope this helps you get started. Good Luck!

Brendan

P.S. Always have someone proof read everything. I'll bet I made a bunch of errors in this post alone.

Great stuff Brendan, that should help a lot. Johnnie

JONNIE AND BRENDAN have some great advice on what to do. Let me give some on what not to do. This is from personal experience.,,,

When I first thought about getting some sponsorship I tried the easy way. There was a company that said they could help and I spent allot of money and time and came up with nothing. Well not exactly nothing I landed a lure sponsorship with a company I had never heard of and had no confidence in when the baits arrived. Needless to say the relationship did not last very long. I just can’t promote something that I don’t believe in. I think that is the single most things that you should try and look for SOMETHING that YOU BELIEVE WHOLE HEARTEDLY IN!!! Just like this web site. I believed in what I saw and seen an opportunity to help others those are what to look for. I believe in this site and I am here almost everyday checking and posting on things that I feel I can help with. Some of it I can't help with so I don't post but I learn allot from it.

Back to the point I gave up trying to land sponsorship because I don't feel I have the time right now in my fishing to really promote products the way I feel I should be. Family and work right now are very important to me until the kids graduate, because I don’t want to miss any of the time I have with them. In a few years then I can make myself available to work what ever I need too.

Do not go out just looking for someone to sponsor you just because they will. Make sure the companies that you go after you can help, because you use the products yourself and believe that these will help others catch fish. Study these products and know them inside and out. It’s not all about fishing anymore it how well you can sell products. Never ever forget that part of it. Act like a professional; don’t throw fits when things don’t go your way. Dress the part, look professional! Tournament shirts are not always necessary if you dress well. (No cut offs and sloppy tee-shirts) Keep the boat and truck clean and polished. Being a guide you know how important those first impressions make.

Keep your confidence up. There are going to be allot of companies say NO, but don’t let that discourage you. I was amazed at the shear numbers of people that hound the companies for sponsorship. You have to do something to stand out above the rest of the crowd. Its hard work and never forget that you work for the company selling thier product and that you are a direct refelction on that company. Treat them as if you were part owner in the company and you will go far.

Capt. Don,
I tried to e mail you, must not have right address. Get back to me on my e mail. [email protected]. Johnnie

Guy's wow!!! This is great site! Everyone has some great information. I really thank all of you..

Brendan, Johnnie, MoBass thanks to you guys.. It is nice to speak with someone who has been there and done that.

I'm really soaking all of this in right now, it will help get me to where I want to go..

Anyone one of you guys get down this way you look me up, I have a spot in the boat just for you...

Johnnie, I will drop you an email..

Thanks Everyone
EAT SLEEP FISH