Sponsorship Opportunities

The value of community in brand building can’t be overstated, but is often overlooked. The primary elements of a successful brand (strategy, visual identity, content), rely on a variety of other service providers whose work is sometimes invisible to the public. In the case of a small business brand, most of these support services are provided by other small, independent companies.

Making the Brand™ exists in part as a way for the Contest Presenters to give something back to Denver’s small business community. Without the support and rapport of the community they could not have achieved their successes, and the contest could not function. The Contest Presenters have reached out to members of this community, asking that they express their own appreciation by becoming either Brand or Support Sponsors.

Brand Sponsors offer services directly related to the successful development or deployment of a brand, such as printing services, photography or videography. Without these services, brand development would be difficult at best and deployment would be impossible.

Support Sponsors provide services related to administering the contest, such as the caterer and the venue for the media event rolling out the winner’s new brand. Some sponsors’ roles overlap, such as the SEO supplier who will be optimizing the contest web site as well as the winner’s, and the printer who will supply collateral for contest publicity and for the Grand Prize Package.

The Contest Presenters of Making the Brand™ wish to express their deep gratitude to all of their sponsors and to Denver’s dynamic small business community, without whom none of this would be possible.

Making the Brand™—Denver 2008 Seeks the Following Sponsors:

Venue and Food Sponsor
Making the Brand™ seeks a restaurant and/or catering sponsor to provide the following:

Host the early June media event
Provide food and service for the early June media event.

A restaurant seeking media attention would be an ideal fit, as they could sponsor both room and food.

Media Sponsorship Opportunities
Making the Brand™ seeks sponsors in television, radio, print and digital media. Exclusive media sponsorships are still available for local media entities to support the local small business community by helping to educate them regarding the importance of strong branding to their companies' success.

Denver is one of the top 20 cities for entrepreneurs according to Entrepreneur Magazine's 2006 study. By reaching out to this growing and vibrant community, local and regional media sponsors will have the opportunity to provide a benefit in the public interest by providing the following services:

During Nomination Period:

air time and production facilities for educational interviews with content experts regarding the importance of effective branding to the success of small businesses
educational interviews, articles and features allowing content specialists to explain the importance of effective branding to the success of small businesses

After Announcement of Winner:

air time and production facilities for educational features on the ongoing branding process
articles and features detailing the ongoing process of putting together a strong brand

In return for in-kind donation, Sponsors will receive:

Their logos and contact information posted on the contest website, along with links to their websites
Name recognition on any printed contest promotional materials
Invitation to the unveiling media event and recognition as a sponsor
Promoted with name recognition in the Primary Contest Sponsor’s email announcements and communications to their database
Sponsors have right of first refusal to participate in the Making the Brand™ contest annually, provided all sponsorship agreements are met in full.

Promotion for the contest will include:

Numerous press releases to print, TV and radio media, Small Business Development Center, Small Business Association, Micro-Business Development Center, Chambers of Commerce, etc.

1 month prior to contest kick off – announcement with hand delivered press kit to appropriate media contacts
2 weeks prior to contest kick off – press release announcing launch of contest website
Week of contest kick off – press release announcing the contest has started and the online nomination form has been activated
2 weeks into the contest – press release announcing that the deadline is fast-approaching only 2 weeks left to get in nominations
2 weeks after contest nomination cut off – press release announcing three finalists
1 week later – press release announcing winner
Monthly updates thereafter – press releases detailing progress on producing Grand Prize winner’s branding package
3-4 weeks prior to the media unveiling event – press release announcing details of the media event to be held in early June 2008.
Announcements in Primary Contest Sponsors eNewsletters distributed to their databases of contacts.
Promotion cards to hand out at places of business, networking events, etc. distributed by each sponsor.