The Inches: A Podcast About Sports Sponsorship

Many times in sponsorship, we need buy-in from other departments to execute the packages we sell. Whether it's the social media team, facilities, or even game ops...we need them to help and authorize the items we sell. So how can we get them on board with what our sponsors want and need? In this episode,  we dive into some ways you can get that internal buy-in before you close your additional...

We've all been there in prospecting. We either have hit a rut...or we're plateauing and struggling to find new business. So where can we find those diamonds in places that few salespeople would look? In this episode, we dive into a few areas and strategies to help you get out of the new business rut while opening new market segments for your sponsorship team. -- The Inches Podcast is a p...

We've all been there. You went into the pitch with a great plan, a great package, and a great feeling this will be a win with a new prospect. And then, it falls flat. You get those stares, frowns, and bewildered looks throughout the presentation. So how can you adjust to potentially save the deal? In this episode,  we dive into a few tweaks you can make to ensure that even if a meeting goes s...

When we are in season and have full stadiums is normally when sponsors are looking to reach our fans. It's where most of our sponsorship inventory lives. But what about the off-season? How can we maximize our revenue with off-season events WHILE avoiding oversaturation? In this episode, we dive into the perfect ways your team can look at and activate your off-season for sponsors new and old....

You want to work in sponsorships...but the problem is you have been working in another industry for the last 5 years. So how do you make the jump into the industry if you don't have any direct sports sponsorship experience? In this episode, we dive into how you can make the industry switch...and even how to think about hiring an applicant who is outside the industry as a current sponsorship h...

With this year's NCAA WBB March Madness, we are seeing the exciting sports and players getting the distribution and attention they deserve.  The result is an explosion in viewership rates and popularity. So how will this affect the sponsorship industry as a whole? In this episode, we dive into how we see the sponsorship industry shifting with the addition of another major player in the sports...

Recaps are a part of life in sponsorships. Your sponsors paid you money for a service, now it's time to show them the results & value. But are you doing recaps in a way that builds confidence and future business? In this episode of The Inches, we dive into sponsorship recaps and how your team can build a strategy that drives trust with your sponsors. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast tha...

We've all heard the term in sponsorship, Logo Slap.... It's a vivid term used to describe simply putting a sponsor logo on an asset and calling it a day, hoping fans will notice it in the stadium. Brands hate it. So why is it so prevalent in our space? In this episode, we dive into what Logo Slap is, why it doesn't work, and how your team can combat it to drive results for your spon...

When you're in the sponsorship world for long enough, you will have some great days that make you proud, and some worst days that have you rethinking this industry. So what have our best & worst times been? In this episode, we dive into moments in our sponsorship journey, both good & bad, and what we learned from them. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & even...

Love this episode each year, and 2024 SB brought some interesting items and trends. On this episode of The Inches, we dive into how RIch & I saw the Super Bowl this year from a Sponsorship lens. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event sponsorship and how digital is affecting the industry and landscape. Hosted by Rich Franklin , VP of Partnerships at the Coachella Va...

We've all had them. Sometimes great clients will turn into problem ones quickly. It is always on us in sponsorships to help guide them through the tough positions they sometimes put us in. But how can we specifically do that for each type of difficult client? In this episode, we dive into Rich's four most common problem clients we see in sponsorship and how to manage each to success for...

You did it. You closed that prospect. Now they are a bonafide sponsor of your team. The work is over now...right? Nope. In partnerships, it is critical to stay connected with them throughout the year if we want a shot at keeping their business. But what are the best ways to do so without feeling transactional? On this episode of The Inches, we dive into a few key ways you can authentically stay co...

Research in sales is key. We can't go into a pitch with little to no understanding of our prospect's business or vision. But how much is too much research? When does it become overkill? We dive into a listener's question to answer how to think about and execute successful research on your prospects in sponsorship. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event s...

New Year's Resolutions are a funny thing. While a great way to reset the year, we also somewhat look to predict what is important to us for the upcoming year. So what about sponsorship in 2024? Here are our biggest resolutions for 2024 that your team should be looking out for to increase your results in the sponsorship industry. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & ev...

In sponsorships, our job is to generate revenue for our organization through the value we bring to brands. Long-term contracts help us guarantee that revenue across multiple. But how can we drive more long-term contracts with our sponsors? Even better, can we get our 1-year contracts to sign long-term ones? In this episode, we dive into the ins & outs of long-term contracts and how you should...

If we can't understand what a sponsor is measuring us on, how can we expect to drive results for them? Many times though, they won't come out with it. We have to be able to drive the full picture of their expectations for the partnership out of them. On this episode of The Inches, we dive into 3 questions you should be asking before every partnership begins to help you maximize results a...

Trade & in-kind is a part of sponsorship life. And while there can be some benefits to receiving them, there can be consequences if you take too many of them. But how can you manage expectations when your prospect offers up trade instead of cash? In this episode, we dive into how to handle in-kind offers from sponsors, and a few ways you can monetize if you do take them. -- The Inches Podcast...

They say it takes 7-10 touchpoints to close a prospect on average. But lately, it seems like follow-ups have fallen flat in sales strategy. So how can you tweak your strategy to make sure your follow-ups don't make you feel like a pest? In this episode, we dive into the perfect follow-up strategy and mindset you can follow to close more deals with sponsorship prospects & renewals. -- The...

Whether it is on ideals or outcomes, our sponsors must be aligned with our team and fanbase before we sign them. But what happens if we find misalignments for a prospect? What if it is a huge deal financially for our team? In this episode of The Inches, we dive into how to handle sponsor misalignment and how you can work through the roadblocks. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at spor...

Knowing your sponsor's goals for the partnership is the first and most vital part of the prospecting process. But what if the goals they express are all qualitative? What if all quantitative? How do we ensure we are focusing on the right things to make sure that their partnership is a success? In this episode, we dive into how you can uncover both qualitative and quantitative goals from your...

Gaming & casino sponsorship is one of the fastest-growing verticals in our industry. But what do they look for when it comes to sponsoring sports properties? In this episode, we dive in with gaming industry vet Jose Garcia to peel back the curtain when it comes to how he thinks about and buys sponsorships in sports. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event sponsorshi...

You have a list full of potential sponsors and brands. You're excited to get started reaching out...but then it hits you. You don't know who the right person to reach out to is. How can you make sure you are contacting the right person to say yes? In this episode, we dive into how to identify the right person/ people to contact when reaching out...and a strategy to reach multiple decisio...

If you're in the sponsorship industry, you've been there. The season is fast approaching and you have that outfield sign unsold. So what's the game plan to get value from it? This week, we dive into a game plan on how to manage your unsold inventory to come out on top before the season starts. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event sponsorship and how di...

Being efficient and effective in your off-season sales prospecting is a foundation for hitting your goals in sports sponsorship. A bad plan or execution can leave you with missed revenue. So how can you make sure that you are spending your time wisely each prospecting season? In this episode, we dive into how segmenting your prospecting can help you close more deals this sales season. -- The Inche...

You've done the work, made the calls, and got your first meeting with a prospect in sponsorship. But how can you make sure that the initial pitch meeting leads to a close? On this episode of The Inches Podcast, we dive into a winning structure for your sales meetings to help drive more revenue for your team. -- The Inches Podcast is a podcast that looks at sports & event sponsorship and h...