What better way to lose weight, feel good about yourself, and help others than by getting sponsored to run a marathon? Organizations all over the world need people like you to support their cause, give back to their mission, and bring awareness to others. Getting sponsored to run a marathon is one of the most rewarding things an athlete can do. One of the biggest misconceptions about getting a sponsor is that the process is confusing and time consuming. However, with the right tools and techniques, your sponsorship will be the easiest step in preparing for a marathon.

Owen Shott, owner of Jacksonville Running Company, states “Getting sponsored for a marathon allows more money to go to the charities that would normally be put to the cost of putting a marathon on. For instance, Team in Training raises sponsorship money so the runners can have certain amenities, such as transportation to and from the event.” Sponsorships benefit you, the marathon, and the institution that is financing you. With all of these people involved, there are a lot of factors that go into finding the right sponsorship and keeping it. First, you’ll need to pinpoint the companies or organizations you’d like to work with. After that, you’ll need to target them and gain their interest in your cause.

Research is vital when you’re finding a marathon sponsor. There are some ideal tools that you can use to help facilitate your search, such as the Internet, business colleagues, friends, and family. During your initial research, find out which companies or organizations that don’t accept unsolicited requests. In doing so, you’ll save yourself the time and hassle of unnecessary closed doors. Your time is better spent starting locally. Local companies are always looking for ways to promote their small businesses and a charitable sponsorship is just the ticket.

The best thing to do is to narrow your search down immediately to just a select few companies you’d like to target. After you’ve narrowed your search, spend some time getting to know more about the sponsorship history of the company as it’s crucial to you. If you’re unsure which companies would work best with you, start with family and friends. Believe it or not, you have a network there can allow you to connect with companies that are looking to get involved with charity work.http://www.askmen.com/money/how_to_300/339_how_to.html Another great option that you should look into is the SponsorHouse.com website.http://www.sponsorhouse.com This website allows you to create a profile to attract and apply for different sponsorships.

When targeting your potential sponsors, you don’t necessarily have to seek out the president or CEO of the company. Look for the marketing directors or publicists to receive a more direct answer. In the end, they are ultimately the ones who make the final decisions when it comes to events such as this so by going directly to them you’re just cutting out the middle man. http://www.askmen.com/money/how_to_300/339_how_to.html

Before you set up interviews and meetings, there are a lot of things to consider when looking for the ideal company or organization to sponsor you. Above all, you’ll have to ask yourself, “Am I the ideal candidate to represent this company?”When you put on the logo or brand of the company you’re representing, then you become a spokesman for said company. Companies will do their research before providing someone with the financial backing they require for a marathon. In doing so, they may check your social media accounts, such as Facebook or Twitter to ensure that you can represent the company well. Your best option is to erase any images that you may have on your social media account of drinking or partying too hard. You don’t want to send the wrong message when you don the sponsor’s logo across your chest. Much like a professional athlete, these companies depend on you to be the face of the company during your marathon.

Before your interviews and meetings, be prepared to answer this crucial question from the decision maker, "What's in it for us to sponsor you?". With today's recession, companies are taking a good look at where each dollar goes, especially in their advertising budge. Lately, the trend appears to be getting away television and radio commercials and focusing more on event marketing. http://sponsorshiphelp.com/ This is where you come in. Focus on telling your potential sponsor that you'll be happy to represent the company well in all events before, during, and after the marathon. You can offer to wear the company logo wherever applicable and introduce yourself to others as means of getting their brand out there. This is your time to take advantage of the shifting advertising trends and allow a company to see you as a beneficial walking campaign.

Remember to start narrow your search, start locally, and speak to publicists and marketing managers rather than CEOs and company presidents. Additionally, make sure you can market yourself as a humble, moral athlete by removing any questionable photos from your social media websites. Above all, have confidence in yourself and what you can bring to a company. Stay positive and focus on what you can do for a company rather than the other way around.