Of course! It’s because I have lots of friends
Seriously though, I’ve had a marketing plan (hint to the football club; a good long term marketing plan makes all the difference).
I’m self employed so don’t have anything like
a generous employer to back me (a number of employers say they will double any amount raised up to a value of X. If you’re employed by a company, ask about this; the worst that can happen is they say no. They might even make a nominal donation).
I am however in a lot of different networks and organisations and am quite visible so have promoted it throughout.
Whilst my current target says £4000, I am upping that everytime I get close to 75%. Overall I want to raise £10,000 for the charity.
Here are some of the things I’ve done:-
1. If you’ve read my sponsorship page you will know it’s more than ‘this is a good cause’ but gives a hugely personal story. Make your sponsorship page something people can relate to. Some of the things I’ve shared I was in two minds about; I am actually a private person when it comes to personal things. But I know I need to raise money for the charity so if I have to sacrifice some privacy for sponsorship, I’ll do it.
2. Never let your amount raised be over your target. If you’re over target people who were in two minds whether to sponsor you will duck out. (I know; I’ve done it myself. Seen that someone was over target and thought I’d give it to someone else who needed it). Keep raising your target as donations come in.
2. I had business cards printed with my sponsorship link (I’ll upload one later on) as I had three awards dinners and one trade exhibition to go to. Plus lots of other events and socials. Having the business cards has made a difference, as when people go home/back to the office they’ve got a reminder and take action. These only cost me £28.
3. I do a video of my training every week or so, emphasising what an immense challenge this is for me. At the end of each short video is a reference to the charity and ‘the link is above this post’
I’m meant to upload these to my website but I’ve been so busy work wise, I’m behind with this.
Each video has gone on Facebook, Twitter sometimes LinkedIn and Instagram. I think it’s fair to say I do have a few followers on twitter, and I’ve pushed the videos both through my personal and business accounts.
4. The ride lasts over 3 days and I will schedule
some tweets over those days with a sponsorship link and saying where i am. (I’ve got a housesitter as per usual; no point trying to burgle me).
5. I’ve got the charity and the trade associations I’m involved with to mention my sponsorship page. They’ve retweeted the link and mentioned it in their newsletter.
6. I’ve mentioned it in my newsletter too. It will go out again this week, before GDPR decimates my mailing list. All the time I have said ‘if you’ve ever had advice from me, or benefited from something I’ve written, sat in one of my talks or been thankful for the salary survey, THIS IS PAYBACK TIME.’
7. Ask for £5. ‘If everyone could donate £5 it would make a difference’. As you will see, I’ve had a number of people donate much more than this, but it means people are not intimidated by those who’ve sponsored me for £5.
8. I’m about to give an interview to one, maybe two, trade magazines about my story with some information that might not have yet been made widely available.
9. Start a thread on here and on every forum you regularly post on. I am sure a number of people
on here will donate. £5 you say? Yes, I can afford £5.
Hope this helps.