I am a 36-year-old
triathlete on the precipice of reaching my top form. Last year was my first full season in the
sport. At this point you’re probably
wondering if you’ve read the previous two sentences correctly. I assure you, the information is accurate.
I am what, in the sport, they
call an age group athlete. This means I
compete among other athletes in the 35-39 age category. I am not a
professional. I am not an elite athlete. What I am is a highly competitive athlete
within my age group and like most other age-group athletes, I have a ‘real
job’, a family and other responsibilities.
In fact, in 2013, there wasn’t a race I entered that I didn’t win my age
group. (Despite an injury that sidelined me from July to mid-September.) I also
qualified for the Olympic distance national championships but an injury
prevented me from competing.
First, always, I am a
father and a husband. My wife, Lisa and
my daughters, Iris (15) and Sydney (8) are my everything. My love for sport and competition has been
apparent throughout my later life and I’ve been blessed with the support of ‘my
girls’ whenever I’ve decided to compete in an event. They are my motivation for writing this
letter.
Time to turn the
tables. This letter isn’t about me, it
is about you and what I have to offer you, your company, your brand. In order to do this successfully, one must
see from your perspective. There are
scores of great athletes seeking sponsorship money. What makes me different?
1.
My age.
My age category, 35-39, is one of the
most competitive. It is also one of the
most affluent. The mean income is well
over $126,000.
2.
My ability.
As I said before, I am not a
professional. I am not gaped at by all
the wanna-be age groupers as I roll my $12,000 bike into the pro slots at
transition before the race start. I am
standing beside them gaping at the $12,000 bike with them. We talk.
We talk gear, strategy, bikes, local shops, training. I am one of them.
3.
My
marketability.
I make a living as an online marketing
director. I am also a published writer
with aspirations of one day becoming the next J.K. Rowling and retiring in a
castle like Downton Abbey. My online
marketing skills are superior and in today’s world, can be invaluable to
potential sponsors.
4.
My
creativity.
I’ve decided to make this season into
a story -a story that will play out for all to see and share and laugh and
commiserate and root for the underdog –the guy next door. Using my writing and marketing skills, I am
in the process of creating a platform (via social media) to do just that. A documentary/blog/photo-journal.
5.
My story.
It isn’t cheap to be a triathlete. As
you’ll see on my race schedule page, the entry and travel expenses alone can be
prohibitive to many, including myself. I
do not have unlimited discretionary income and my wife nearly had a coronary
when she saw what I had in mind for my 2014 races. I knew at that moment I’d have to come up
with another way to support my season if I wanted to reach my goal. In 2014 I
am determined to qualify for and compete in the Ironman 70.3 World
Championships. I want to show my children that you’re never too old to chase a
dream. I also want them to see the hard
work required to do so. I’d also like
them to see the payoff –the big event, which is why I’ve included the cost of
traveling with my family to the world championships in the sponsorship expense
list.
6.
My ability.
I realize this is the second time I’ve used ‘my
ability’ but I believe it is necessary.
As a potential sponsor, you have the right to ask if I have the ability
to qualify for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships. I do.
My coach, a USAT Certified
Triathlon Coach, agrees. There wasn’t a
race I entered in 2013 where I didn’t win my age category.
 |
| The girls and I |
Elite Sponsorship
Financial assistance of $7,079.00 or greater
You would be the headline sponsor and receive
preferential placement on all branding/logo placement as well as online
branding.
Branding on my race suit
and warm-up gear used for every event
Branding on all of my
social media sites including but not limited to
o
An online
marketing campaign throughout the race season describing how your product or
services have benefited me as an athlete and can benefit every triathlete using
multiple social media sites.
o
Links to your
website(s) from my social media sites throughout the season
o
Online Interviews
featuring your product or service (video, written, audio) posted on various
social media sites throughout the season
o
Mention in
all race reports
Press coverage from race
results and positive community work
Opportunity to use me as you see fit to promote
your product or services Pro Sponsorship
Financial assistance between $5,000.00 -$7078.00
Branding on my race suit
and warm-up gear used for every event
Branding on all of my
social media sites including but not limited to
·
Online
marketing describing how your product or services have benefited me as an
athlete and can benefit every triathlete (several posts during the season)
·
-Links to
your website(s)
·
-An online
interview featuring your product or service (video, written, audio)
·
Mention in
all race reports
Press coverage from race
results and positive community work
Opportunity to use me as
you see fit to promote your product or services
Gold Sponsorship
Financial
assistance between $2,500.00-$4,999.00
Branding on my race suit
and warm-up gear used for every event
Branding on all of my
social media sites including but not limited to
·
Online
marketing describing how your product or services have benefited me as an
athlete and can benefit every triathlete (several posts during the season)
·
-Links to
your website(s)
·
-An online
interview featuring your product or service (video, written, audio)
·
Mention in
all race reports
Press coverage from race
results and positive community work
Opportunity to use me as
you see fit to promote your product or services
Silver Sponsorship
Financial
assistance between $1,000.00-$2499.00
Branding on my race suit
and warm-up gear used for every event
Branding on all of my
social media sites including but not limited to
·
Online
marketing describing how your product or services have benefited me as an
athlete and can benefit every triathlete (several posts during the season)
·
-Links to
your website(s)
Press coverage from race
results and positive community work
Opportunity to use me as you see fit to promote
your product or services
Bronze Sponsorship
Financial
assistance between $500.00-$999.00
Branding on my race suit
and warm-up gear used for every event
Branding on all of my
social media sites including but not limited to
·
Online
marketing describing how your product or services have benefited me as an
athlete and can benefit every triathlete
·
-Links to
your website(s)
Press coverage from race
results and positive community work
Opportunity to use me as you see fit to promote
your product or services
Honorable Mention Sponsorship
Financial
assistance between $10.00-$499.00
Branding on all of my
social media sites including but not limited to
·
Online
marketing describing how your product or services have benefited me as an
athlete and can benefit every triathlete
·
-Links to
your website(s)
Press coverage from race
results and positive community work
Opportunity to use me as
you see fit to promote your product or services
Product Sponsorship
Supplying product(s) or gear
Branding on my race suit
and warm-up gear used for every event
Use of your product
during the season with regular reports of its benefits via online marketing.
Branding on all of my
social media sites including but not limited to
·
Online
marketing describing how your product or services have benefited me as an
athlete and can benefit every triathlete
·
-Links to
your website(s)
·
An online
interview featuring your product or service (video, written, audio)
Press coverage from race
results and positive community work
Opportunity to use me as
you see fit to promote your product or services
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