At the start of every UTV or ATV racing career, everyone fantasizes about one day making it big with lineups of sponsorships, free merchandise and loads of other perks. Successful racers have spent years perfecting their race. They never worry about sponsorships because they’ve made a name for themselves and have sponsors “ready to go”. However, if you’re just starting out in your career, you need time and practice to get up to those levels.
So, the question is: How can any UTV (SxS) or ATV racer get offroad racing sponsorship?
The best way to get UTV / ATV racing sponsorships is to create a unique and attractive racing resume, proposal letter and online racing profile (website) that you can send to potential sponsors to showcase your bio, skills and what you will do for them if they choose you.
Some companies may require that you send your resume and other documents to them using their online form.
No matter your skill level, getting sponsors for your UTV or ATV race is more about the value that you can bring to your sponsors and what they will get out of the deal. You need to start small and have realistic expectations on the type of sponsors you can get. What’s more important is that you need to focus 100% on your race, commit to perform and deliver results. It takes time, but with the right focus, you will have sponsors lined up with offers.
In this post, we will go over some tips that can help you attract sponsors, negotiate a deal and create a name for yourself in the racing space.
Create a Website / Online Racing ProfileYou can do this right now, even if you don’t have any coding or design experience. There are free services on the internet that you can use to create a stunning and beautiful racing profile about yourself.
It’s important to setup an online profile because it can be used to demonstrate your:
Show off your achievements on the website. Even if you haven’t won anything and only participated in a few races, mention it. This shows sponsors that you are progressing in your career and is committed to the sport. 
This can provide a signal to potential sponsors to see which areas of your ride they can help you improve if they decide to sponsor you. Note that you should not mention the shortcomings of your ride. You don’t want to come off as someone who has a bad vehicle requiring maintenance. In this section, you’re simply demonstrating your knowledge of which areas you see can be improved.
Treat this website as a live resume that can be used to supplement your paper resume (discussed below). The website is also a good place to upload photos that potential sponsors otherwise would not see if you sent them a hard copy resume.
Remember to also include:
Make sure your voicemail message is professional.Note: you should create a new profile on each of these sites that will serve the purposes for your career. It shouldn’t be tied to your personal accounts.
The purpose of the paper resume is for you to have a hard copy resume to send to potential sponsors. If you have created your website, then the paper resume is a shorter summary of your achievements, racing history, and profile. Here is what you need to keep in mind:
Make sure you do it in such a way that they can tell it’s you. Usually, this can be achieved by using a sticker with your name on your racing clothing or helmet. Your resume should contain:
Now that you have your resume and website created. The next step is to create a proposal letter. Your cover letter is used to send to your potential sponsors and it goes along with your resume.
Your cover letter should be brief with a few short paragraphs (no more than 4 sentences each) that describes the purpose of your communication.
Your proposal letter should include:
Think about what additional value you can bring. Some of these might be:The proposal letter is the first thing that your potential sponsor will read. Keep it brief, but interesting enough for them to look further.
Print Hard Copy PhotosPrint out a couple of photos (3 or 4) of your best achievements/skills and include them with your cover letter and resume. You can’t expect sponsors to have the time to look through your website and photo album. Including photos with your resume and proposal letter ensures that they will at least look at a few photos and peak their interests.
You’ll be surprised how many people forget to do this step. Your sponsor will throw out your proposal letter and resume if they lose interest within the first 10 seconds of reading it. This is usually due to bad grammar and sentence structures in your letter. Make sure you proofread and check for grammar and spelling mistakes.
Format and Communication ChannelYour proposal letter, resume, and photos (3 or 4) can be sent physically or through email. It all depends on the preferences of your potential sponsor. Don’t be afraid to make initial contact with them first to see which method they prefer.
If you will be using email, make sure your photos are resized to be no more than 100kb and in either PNG or JPEG format. Convert your resume and proposal letter into PDF format before sending it out. This will ensure your formatting is consistent.
Note that some application forms require you to copy and paste your resume into their online text box with no option to upload a file.
In such a case, you may need to spend some time to format your pasted resume to ensure it’s clear and readable.
Now that you have all your documents ready, it’s time to start applying to different companies. Keep in mind that every company has its own rules for application. It’s a good idea to spend time to read and understand the information presented on their website first before applying.
Here is a list of companies you can start with for ATV / UTV (SxS) racing sponsorships:
Motosport
ITP TIRES
PRP Seats
GMZ Race Products
ELKA Suspension
SuperATV
GBC Motorsports
RCV Performance Parts
Simpson Race Products
OGIO Powersports
*I’ll be updating this list often so make sure you come back to check from time to time.
In addition, you can use online services like Sponsorhouse and Hookit to build your profile, track your progress and earn deals with sponsors.
Keep in mind that tools like Sponsorhouse an Hookit is a good place to get started but they shouldn’t be a substitute for your website, resume and proposal letter. This is because online profiles though these services are often too generic which means it is easy for sponsors to overlook your abilities and skills.
If you’re just starting out in your career, no one is going to give you free parts or merchandise. Even if you’re willing to do a lot for the company, you need time to gain trust. Sponsors like to back people who stay consistent, display a professional/positive image and achieve results.
Each company also has ITS own sponsoring budget and levels of sponsorship that they award to different ranked riders.
Here is what you can expect from sponsors at the beginning of your career:
Once you prove yourself, your perks will increase which may include free merchandise, parts for your ride, limited edition kits, contingencies (money paid for your racing events) and much more.
Negotiating a DealIf a sponsor is interested in working with you, they will contact you and present you with an offer on the UTV / ATV racing sponsorship. This is a good opportunity for you to discuss the potential deal, what’s included and get clarification on terms and conditions.
Here are some tips for negotiating:
Once the deal is done, you need to maintain contact with your sponsor from time to time. This is to maintain the sponsor relationship and announce new achievements which increase your chances of contract renewal once your current one is up.
To maintain sponsorship, you may need to:
**Note that this isn’t a complete list.
It shows some of the things you may be required to do to keep your sponsor happy and maintain the eligibility of your sponsorship.
I hope that I was able to help you gain a better understanding of UTV / ATV race sponsorships. If you follow the tips that I have provided in this post, I am confident that you will land a deal. Have fun racing!
If you feel that there are additional tips that I should include or new sponsorship programs to add to the list. Please contact us via our contact form.
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AMSOIL Racing Products
AMSOIL Synthetic Racing Oil
Hey, race fans! When I first started reviewing sponsorship proposals at AMSOIL, one caller rattled off his accomplishments and told me about the vehicle he planned to drive during the upcoming season.
“So, whaddya think?” he said. “You want to sponsor me?”
After many years reviewing thousands of sponsorship proposals, I’ve identified some key considerations when seeking a sponsorship. I sat with Josh Weise during his Sponsored Rider Podcast at Hay Days Grass Drags and we shared some tips that can help you land a sponsorship.
Pro Tip: Find a sponsored team or booth at an event and ask them who to contact!
AMSOIL is a large company. We have several departments, each devoted to a specific task, like blending oil, shipping, marketing, IT and more.
Dropping your resume into a random online contact form and hitting “submit” means the right person is not likely to see it. If it’s difficult to read, it can take even longer for the initial recipient to forward it to the right department.
Instead, do some research before submitting your resume and find out how and who to submit it to. You can also ask someone in another department or at an event for the right contact.
They’re familiar with our process and will make sure your inquiry gets to the right place.
That also goes for you social media peeps! If you send a summary of your racing career in a Facebook message, the social media team will tell you they don’t manage sponsorships.
Pro Tip: Be humble, engaging and eager to learn.
When I was in high school applying for part-time jobs, I’d grow frustrated not hearing back after my initial interview. “Did you follow up?” my dad would ask. “Well, no.”
We receive multiple sponsorship requests and questions a day. Some get lost in the shuffle, whether they end up in our junk mail or are sent to the wrong department (see first tip!) or get buried in our inboxes while we’re out of the office at an event.
Follow up to ensure we received your request. We typically discuss sponsorship proposals as a team prior to making decisions. This means our whole team must be present.
Chartering 1,000+ events annually requires a lot of effort and the team is frequently dispersed. We still do our best to make decisions quickly and get back to people promptly.
Pro Tip: Do your research to fully understand the brand you want to represent.
You want to get noticed? Influencer marketing is all the rage these days and the main channel is social media. AMSOIL wants to get in front of eyeballs, so seeing someone with strong content and following on social media means a lot to us.
At the end of the day, we’re selling oil. If we find someone who loves our products and can tell others about them, that’s our kind of “influencer.” Plus, singing our praises can score you some free product.
Be authentic. Get to know the brand you want to represent; it will be expected once you’re sponsored. If someone asks you a question about the company or products, you should be able to answer it. At the very least, you’ll need to know who to contact at the company to get an answer.
Pro Tip: Be prepared and show your work.
The first thing to do is build your resume, just as you would when pursuing a job. You need to sell yourself and tell prospective sponsors who you are. Here are a few things that should help get you noticed:
Feel free to include other relevant accomplishments, too! The main takeaway is – be prepared and show your work. You’ll receive a reply sooner than later.
Everyone experiences rejection, think of it like losing one race. Don’t take it as a sign you shouldn’t be racing. Ask for feedback from the company representative about what you can do to improve your chances next time. Sometimes it’s simply not a good fit. The company might be focusing on different disciplines. They might want to spend some time following you first, to see how you progress.
Apply with AMSOIL via our Preferred Racer or AMSOIL Influencer programs. If you have questions about the application process, email us or call 715-399-6569.
As always, we’ll see you at the races!
AMSOIL DOMINATOR® Synthetic 2-Stroke Racing Oil
AMSOIL Racing Products
AMSOIL Synthetic Racing Oil
The racing season is drawing to a close and riders and team managers are starting to make plans for 2013.
Whether you're a rookie rider or an experienced veteran, having the right team of sponsors and supporters in your corner is essential to building a winning program. In a tough economic climate, it's all the more important to stand out from the crowd and show the company why you're worth the investment. nine0004
I worked during the season as sponsorship director for a well known tire and wheel manufacturer. In a single season, I have considered over 400 sponsorship applications, from rookies to multiple national champions. I have seen almost every possible resume format and even argued with riders about what they think they are entitled to.
When approaching potential sponsors, it is important to remember that sponsorship is a business arrangement. A company that offers you any level of support in the form of a free product or even a discount believes that you will promote its brand and ultimately help it sell the product. Yes, most companies believe in supporting the sport and for that reason sometimes offer discounts to riders knowing full well that they don't get much publicity.
This is their way of helping the development of the sport and helping young and newcomers take the leap in their racing careers. nine0005
Standing on the podium and thanking your sponsors is just one small part of the sponsorship puzzle.
As a rider, it is your responsibility to do everything in your power to show the sponsor that you believe in the sponsor's brand and want to help sell their products. There are a few things to keep in mind as you enter the battle to find sponsors.
Submit an offer
Unless you are approached by a sponsor, every sponsorship agreement starts with an offer. Start by looking at the company's website or call and ask if they are accepting sponsorship applications. Most companies do this, but many of them have specific guidelines for how they handle sponsorship. Some companies accept hard copies, many only accept email submissions, and others use third-party websites such as Hookit.
com and MXsponsor.com for sponsorship. If you can, ask them which method they prefer. nine0005
Personally, I have found it much easier to review and respond to electronic proposals than to scan pages of hard copies and then skim through the document looking for an email address to send back a proposal. You will earn points with the company by making it easier for them to do their job, and they will also guide you on how to formulate your specific offer.
Keep your application or resume short and to the point.
Many riders go to great lengths to create their own posters and even play cards to highlight their accomplishments. That's fine, but in my experience, an electronic copy of a PDF or Word document is the safest option. It's easy to track and easy to email. nine0005
There is no rule about application length, but in my experience shorter is better. Most companies look at literally hundreds of resumes and don't have time to read your entire racing history.
A page or two is usually sufficient to provide a brief introduction and talk about your accomplishments, goals for the upcoming season, and finally how you will represent your sponsors.
Don't forget to include some photos in the document itself: shots in motion, at least one shot of your head without a helmet, and photos of your car and box so that companies can see how well you are promoting your sponsors. nine0005
Tell them what you will do for them
One of your jobs as a sponsored racer is to help promote the products you use for racing fans.
When it comes to representation, waving a sponsor's sticker and thanking from the podium is a matter of course. If you want to wow a sponsor, you must offer a level of advertising or promotion that sets you apart from others. A lot of it has to do with your personality and your ability to make friends. Are you well known and respected on the track? Do you have a unique outlet or opportunity to promote their product in an area they don't currently cover? nine0005
Consider offering a riding school or just chatting with younger riders and answering their questions.
This builds relationships with younger riders and allows you to influence their buying choices. It's a fact that people want to use the brands that top athletes use. Why do you think Nike offered LeBron James $90 million early in his career?
If you have a website, post your sponsors prominently and promote them there. Consider talking about the products you use from each of your potential sponsors. nine0005
Keeping your car and service area clean is an easy way to show sponsors that you care about them.
This may seem small and obvious, but watch your car and box. A professional looking pit with clean equipment and sponsor logos or banners prominently shows potential sponsors that you will always look professional.
When you are ready to submit your proposal, include a short cover letter specifically designed for each sponsor. Some people send out their resumes to dozens of companies in one bulk email. To be honest, it just makes you look lazy and it doesn't personalize it.
Sponsorship is mutually beneficial relationship is so take the time to be professional and personalize your sponsorship request. On that note, be sure to test your submission. Bad grammar and misspelled words will most likely result in your resume being submitted to the big round.
Be a Pro
A successful and media-savvy rider can become synonymous with a sponsor, like racing legend Tracey Cecco with Yamaha. nine0005
It is important to understand that not everyone will be able to help you or give you the level of support you think you deserve. Budgets are limited and sponsors must sell the product to keep the doors open. After all, they are in business to make money.
If a sponsor makes you an offer that is lower than you expected, you have several options. You can take it and make it a personal challenge to do such a good job promoting a product that the company can't help but do more for you next year.
Or you can refuse the offer and apply elsewhere. Whatever you do, do not berate the company or make claims that you have been treated unfairly. Scolding a company or telling them they'll regret not supporting you is the quickest way to blacklist yourself. Believe it or not, the SUV industry is quite small and there is a lot of talk about it. You must remember that companies receive hundreds of sponsorship requests and it is simply not possible to help everyone. nine0005
Professional behavior, even if you choose not to accept a sponsor's offer, will keep your reputation with this company if you ever decide to apply for sponsorship again in the future.
Keep them updated
Once you have found a few sponsors, your task is to let them know how you are doing. Periodic updates let them know how your season is going and that their investment in you is paying off. Sharing race reports via Facebook and Twitter and tagging them in photos not only showcases their product in use, but helps build their online presence.
Many people still don't understand that social media is a huge marketing tool and the more action there is on a company's Facebook page, the more online traffic it will generate. nine0005
Keeping in touch with your sponsors throughout the season and letting them know you appreciate their help will keep them in their favor for years to come.
Do your best to show sponsors that you value their support and that you are guiding people in their direction. You don't have to call them every week or send a detailed race report after every event, but be sure to let them know about your season and how much you appreciate their help. You can be sure that as the person in charge of sponsorship, I remembered the people who took the time to call the office or drive to the track and say thank you. This may benefit you the next time you apply for sponsorship. nine0005
Despite what many people think, sponsorship is not a reward system. Yes, if you reach a certain level or success or manage to do your best in marketing your sponsors, many will increase their level of support or even give you a product for free.
But it's a big misconception that just because you've moved up in class or won a few races, your sponsor owes you something.
As a sponsored rider, your job is to help sell the product. With that in mind, being professional and showing sponsors how you're helping sell a product is the best way to get a company to increase their support levels. nine0005
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By Milena Anderson Reading 6 min. Views 12 Posted
Short answer
the number and brands you hope to work with. How to sell your sponsorship?
There are a few things to keep in mind when selling sponsorships:
- Understand what the sponsor is looking for. What are their goals and objectives?
-Compose a proposal that outlines the benefits of sponsorship for the sponsor. nine0109 -Make sure you have a reliable contact person at the sponsor's company who can be your main point of contact.
- Be prepared to negotiate.
-Regularly check back for updates on sponsorship progress.
What can sponsors offer?
There are many things a company can offer to sponsors, depending on the type of sponsorship agreement being negotiated. Typically, a company may offer sponsors access to its customers, its products or services, or its employees. In addition, the company may offer sponsors marketing and promotional opportunities, such as logo placement or product demonstrations. Finally, the company may offer sponsors the opportunity to participate in company-sponsored events or activities. nine0005
How can I get Red Bull to sponsor me?
There is no one size fits all answer to this question as the best way to get Red Bull to sponsor you depends on your individual situation and what you have to offer.
However, some tips on how to get Red Bull's attention include: being an active and engaged member of the community, creating high-quality content, and building a strong following on social media.
Where Can I find sponsors on Instagram? nine0005
There are several places where you can find sponsors on Instagram. One of them is through influencer marketing platforms like Famebit or Takumi. These platforms allow brands to seek out influencers to promote their products or services.
Another way to find sponsors is to look for hashtags related to your niche. For example, if you are a fitness blogger, you can search for #fitnesssponsors on Instagram. A list of brands that are actively looking for fitness ambassadors will appear..
How to write a sponsorship proposal?
First, you need to gather information about the company or organization you are proposing to sponsor. This includes things like their mission, what they stand for, and what they have done in the past.
Once you have this information, you will want to submit your proposal. This should include a brief introduction to your organization, what you hope to accomplish with the sponsorship, and why the other company would be a good fit for you. nine0005
How do you request sponsorship?
There are several things you can do to increase your chances of getting sponsored:
Start by identifying and targeting potential sponsors.
Make a list of what you can offer your sponsor in exchange for their support.
Write a proposal outlining your request and how the sponsor will benefit.
Submit a proposal to a sponsor and contact them regularly.
5 .
How to get 10 thousand followers on Instagram?
There is no one size fits all answer to this question as the best way to get 10,000 followers on Instagram depends on your niche, content and overall strategy. However, some tips for growing your Instagram followers include using relevant hashtags, posting high-quality content regularly, and engaging with your audience.
Plus, with tools like Iconosquare or Sprout Social, you can track your progress and measure your success. nine0005
Why don't I have followers on Instagram?
There are several reasons why you might not have followers on Instagram. One possibility is that your account is new and hasn't gained followers yet. Another possibility is that your posts are not interesting or engaging enough for people to want to follow you. You can also use the wrong hashtags or not use hashtags at all. Try experimenting with different strategies to see what works best for you. nine0005
How to get 1,000 Instagram followers in 5 minutes for free?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to get Instagram followers can vary depending on your niche, content, and audience. However, some tips to help you grow your followers quickly include using relevant hashtags, posting interesting and engaging content, and interacting with other users on the platform. nine0005
How can I promote my Instagram for free?
There are several ways to promote your Instagram for free. One way is to post interesting and engaging content that will get people to follow you. You can also use hashtags to reach a wider audience and include a link to your Instagram in your bio. You can also promote your Instagram on other social media platforms or email your followers directly. Finally, you can run contests or giveaways on Instagram to get more followers. nine0005
How can I get sponsored online?
There are several ways to get sponsored online. One way is to contact companies directly and ask if they are interested in sponsoring your content or event. Another way is to use a platform like Patreon, which allows people to donate money to support your work. Finally, you can use crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo to raise funds from private donors. nine0005
How can I find a sponsor?
There are several things you can do to find a sponsor.
