Getting a sponsor is hard. Keeping one is mostly about two things: posts they are proud to share, and proof each month that it was worth it. Here is how to do both.
Write a thank-you with a reason
"Thanks to all our amazing sponsors" tells nobody anything. Name the business and say what they did. "Thanks to Hart Plumbing for getting us to Whilton Mill this weekend" is a post the business can share with their own customers. One partner per post is often better than a long list.
Tag them, and spell it their way
Tag their account so the post reaches their followers too. Copy their name exactly as they write it: capitals, apostrophes and all. If their logo is on the graphic, use the file they gave you, not a screenshot or a redrawn copy.
The #ad rule
If a business pays you, gives you money towards your racing, or gives you product in return for posts, the post is an advert and has to be clearly labelled as one. In the UK the simplest way is #ad at the start of the caption, where people see it before they read on. Do not hide it at the end among other hashtags. The responsibility sits with the person posting, not the app they used.
Invite them to a collab post
On Instagram, a collab post appears on both your profile and theirs. Ask first, then send the invite when you post. It puts your thank-you in front of their followers without them having to do anything.
Send a short report every month
Most sponsors never hear from their driver between race weekends. A one-page monthly report changes that: the posts that named them, how many people saw them, and what is coming next. Use the same numbers every month so they can see the trend. Say where each number came from.
Ask about next season before the season ends
Many local businesses set their budgets over the winter. Do not wait for them to bring it up. A month or two before your last round, send a summary of the season and ask if they would like to talk about next year.
Do it in VLTA
- Pick Thank a partner, name them and add a reason. Add their logo and #ad goes on by itself; if they pay or give product, keep #ad on.
- Their logo goes on the graphic from the file you uploaded, and VLTA writes the collab invite message for you to send.
- Each month, open the partner report: their posts, the reach, where every number came from. Share it as a link or a PDF.