One of the biggest things we see haunts struggle with is finding new customers and new ways to drive revenue. A business needs to make more money year after year to stay alive.
Of course, you can always make more money by charging more for your tickets. But that can backfire: raise prices too high and you’ll risk losing some of your returning customers. If you’re an experienced haunter you probably already know that you don’t have to rely entirely on individual ticket sales to make money on your event. Merchandise, concessions, VIP passes, and other upgraded experiences can all bring in more revenue.
But there’s a secret money maker that many haunts don’t take advantage of; it’s one of the most underutilized revenue streams in the business.
I’m talking about sponsorships.
Businesses of all sizes, from local mom-and-pop shops to national corporations, sponsor events as a way to build positive brand recognition in the community. Basically, a business gives you money and you in return provide them with exposure to potential customers.
The most common reaction I get when I suggest this to our clients is:
Well, eyeballs, for starters. Haunted attractions are a huge industry and you offer the advantage of a captive audience, particularly if you are the type of haunt that garners a two-hour line on Saturday night. You can both entertain and market to them simultaneously.
For popular, well-established haunts, sponsorships can be a lucrative business because you offer sponsors increased exposure. For new haunts that are just starting up, this can be a good way to cover some of the initial costs of opening your haunt for the season while helping other businesses get in front of new potential customers.
We’ll get into the details of what a sponsorship package includes in just a bit, but here are the main benefits to businesses who sponsor your haunt.
1. Building brand awareness
You can help them reach new customers. People travel from all across their local region to visit haunted attractions. You can help introduce them to businesses in the area, where they could shop, dine, or otherwise patronize on their visit.
2. Increasing Sales Numbers
Businesses who offer a discount or special deal for your haunt’s customers can drive more traffic through their doors and increase their sales.
3. Improving Brand Image
Haunted attractions guests are often enthusiastic supporters of the haunts they frequent, and being associated with a fun activity like your haunt can help endear sponsors to your guests, too.
The Sponsorship Collective has a great article on what benefits are most important to sponsors and how to calculate the value of your sponsorship package. Check it out here.
There are a number of things you can include in a sponsorship package to make it attractive. Standard packages include benefits like:
- Banners with supporters’ names or logos.
- Emails sent to attendees before or after the event. This is one of my favorites because it costs you nothing. It’s completely digital. But it can reach a large audience if you have a decent email list.
- Printing their name and message on every ticket you sell. Encourage sponsors to get creative with their message, or offer discounts or special deals to guests who show their tickets from your haunt.
If you’re using HauntPay, you can easily add a sponsored message to every digital and printed ticket you sell. And change those images as often as you like; they’ll update live on the very next ticket sale. Here’s more information on how to do that.
As your event grows, so will the exposure a sponsorship package brings. As attendance increases, you can increase the cost of sponsorship or introduce higher-dollar advertising packages.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get creative with your sponsorship options. Some businesses might be looking for ways they can sponsor specific guests experiences rather than just traditional advertising. For example:
- Concessions: the sponsors cover the up-front cost of food and drink items, and you include signage at the concessions stand.
- Photography: put their logo on digital photos taken professionally at your haunt.
- Merchandise: print their logo printed on the back of t-shirts.
Check out the infographic at the end of this story for more creative ways to engage your sponsors.
Think about the places you frequent yourself, or businesses in close proximity to your haunt. The restaurant across the street might be the perfect sponsor: if guests see their information on your tickets or signage at the haunt, they could stop by for dinner before or after their visit.
If you’re in a more remote location, consider the typical route guests make when they visit your haunt. Maybe there’s a gas station near the highway that wants people to stop in for coffee and fuel before they head home.
It’s also important to think about your typical guest’s experience, and what sponsored businesses might truly be relevant for them. Maybe you have a reputation for eliciting blood-curdling screams from your visitors. Partner with a throat lozenge company, a local tea shop where guests could purchase soothing beverages, or even an ear plug merchant.
Before you contact a potential sponsor, do some research so you can provide an explanation for why this business in particular would be a good partner. Bring a printed sponsorship package to review with them during your meeting. It doesn’t have to be a thick booklet with charts and jargon. One sheet with the benefits, attendance numbers, the location of possible ads, and sponsorship levels will get your started.
Then, you have to be brave. Make the ask. Be confident in what you have to offer and the value you bring to the table.
Good luck and happy haunting!
