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By Marketing at Full Speed owner Annamarie Strawhand
Supermodified Racers,
Many race car drivers and teams are using crowdfunding websites these days to try to raise funds for their racing through donations. It looks very tempting to do as a fast and easy fix to get the money you need to race. You go in with high hopes that this can be the answer to your problems. You get all your family, friends, neighbors, teachers, co workers and Facebook followers to donate and you push and push them to keep donating to hopefully reach your goal amount.
Although many racers and teams are on these sites, pushing for “donations” I have watched these very carefully and have come to the conclusion that very rarely does any racer actually meet their funding goal, or even get halfway in most instances.
Putting yourself in a position of asking fans to give you money to race can shake the ground you have as a leader and role model that they can look up to. Repeating the “donate to my racing” process over and over will lower the respect and trust of your fans after a while.
Looking at this as quick fix or a true funding solution, is like putting a tiny band-aid on a gushing, bleeding wound. It does not solve your long-term funding problems. You will face the same problem over and over because you did not properly address the root of the problem to begin with.
Before you resort to crowdfunding sites, ask yourself these questions:
- “Have I really done everything I can to properly and consistently market my brand and celebrity to potential sponsors?
- “Did I take the time to learn how to really attract sponsors and create the value for them that they are looking for?”
- “How would a sponsor look at me if they saw my donation page? Would I look like a valuable marketing representative and spokesperson to them?”
- “Why do I have to resort to begging everyone I know for donations to race? How did I get myself in this place?”
- “Do I want to look desperate and needy? Is there another way to do this with dignity, professionalism and integrity?”
- “How many race drivers and teams are successful in doing this, are they successful in the long run or are they quickly back to being at square one?”
- “Have I really addressed the root of my funding problem? Have I looked at this from a business perspective and taken my emotions out of it?”
Did you know that using crowdfunding can actually be DAMAGING to your racing career? Join me over on MarketingatFullSpeed.com to explain why and read about POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES to using a crowdfunding site to go racing.
Motorsports Marketing Mentor and Sponsorship Attraction Coach
Creator of the Sponsor Attraction System™
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What suggestions do you have for the grassroots racer. I understand the need to work for your sponsor and make the relationship benefit everyone. But racing at the local bull ring is contact sport. After a few nights of racing your car is to beat up to showcase your sponsors. Customer appreciation days any other occasions where people get close to the car seem counter productive. I don’t have the time or resources for a show car or replacing wrinkled body panels.
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Hi Douglas – first of all thank you for your comment – you have a very good question. What we have found with our clients and students that are “grass roots” racers just like you, the sponsors that they have been able to successfully attract and keep are more interested in the driver’s celebrity presence for their company and not so much the car. So if you can keep yourself from getting crinkled and stay shiny with your own personal brand and work on more of a personal relationship with your sponsors and fans – you are good. – All the best, Annamarie http://www.go-annamarie.com
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