Latest Thinking from IEG

Story Telling

There’s no getting around it. Without an explanation for a sponsorship, fans will make up their own and often they are negative. Fittingly, Allianz—official risk manager of Formula 1—runs little risk of its sponsorship being misinterpreted. While directly tied to its core lines of business—road safety and risk management—Allianz uses the F1 platform to educate and entertain fans and media so that its sponsorship comes off as a benefit rather than an intrusion. And by having its story live across multiple platforms, Allianz tells the story with various degrees of intimacy, depending on the audience.

For example, F1 fans may read about it in print ads or hear an interview with the driver of the company-sponsored Formula 1 Safety Car. Customers and prospects may hear the story directly from one of the firm’s safety ambassadors or AT&T Williams driver Nico Rosberg, also sponsored by Allianz. Journalists may encounter the story via free race clips and graphics. Even now, when F1 is in the news almost as often for scandals, rules changes and a possible breakaway circuit as it is for racing, Allianz connects the news to its story line. For example, a recent Allianz ad was titled “Prepared for the Unexpected.”

Allianz, which recently renewed its F1 partnerships, is among the many insurance companies adding deals despite the economic downturn.  

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Filed under: how to get sponsorship, international, motorsports, selling, activation

Monday Session Recap from the 2009 IEG Sponsorship Conference

On the first full day of the 2009 IEG Sponsorship Conference, the presentations came out in full force as representatives of sponsors and properties exchanged ideas on how to go about meeting their needs today.

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Filed under: how to get sponsorship, IEG conference, research, activation