Help advertising unique business venture

thejinkazama

Hi,

How can I advertise a game show style event (think Millionaire) to organisations to use as a team building / fundraising / charity event? I've emailed several companies, charities and churches and posted on local Facebook business forums but with no response. I've advertised it as free as it's a new idea.

Alderbank

'Free' is not an attractive word to businesses.

Your junket is not free for them if they are paying attendees by the hour.

Also, just sticking something on Facebook smacks of 'can't really be bothered that much'.

Since it's local, there is no substitute for shoe leather and knocking on doors. Get out there, visit your local businesses and sell them all the benefits your enterprise will bring them in terms of increased profits.

Don't be afraid to ask a reasonable price for what you are offering, however you are fortunate in that if a key well-respected charity really can't afford it, you can drop the price to a point where they feel they can't refuse.

tl:dr; Get out there and push the benefits to them, not the (free) cost!

ButterCheese

Agree with above.  You need to market yourself as a business - that means Linked in, a website etc.  No-one looks on Facebook to book things like this for their staff.  And everyone will want to know what your costs/rates are.  You should also do a premium service and a more budget freindly option (e.g. maybe a 1.5 hour event and a 3 hour or half-day event), it always looks better if you have set options and and ability to tailor to their specific needs.

Put yourself in the shoes of a Manager/CEO and ask what is being offered, and why should I pay £x for this - how will it benefit my staff?  

Jude57

thejinkazama said:

Hi,

How can I advertise a game show style event (think Millionaire) to organisations to use as a team building / fundraising / charity event? I've emailed several companies, charities and churches and posted on local Facebook business forums but with no response. I've advertised it as free as it's a new idea.

I'd want to know what your qualifications are to facilitate such an event? If not carefully managed, off-site team building events can turn from a fun time out of the office to a grievance-airing excuse to bash colleagues or management. Successfully facilitating such events requires a specific skill set which I'd want to be confident you had before I'd book you. 

Tabieth

I agree with many of the previous comments. I think you need to be actively selling the professional benefits of your event. Why should a company / line manager send their team to your event? What do they gain? How will it benefit the business / the service that they provide? A team attending an event like this has a massive opportunity cost for the employer. Their staff will likely be away from their desks for at least half a day and so not working / making money / providing a service. The employer needs convincing that your event is worth all of that, and that there will be a net benefit. 

Savvy_Sue

Jude57 said:

thejinkazama said:

Hi,

How can I advertise a game show style event (think Millionaire) to organisations to use as a team building / fundraising / charity event? I've emailed several companies, charities and churches and posted on local Facebook business forums but with no response. I've advertised it as free as it's a new idea.

I'd want to know what your qualifications are to facilitate such an event? If not carefully managed, off-site team building events can turn from a fun time out of the office to a grievance-airing excuse to bash colleagues or management. Successfully facilitating such events requires a specific skill set which I'd want to be confident you had before I'd book you. 

Oh my days, YES.

I am still mildly traumatised by a team-building day which fell on my first day back at work after a bereavement. Despite asking if there was anything I should know in advance I wasn't told to come in comfortable clothes ready to sit on the floor. Actually I always wear comfortable clothes, but I do NOT sit on the floor. And it went downhill fast from there.

If there are specific charities you'd hope to work with, talk to them about your ideas. They'll have ideas for how to attract supporters.

Grumpy_chap

thejinkazama said:

Hi,

How can I advertise a game show style event (think Millionaire) to organisations to use as a team building / fundraising / charity event? I've emailed several companies, charities and churches and posted on local Facebook business forums but with no response. I've advertised it as free as it's a new idea.

If you are willing to offer this event for free as a trial event / marketing, would it be worth offering to run a "Millionaire game show" evening as a fundraiser for any local charity / community group that you are involved in?

That way, you get an audience, trial your event, and the local group you are involved with make a small amount of money.  You can have flyers there offering to host business team building events.  If the event was a roaring success, the enquiries should come flooding in.  If the event falls flat on its face, you know to end the process there.

SpectralNova

Try running your first event with a local group or charity you already know. Get photos and feedback to show it works. Then build a simple website and promote it as a proven format with clear benefits. Businesses don’t usually respond to free ideas but they do respond to results.

Marcon

thejinkazama said:

Hi,

How can I advertise a game show style event (think Millionaire) to organisations to use as a team building / fundraising / charity event? I've emailed several companies, charities and churches and posted on local Facebook business forums but with no response. I've advertised it as free as it's a new idea.

If this is a business venture - and your title says that it is - you need to be businesslike and professional if you're going to get anywhere (and I hope you will).

You've emailed 'several' companies. If you are promoting a new business idea, that should be hundreds - and you need to target who receives the email, and follow up a phone call.