WordCamps range in size from small (less than 100) to large (500+) all around the world. Some are held in conference centers while others are at local schools. No matter what size, all WordCamps require sponsorship.
Funding a conference event like a WordCamp isn’t easy, especially if you’re in an area where venues are pricey. High-tech venues, which are infinitely more helpful for a WordCamp, are even more expensive. So where do you get the money to do all that you need to do in order to provide the best conference experience?
Sponsors. Yes, there are global sponsors for WordCamps, but you need more. Getting sponsorship agreements from a wide range of companies requires a lot of planning and time-investment. Making sponsors happy, including them in the whole WordCamp experience, and making it easy for them to sponsor your camp are key to a good sponsor relationship. Here are several tips to help you attract and retain more sponsors for your local WordCamp.
Reach Out to Global Sponsors
Global sponsors may not be aware of every single WordCamp. They globally sponsor the event so that they can cover each with minimal effort. If you want their presence at yours, you’ll need to reach out.
A personal invitation to attend, provide swag, and participate in the speaker/sponsor dinner goes a long way toward welcoming global sponsors to your camp. So send an email. Make a call. Reach out.
(2/18) Don't assume that global sponsors know anything about your camp. Reach out to them early and include them in every outreach. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
The presence of a larger sponsor at your event says a lot to those you’re asking to attend. Let them know that this big sponsor will be there. The sponsor will advertise their presence there as well, helping get the word out about your WordCamp.

Reach Out to Past Sponsors
Past sponsors don’t always consider returning. Whether it’s because their marketing budget shifted or they forgot to check back in, not all come back year after year. Show them how much you valued their presence with a phone call and email followup. Share details about this year’s event that are new. Give them a reason to return.
(3/18) Don’t assume that sponsors who participated in past years know anything about your camp this year. They might not be watching for your announcements, so reach out to them. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Reaching out to past sponsors never hurts. If they had a great experience at your camp in the past, they’re likely to return again. Just make sure you ask in advance.
Contact Potential Sponsors Early
If you're a WordCamp/Conference organizer and need sponsors; approach them before the fourth quarter the PREVIOUS year — that's when budgets are created. Stay top of mind by thinking ahead, otherwise your sponsors hands are tied.
— Matt C: 10x Human 🌞🌊🌇 (@learnwithmattc) June 12, 2019
Inspired by convo with @bph RE: @GiveWP
Many companies set their budgets well in advance. The marketing budget, in particular, is usually limited the most strictly. Make sure you reach out early.
(4/18) Reach out to potential sponsors early – preferably before the start of the calendar year. Many annual business budgets are set well in advance. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
If you reach out before the previous calendar year ends, you’re more likely to get a “yes” in response. You might even catch the sponsor while they’re deciding which camps to invest in for the following year.
Deliver Promises in a Timely Manner
Sponsors participate for two reasons: to help the WordPress community, and to help them reach potential new customers through your camp. Enticing your sponsors with promises to promote them on your social media channels and on your site is important. It’s even more crucial to provide this in a way that benefits both the WordCamp and the sponsor.
(5/18) If you promise something to sponsors, make sure you deliver in a timely fashion: i.e. don’t wait until the day before then do all of your sponsor tweets in one day. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
If you wait until the day before the event to send out all your sponsorship marketing then they’re less likely to return another year. If you can, over-deliver on promotion. Throw in an extra tweet the week before your event. Your sponsors will retweet and that will help with last-minute ticket sales.
Thank you to WCUS 2019 Diamond Sponsor @Google! Google's goal is a better web by helping improve performance, security, speed and capabilities of millions of WordPress powered sites.#WCUS #WCUSsponsor #WordPress #WordCamphttps://t.co/75zEC3q8vG pic.twitter.com/j8jYF8tZqq
— WordCamp US (@WordCampUS) August 8, 2019
Make Sure There’s Enough Space
Your venue might be great for WordCamp sessions, but what about your sponsors? Is there a logical space for a sponsor exhibition area?
(6/18) When looking at your available space, make sure that you have adequate room for sponsor tables, otherwise you will have to limit the number of sponsors to fit the space. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
If you’re not able to accommodate your sponsors, you fail to deliver the reason they sponsored your camp. Ensure that you only offer enough tables for the space and limitations you have. (Remember you can provide a “community swag” table for lower sponsorship levels, too!)

Ask For Sponsors’ Requirements
WordCamps are tech conferences. Many sponsors will want to demonstrate their products and to do that they need access to electricity and the internet. How many chairs do they need? Will they require any additional accommodations? (And while you’re at it, make sure that if there are any ADA requirements you are able to accommodate them. Wheelchairs, for example, need more room to maneuver than someone who is walking.)
(7/18) Find out your sponsors’ requirements: Do they need access to an outlet? #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Simply asking your sponsors what they need goes a long way. Making sure you have these options is crucial to a great sponsor experience.
Communicate Sponsor Schedule
Most sponsors don’t need more than half an hour to set up, so don’t require them to be there hours earlier than necessary. By the same token, make sure they have enough time to be set up before registration opens, as coffee time is prime time for attendees to visit sponsor tables.
(8/18) Communicate well with sponsors about what time they are able to set up and what time the sponsor area is shutting down. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
One of the most uncomfortable times of conference for sponsors and vendors is toward the end when things are winding down, but no one has given them an idea of when it is okay for them to break down their table. Make sure to put in your public schedule when the sponsor area will close so that sponsors don’t have to guess what is expected of them.
Communicate Individual Sponsorship Space
Sponsors invest a lot more money in your WordCamp other than the sponsorship fee. They invest in swag, signage, salaries, and time. Communicating with them in advance the size of the table and floor space allotted to them will help them invest wisely and plan accordingly.
(9/18) Make sure sponsors know what size the physical space is for them. Table/floor space size is important. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
If you fail to provide information about what their space is like and opportunities available to sponsors, then you risk allowing them to waste resources.

Send WordCamp Registration and Invitations to Speaker/Sponsor Events
Sponsors love interacting with your team, the speakers, and each other. Your Speaker/Sponsor dinner (or other event) is a place for them to network with everyone in a fun and relaxed way. Be sure to include them in all the festivities.
(10/18) Don’t forget to send your sponsors the discount code for event registration and an invitation to the speaker/sponsor dinner. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Offer Small Sponsorship Opportunities
Your general budget is supplied through ticket sales and general sponsorships, but what if you want to add something extra, like an afternoon snack break, bagels with the morning coffee, or more food at the after party? This is a great opportunity to approach smaller organizations with the opportunity to sponsor specific parts of your camp.
(11/18) Offer smaller sponsorship opportunities for things like Saturday coffee or Sunday bagels. Offer these only to small agencies or plugin/theme shops. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Make sure to include your gratitude for these specific sponsorships with signage, mentions online, in your schedule, and at your event.
Don’t Put Your Sponsors in the Corner
Picture this: your sponsors have paid a sponsorship fee, invested in swag, table cloths, signs, time and people. Then they arrive at the venue and are in a room outside of where your registration, sessions, and general congregation will happen. Nothing is more disappointing to a sponsor. “Nobody puts sponsors in the corner.” (Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing had it been a WordCamp instead of a resort in the Catskills.)
(12/18) Make sure the sponsor area is in an area where attendees will naturally want to congregate or need to walk past. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Make sure your sponsors are in a highly-trafficked area of your event. Allow and encourage attendees to walk past them as often as possible.

Use the Right Logo
Don’t do a general Google search and pull the first logo you find there for your sponsors. Not only do sponsors have different logo layouts to consider, but logos evolve over time. You may download a logo that is no longer their current logo, or a low-resolution version of their logo, or the wrong iteration. Make sure to ask your sponsors for the logo they would like included on your site, for a write-up of their company, and for the correct link back to their website.
(13/18) Make sure you are using the correct sponsor logo. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Thank Your Sponsors at the WordCamp
Opening remarks and closing remarks are opportune times to publicly thank your sponsors for all of their involvement in camp – from their sponsor dollars to their swag to their participation at your WordCamp. Gratitude is always appropriate.
(14/18) Thank sponsors by business name in the opening and closing remarks. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Sponsors who go the extra mile should get special shout-outs too.
Nashville gifts and conference swag for the kids – thank you to all the #wcus sponsors and vendors that offered kid-friendly swag! @bluehost @TheTorqueMag pic.twitter.com/Ato33G6iPv
— Kim Coleman (@colemank83) December 4, 2017
Check on Your Sponsors
Sponsors are responsible for interacting with all the WordCamp attendees all day long. Make sure they have everything they need. Offer to manage their table for a few minutes so they can get up and stretch, use the restroom, grab a drink, or make a phone call. Your kindness in doing this will be remembered.
(15/18) Sponsors are “tied” to their table a lot of the time. Circle by periodically to make sure they have everything they need. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Make Sure They Get Lunch
Similar to making sure your sponsors get a break from their table, offer to grab them lunch from your lunch location. They may be hesitant to leave their table (and equipment) unsupervised, so showing them this kindness will ensure they have a great lunch, too.
(16/18) If a sponsor can’t leave their table during lunch (for any number of reasons), make sure someone brings them some food. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Keep Shared Swag Tables Tidy
Swag is one of the great perks of attending a WordCamp. Make it easy for attendees to grab the swag they love by keeping the shared swag table tidy. Not only will it be easier for attendees to find some great camp memorabilia, but it shows respect to your sponsors.
(17/18) Keep the shared swag tables tidy. #WCSponsorTips #WordCamp
— Impress.org (@ImpressOrg) June 19, 2019
Promote the Happiness Bar
The Happiness Bar is a great place for sponsors to interact with camp attendees, help them with issues, and provide solutions. Most camps never think to ask their sponsors to help out there, but many would love the opportunity.
Thanks to Ben Dunkle for manning our Happiness Bar today! #wordpress #wordcamp #wcniagaraont #wcniagara #happinessbar #niagara #community pic.twitter.com/f9m5DTrglC
— Allison Smith (@aesmithcontent) August 11, 2018
Sponsors Will Hold Up Their End of the Bargain, Too
If you make it easy to promote your WordCamp, your sponsors will promote it more thoroughly. Share tweets by tagging your sponsors and they will retweet those. Take photos of your sponsors at work and tweet it out during your event with mentions and hashtags. Give them opportunities to be involved and they will be happy to be included.
And be sure to thank them. Send thank you emails, or even thank you cards signed by your organizing team. Sponsors that feel welcomed, included, and appreciated are more likely to be sponsors again and again.
What an insightful article! Thanks for making the time to reflect and share 😃
This post is filled with great tips! I’m bookmarking it for next year. Thank you very much for such great content!