Why Sports Marketing and Sponsorship Is Becoming Popular in Asia
By Larry Lim T Y

Asia has no doubt now become a marketing playground for multinational brands and businesses to expand their niche beyond normal reach. Many companies have recognized that sports have an incredible potential to be turned into an influential and lucrative marketing tool for any brand's growth and it certainly outshines traditional marketing efforts by reaching a mass which far outnumbers those of any other channels.

Brands are able to capture an unbridled passion with sports which it could not achieve through other platforms. A sports sponsorship can reach large numbers of people by bridging the divide between label and consumer, allowing people to engage with the sport or its star players on a more personal and emotional level. It is no longer an advertisement waiting to be skipped; it becomes the energy that ignites the sport. The brand will be seizing the prospect of lifetime loyalty with their consumers by investing in relationships rather than advertising which prove to be a more economical and cohesive approach to marketing.

For example, 192 million people tuned in to their television sets to watch Southeast Asia's national football competition the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, and a total of 15 million people watched the two final leg games in record breaking numbers. The enormous viewership clutches the attention of millions of fans across the region, not to mention the sell-out crowd at the stadium, followers on social networking sites and many more viewers of its online broadcasts. A survey has shown that traditional above-the-line advertising at such level would cost significantly more while yielding smaller impressions and revenues.

Sponsorship opportunities will affect a company's market segment by offering them the chance to develop awareness and devotion to the brand. The passion derived from the target market is what the brand relies on to achieve a positive sponsorship. By putting together their own brand values with that of the sport, companies are able to uphold its brand trust, effect buyers' spending trends and better capitalize on customer relationship.

A compatible sponsorship will leave a strong impact on an audience and will likely rouse a surge in sales and profitability. Therefore, it isn't all just about jumping on the bandwagon like everyone else but a careful selection process needs to take place beforehand to maximize the brand's visibility and exposure in line with its core values and objectives. Sports marketing have revolutionized the way brands are being depicted to consumers. It pervades more advertising channels and cuts your costs, targets a broader and more focused group, and is definitely more effective than traditional marketing activities.

Larry Lim writes online articles and press releases on a wide range of topics from internet marketing and education to property, with a focus on the Southeast Asian region. He is currently trending on sports marketing and sports sponsorship.

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