Back to the Future For Streaming Ad Dollars

When I got my first job in radio in the summersomething like this... "This look at the Upper
of 1979, I worked for a tiny station that had justWestside weather is brought to you by John's
5 full time employees and two part-timers onWidget store, when you need a widget, think
staff. We didn't have a lot of advertisers, but weJohn's Widget store on the upper westside..". John
used a simple system to get sponsors for ourthe sponsor is happy because he has been
shows. This method proved valuable because weassociated with a "program" on your station, and
had a solid base of advertisers plus an incomeyour listeners will also appreciate the fact that
stream that didn't fluctuate. What we did was sellJohn brings them the weather. You will also find
program sponsorships.that by tieing in sponsors with important program
Here's what sponsorships can do for your internetsegments on your internet radio station that your
radio station 30 years later. Sponsors provide alisteners wil listen longer and will not look at
solid income and are easier to sell than just sellingsponsors like they do advertisers on regular AM
'spots' on your station. The problem with AM and& FM stations.
FM stations, and the problem you can find withNo matter what you broadcast on your station,
your station is when selling advertising, youyou must relate with your listeners so they will
frequently run into businesses that want to knowcontinue to listen. By making advertisers into
how many listeners you have. Not necessarilysponsors, you connect them with your listeners
how dedicated your listeners are, but how many.and that means that when your listeners make
By selling sponsorships, you take something thatpurchases, they will feel an emotional tie to the
isn't tangible (air time) and make it tangible.business that sponsors their favorite internet radio
Here's how: instead of selling air time, sellingstation. That means you win with money from
programs. That way, when you talk to sponsorsadvertisers, the advertiser wins by becoming a
you can tell them they can sponsor the weathersponsor, and your listener wins by having a new
forecast for "x" amount and that means thattrusted source to purchase from.
when you do your weather forecast, it will start