Solar Company Becomes First Chinese World Cup Sponsor

China's Yingli Green Energy will be the first-ever Chinese company to sponsor the World Cup, FIFA and Yingli officials announced at a signing ceremony earlier today. The vertically integrated NYSE company is currently the sixth largest manufacturer of photovoltaic solar panels in the world. Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yingli Green Energy, commented: "As one of...

PETA Kills Another Circus Sponsorship

Given the recent circus around Tiger's sponsors, it should come as no surprise that circus sponsorship itself is quite a risky proposition for many corporations. A Pennsylvania college will halt its promotion of the circus, partly in response to an outcry from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Of course, the Neumann University Alumni Association is peanuts compared to the Fort...

Links 02/03/10

Deals Celtics and Rangers Sign Sponsorship Deal with Tennent'sAcura Busts Down WSJ Paywall For A DaySolar Company, Yingli, Becomes First Chinese World Cup Sponsor Trends WSJ: Some Companies Score Big W/ Naming Rights, Others See the Home Team Flop Media Day sponsorships show why NFL product (placement) can't be beat Concord Looks at Municipal SponsorshipScottish Govt Matches ...

Mobile Apps: Build vs. Sponsor

From Powerade's new ski report application to Mercedes-Benz Motor trend app, virtually every major brand is jumping into the social application fray. Lest you spend hundreds of thousands develoing a DOA app, it's smart to consider your core competency before diving into the still evolving environment of social media. Steve Smith from the OMMA says many online marketers have forgotten about ...

Six Flags Sues Dirtiest Little Days Inn

If the Days Inn in Eureka, Missouri hadn't been so dirty, it wouldn't have drawn a lawsuit from Six Flags for trademark infringement. TripAdvisor ranked the Days Inn Eureka Six Flags as the Number 2 hotel on its "Dirtiest Hotels" list for 2010. One commenter in reply to the list, wrote: “If Hell had a hotel it would be something like this” All of this naturally drew the attention ...

SlideShare to Offer Sponsored Channels

Sponsored channels, whereby companies brand vertical segments of content, are all the rage from online communities like YouTube to traditional media such as Reuters. Yesterday, SlideShare, the popular slide sharing application, launched a new service called Channels that allows companies to custom brand microsites within the professional slide sharing community. The majority of SlideShare's com...

Links 02/04/10

Deals Brooklyn Cyclones' KeySpan Park renamed MCU ParkAMEX and Naomi Campbell Team Up For Fashion WeekMercedes-Benz Sponsors MotorTrend iPhone App Trends Perfume And Politicians in NASCAR?Is Foursquare Ready for Brand Sponsorship? Why the music is still playing for the merry dance between bankers and art Tactics Kia's Marketing VP Dishes On Bowl Strategy

Activation Tactic of the Week

Are you looking for new guerrilla marketing campaign ideas? Are you looking for new ways to leverage winter sports events to drive awareness for your product or service? Brands looking for new, cost-effective ways to drive awareness during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and other winter sports festivities should check out the guerrilla marketing concept below called snowbranding. The piece...

Breaking Down A Sponsorship Solicitation

Consistently one of the most-asked questions from consulting and coaching clients is about the nature and content of corporate sponsorship letters and solicitations. The tendency or urge that you may have is to send copious detail to a stranger to substantiate why your sponsorship opportunity is worthy and to be efficient by providing so much detail so as to be thorough. These seem like grea...

Panda Scores Sponsorship From Chinese Auto

Tai Shan may not be a household name, but WaPo reports that the National Zoo panda has scored what some athletes and stars strive for their entire lives: a corporate sponsorship. Sichuan Auto Industry Group agreed to pay a million yuan, or about $150,000, to "adopt" the panda bear for life. According to company spokespeople, the company's interest is somehow tied to the automaker's effort...