Event sponsoring is an integral part of the external positioning of a company or a brand. Not only does it contribute to higher visibility, but it also increases chances of networking and beneficial collaborations in the future. AutoScout24 is the main partner of this year’s “Schweizer Auto des Jahres” and, therefore, forms part of the event’s communication schedule. The event is covered in various Swiss news outlets, and there will also be a gala at which AutoScout24 is visually represented. The Managing Director of our Automotive division will be present on stage for a short interview and to hand over the audience prize. But first, let’s circle back to what the event actually entails for us to understand which AutoScout24 teams were involved in the whole sponsorship process.
Schweizer Auto des Jahres
The “Schweizer Auto des Jahres” is one of the biggest events in the automotive industry in Switzerland, where a jury chooses the car of the year. All car manufacturers look forward to this prestigious award event. The award is presented during the aforementioned gala, which is attended by important automotive industry stakeholders. Another important award is the “Publikumswahl” (audience award), where the entire Swiss population can choose between a selection of cars and vote for their favourite model of the year. Last year, for the very first time, both the jury and the audience award went to a fully electric car!
It only makes sense that AutoScout24 is present at such an important event. Of course, this also means that a lot of teams at AutoScout24 have been working hard behind the scenes to make this sponsorship a success. From Marketing to Corporate Communications to Sales to Legal – it involves many of our Automotive colleagues.
The Teams Who Make It Happen
Anyone who has ever been involved in the organisation of an event or collaboration knows how much hard work and detail goes into it. If you think you have thought of everything, you are probably still missing a few pieces. So it’s no surprise that an event like “Schweizer Auto des Jahres” would require all hands on deck.
Almost all marketing teams are involved when it comes to sponsoring events that speak to stakeholders as well as customers. B2B and B2C marketing teams make sure that business customers and users are taken into consideration when setting up campaigns or communications. This is also where the content marketing teams come into play: if specific content needs to be created for B2C channels, that content needs to be planned, created, published and maintained. If any display ads are required, the Performance Marketing Team also needs to be briefed, so that the visual communication is aligned across teams.
In this case, AutoScout24 will be able to showcase the newly launched brand image for the first time at a large-scale event. Corporate Communications will support the event by co-ordinating with the media, and making sure the event reaches those specialised in Automotive related publications.
Communication is one of the primary responsibilities that AutoScout24 has as the main sponsor of this event. Supporting the voting phase with communication measures on internal and external channels is crucial. The AutoScout24 teams will be present during the gala evening, having organised a few special activities for B2B customers.
However, post-event communications are also an integral part of the plan. After the award ceremony, the winners will be communicated on AutoScout24 channels via the Content Marketing Team and Corporate Communications.
We have now learned that many teams are involved in the sponsorship of an event, which raises the question: how does sponsoring an event positively impact the brand(s)?
Why Sponsor?
There are many different types of sponsorships, but sponsoring an event like “Schweizer Auto des Jahres” is particularly important for B2B relations. It is a great way for AutoScout24 to position themselves in the automotive industry and increase trustworthiness towards their customers. Since AutoScout24 offers a wide selection of vehicles on its platform, they also need to show that they support the industry – events are a great way to strengthen those industry and partner bonds.
A big thank you to the coordinators, Jennifer Rapin and Antonio Papa, for their input on this article.
Jennifer Rapin
Senior B2C Marketing Manager | Automotive
Antonio Papa
Head of B2B Marketing | Automotive
