Sagepoint Announces Spirit Ad™ Fundraising & Social Advertising

AUSTIN, Texas - March 13, 2013 - PRLog -- AUSTIN, TX - March 13, 2013 – Everyone is familiar with the sponsored ads that show up when surfing the Internet.   And we’ve all heard about the billions that Google, Facebook, and other Silicon Valley start-ups have made from these advertisements.  With its new Spirit Ad features, Sagepoint makes it easy for everyone to benefit from sponsored ads.  

For non-profit and community-based organizations, Spirit Ad campaigns provide an easy complement or alternative to traditional fundraisers.  For schools, PTAs, churches, homeowners associations, and community groups, an annual Spirit Ad fundraiser makes it easy for parents, members, residents and neighboring merchants to donate or contribute while promoting their business at the same time.  For sports teams, booster clubs, summer programs and mission trips a seasonal or quarterly Spirit Ad campaign provides similar mutual benefits.   Spirit Ad sponsorship campaigns can also be combined with traditional fundraising events like festivals, fun runs, car washes and cookie sales to generate additional income, promote the fundraiser, and simplify the process of recruiting, recognizing, and managing sponsors.

Business owners, product consultants, mompreneurs, networking groups, and cause advocates can promote their products, services, and messages by sponsoring Spirit Ad fundraisers organized by local groups.   They can also set up their own Spirit Ad listings for sharing through social networks.  By joining together in Spirit Ad co-ops, business owners can leverage each others’ networks for even more exposure. The commissions that co-op groups receive from their Spirit Ad campaigns can be put back into the group or donated to a community organization or cause to build additional awareness and goodwill.

How do Spirit Ad fundraisers work?  Selling Spirit Ad listings is similar to selling candy bars and cookie dough but much easier.  Everything is handled online, so Spirit Ad campaigns can be run as passive armchair fundraisers for those with limited time and resources.  Groups with available volunteers can proactively contact business owners or visit local merchants with an iPad or other wireless device in hand to capture sponsorships on the spot.

For those who have used the Sagepoint site to create free online sign-up sheets, Spirit Ad sponsor listings are equally easy to set up.  The organizer creates a “New Event” - in this case a Spirit Ad Campaign, adds a description, customizes sponsor tiers, recognition  & prices, and publicizes the campaign.  Publicity options include automatic e-mails, social media links, printable flyers, and QR codes.

Potential sponsors view the sponsorship options online and sign-up with just a few clicks.  Self-service features allow sponsors to add or update a logo, business information, coupons or special offers at any time.  Self-maintaining ad links and widgets make it easy to recognize sponsors on Sagepoint pages and e-mails, websites, group pages, and social media.   Each widget automatically updates when the organizer approves new sponsor information making maintenance easy for organizers, volunteers, and system administrators.  Ad codes are easily shared with family, friends, and others to facilitate social advertising through Sagepoint invitations, sign-up sheets, schedules, e-mails and group pages and through websites and blog pages.

“It makes the process of signing up, recognizing, and promoting sponsors so much easier.” says Karen Beard of Morning Mist Retreats who is running a Spirit Ad campaign to fund construction of a meditation garden.

For Leonard Hummel of Kings Bridge Farm in Hutto, Texas, the funds generated from sponsors help to provide “the best experience possible” for participants at the five equestrian events he hosts each year for the Central Texas Hunter Jumper Association (CTHJA), and the Texas Schooling Show Association (TSSA).

Kids R’ Kids Learning Academy of North Austin which has both organized Spirit Ad campaigns in support of community festivals and supported local schools and non-profits as a sponsor says, “It’s a great way to connect with the community.”

For more information about Spirit Ad fundraising and social advertising, visit www.spiritad.com.

About Sagepoint:

Sagepoint (www.sagepoint.com) provides free online sign-up sheet, invitation, schedule and group tools to simplify planning and coordinating for busy parents, organizers, and volunteers.  The Spirit Ad™ fundraising and social advertising features make it easy for anyone to fundraise, advertise, or earn money with sponsored ads.  Based in Austin, Texas, Sagepoint is operated by a team that enjoys helping others build community, achieve goals, and make life easier.