How can I research what a potential sponsor's marketing objectives are before approaching them?

Visit the company's website and look at the banner ads that scroll across the top - these highlight their current priority products and initiatives. Check their 'News' section for recent press releases about new products or campaigns. Follow their Instagram and social media accounts to see what they've been posting about. Attend trade shows where they exhibit and observe their booth displays, which showcase their featured products. This 10 minutes of research can make you look like you spent hours preparing and allows you to have an intelligent conversation about how you can help achieve their specific goals.