How to Create a Sponsorship Program with Your Visitor Maps
- Folding Maps
- City Wayfinding
How to Create a Sponsorship Program with Your Visitor Maps
Custom visitor maps don’t have to strain your budget.
In fact, many cities, parks, and tourism boards fund their maps — or even make a profit — by building a sponsorship program around them.
When done right, sponsorships turn your maps into a powerful partnership tool:
👉 Local businesses get exposure.
👉 Visitors get a better experience.
👉 You cover your printing and design costs — or more.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make it work.
1. Identify the Right Local Partners
Start by thinking about businesses and organizations that would benefit from visitor traffic, like:
Restaurants and cafes
Hotels, inns, and B&Bs
Retail shops and local boutiques
Museums, attractions, and tours
Event venues and experience providers
Local chambers of commerce can also be helpful allies in reaching potential sponsors.
2. Design Sponsorship Levels
Offer different sponsorship tiers based on visibility and investment level.
For example:
Premium Spot: Large ad or featured listing on the front or back panel
Standard Listing: Logo placement or map marker inclusion
Supporter Tier: Smaller mentions or inclusion in a sponsor thank-you section
Clear packages make it easier for businesses to commit.
3. Highlight the Value for Sponsors
Your pitch should focus on benefits, not just placement.
Explain that sponsors will:
Be featured on thousands of printed maps handed directly to visitors
Gain exposure to a captive, high-interest audience
Help enhance the local tourism experience, boosting the entire community
Real visitor volume + credibility = marketing they can’t get anywhere else.
4. Offer Bonus Perks
Sweeten the deal by offering sponsors additional value:
Priority placement in visitor centers or hotels
Inclusion in digital versions of the map if offered
Cross-promotion on your tourism board’s website or social media
Invitations to local events or recognition ceremonies
Small perks can tip the scales for potential sponsors.
5. Plan Ahead for Renewal and Updates
If your map will be updated seasonally or annually, let sponsors know early.
Create easy renewal options so sponsors can maintain their visibility without needing a brand-new sales pitch each year.
Many successful programs are built on multi-year sponsorships with built-in growth opportunities.
Quick Recap: How to Build a Sponsorship Program Around Your Visitor Map
✅ Target local businesses that benefit from tourism
✅ Offer clear, valuable sponsorship packages
✅ Focus your pitch on exposure and credibility
✅ Add bonus perks to make the offer even more appealing
✅ Plan for easy renewals and long-term relationships
Ready to Create a Funded Visitor Map Program?
At PocketMaps, we don’t just design and print beautiful maps — we help you create marketing tools that support your entire community.
Whether you’re building a first-time sponsorship program or updating a well-loved map, we’ll help you make the project simple, successful, and stress-free.
👉 Start your custom visitor map project today with PocketMaps.
Manage Your Project with Full Transparency
When you work with PocketMaps, you don’t just get great design and printing — you also get full visibility into your order every step of the way.
Our easy-to-use online dashboard lets you:
Track your project from design to proofing to production to shipping
See estimated ship dates and delivery times
Upload updated files or split shipments if needed
Chat directly with our customer service team anytime
We built this platform because, before PocketMaps, we were customers too — and we couldn’t find a solution that worked.
After 10 years of building and refining our system, we’re proud to offer you a faster, easier, stress-free experience.