Email Marketing for Sports Clubs: How to Nurture Potential Sponsors (With A/B Examples)

Why Your Club’s Emails Aren’t Getting Replies — And How to Fix It

You’ve got a strong team and real community impact. But if your emails are getting ignored, the problem might be how you’re reaching out.

It’s time to improve your strategy with email nurturing and simple A/B testing.

What’s Email Nurturing?

Email nurturing is about building a relationship with potential sponsors over time. Instead of asking for something right away, you show:

• Who you are

• What you do

• Why it matters

• How they can be part of it

It’s how you warm people up before making a real ask.

Why Email Still Works

Sponsors rarely say yes to the first message. But if you send a short, well-timed email series, you come off as organized, professional, and serious about partnership.

Email helps you:

• Stay visible (without spamming)

• Share your updates and impact

• Send your sponsorship deck or media kit

• Show off your stats and stories

Easy 3-Email Sequence You Can Use

Email 1: Who We Are
Subject: We’re more than just a team
Quick intro, your mission, and why you exist
CTA: “Check out our sponsorship deck”

Email 2: Why It’s Worth It
Subject: Why partnering with us makes sense
Share community reach, engagement, and value
CTA: “Let’s talk about how we can grow together”

Email 3: Let’s Team Up
Subject: Ready to take the next step?
Suggest a call or meeting
CTA: “Book a quick call with us”

Try A/B Testing (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Test two versions of your email by changing one thing—like the subject line or CTA—and see which gets better results.

Example:

• Subject Line → "Join our journey" → "Support local athletes"
• CTA → "Download our deck" → "See our impact"

Then track:

• Opens → Subject line worked

• Clicks → Content was strong

• Replies → They’re actually interested

Tools You Can Use

You don’t need to be a tech expert. These tools help you get started:

• Mailchimp / Flodesk / Beehiiv – to send good-looking emails

• Canva – to design visuals and decks

• Calendly / Google Forms – to book calls or collect interest

• Airtable / Notion – to keep track of sponsor leads

Where to Find Emails

Start building a list from:

• Local businesses

• Event attendees

• Parents, alumni, and fans

• LinkedIn or people who engage with your content

If someone showed interest before, add them.

Want Better Results?

Grab our free 3-email template pack for clubs
Or book a Done-For-You Email Strategy Call with our team