Little Red's Big Ideas

December Events -- Ho! Ho! Holidays

Who knew that December was more than reindeer and dreidels, menorahs and mistletoe?  It's also "Choose a Summer Camp Month!"  Not only that, December is also the official "Write a Business Plan Month."  I guess it's NOT all fun and games.  Happy Holidays and good luck learning that foreign language, too!

December

• Bingo's Birthday Month
• Choose a Summer Camp Month, Natl
• Colorectal Cancer Education and Awareness Month
• Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, Natl
• Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month
• Learn a Foreign Language Month
• Safe Toys and Gifts Month
• Spiritual Literacy Month
• Tie Month, Natl
• Write a Business Plan Month, Natl

Millenial Moms Devoted to Technology

As more and more Millennials become parents it will become increasingly difficult for camps and other youth-oriented organizations to ban or limit the use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices. 

 

Social Media Today reports on a new whitepaper by Mr. Youth, Millennial Moms, (those born after 1977) are quickly surpassing college students to become the most dependent users of the on-line and wireless communication tools. 

 

The report documents this segment of the population's ability to multi-task, utilize multiple devices and over share on popular social networks. Another interesting point is that this generation utilizes communities, or even creates communities when they are dealing with important life changes.

 

The blogosphere is exploding with "Mommy Bloggers," who cover everything from child-rearing and household finance to summer camps and youth sports.

These moms are young, digital natives who may feel entitled to a different type of connectivity than their Gen X predecessors before.  Further, they will respond, expect and, even welcome marketing messages delivered to them via social networking and wireless applications. 

 

How ready are you to speak their language?  Let me know your thoughts by commenting below.

November Events - Give Thanks

Gobble up these celebrations from Chase's Calendar.  Just when you  thought it was all about turkeys and stuffing, it's good to know that there's a month dedicated to fantastic causes like adoption and diabetes.  Connect yourself to these national events and invite the media to help you tell your story.

November

• Adoption Month, Natl
• AIDS Awareness Month, Natl
• Alzheimer's Disease Month, Natl
• American Diabetes Month
• American Indian Heritage Month, Natl
• Aviation History Month
• Celebrate Empty Nester Month
• COPD Awareness Month, Natl
• Diabetic Eye Disease Month
• Epilepsy Awareness Month
• Family Caregivers Month, Natl
• Family Stories Month
• Georgia Pecan Month, Natl
• Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
• Hospice Month, Natl
• I Am So Thankful Month
• Inspirational Role Models Month, Natl
• Learn Chinese Month
• Lifewriting Month, Natl
• Lung Cancer Awareness Month
• Marrow Awareness Month, Natl
• Microfinance Month, Intl
• Peanut Butter Lovers' Month
• Pet Cancer Awareness Month
• Pomegranate Month, Natl
• Prematurity Awareness Month
• Roasting Month, Natl
• Scholarship Month, Natl
• Vegan Month

Twitter Releases New Terms of Service

Twitter recently released some new Terms of Service  (the basic rules about using Twitter).  In a nutshell, the changes clarify ownership and information sharing (which is the heart of Twitter).  According to the blog at twitter.com there are four areas of clarification:

Advertising—Twitter continues to leave the door open for advertising. They seem to appreciate the free enterprise system and the need to generate revenue to survive. Read their philosophies about advertising -- now and in the future -- here.
Ownership—Twitter is allowed to "use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute" your tweets because that's what Twitter is all about. "However," they stress, "they are your tweets and they belong to you."
APIs—The applications that have grown around the Twitter platform are flourishing and adding value to the ecosystem. From iPhone apps to staples like Tweetdeck, Twitter is a community of programmers working to make your tweeting life better, easier and more intuitive.  But, Twitter reminds developers that they authorize Twitter to make content available via twitter APIs. We're also working on guidelines for use of the API.
SPAM—As with any successful social networking site, abusive behavior and spam is closely monitored and prohibited.  View rules related to SPAM here.

What's Driving Back to School Marketing?

Typically a time to weigh the merits of pens vs. pencils, markers vs. crayons and which after-school program to choose; this year's back-to-school marketing is dripping with a different type of message -- FEAR.  Today's AdAge.com features an article: "Swine Flu Fear puts Disinfectant Brands on School Supply List."

So what does this have to do with you?  A couple of things -- as you already know, what trends in schools often translates to changes in after-school and recreation programs.  Summer camps already know the impact of the real threat of swine flu -- as both a medical and economic malady. "Where kids gather, the flu is sure to spread," the media seems to warn.  So, as children, students and athletes return to your programs and head back indoors this fall, consider these three ideas: 

1. Keep lots of over-sized bottles of disinfectant on hand. You can even order half gallon bottles imprinted? How cool would it be to have that sitting on your school nurses desk ALL YEAR LONG?  Talk about a good use of limited funds!
2. Educate children and parents about the preventative measures you have and will be taking to protect children from all types of communicable disease.  The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has all sorts of information you can download, print, post and share.  They even have PSAs (public service announcements you can post right on your web site) as a measure of goodwill.
3. Order some personal hand sanitizer (with prices starting at about .25 each there's something for every budget) imprinted with your program name as a wonderful reminder that you are part of the health and safety team in your community.  Consider giving these as a back to school gift to teachers, school nurses, parents, students -- just about anyone who has a child or children in their lives.  To get some free samples or look into this timely idea call/email andy@advisorsmarketing.com or 1-800-IADVISU (800-423-8478).  He's at your service!

September Marketing Events

Moms rejoice, kids cry -- September is Back-to-School for our nation's   students. But, there are so many other reasons to celebrate this September.  It's also Shameless Promotion Month (yee ha!) and Healthy Aging Month.  Have fun and don't forget to promote yourself shamelessly!

September

• Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, Natl
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Month
• Backpack Safety America Month
• Be Kind To Editors and Writers Month
• Biscuit Month, Natl
• Chicken Month, Natl
• Civics Awareness Month, Natl
• College Savings Month
• Coupon Month, Natl
• Fall Hat Month
• 5-A-Day Month, Natl
• Go Wild During California Wild Rice Month
• Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
• Honey Month, Natl
• Library Card Sign-Up Month
• Menopause Awareness Month
• Mold Awareness Month
• Mushroom Month, Natl
• Organic Harvest Month, Natl
• Osteopathic Medicine Month, Natl
• Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Natl
• Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month
• Pediculosis Prevention Month, Natl
• Piano Month, Natl
• Pleasure Your Mate Month
• Potato Month, Natl
• Preparedness Month, Natl
• Reunion Planning Month
• Rice Month, Natl
• Sea Cadet Month
• Self-Awareness Month, Intl
• September Is Healthy Aging Month
• Shameless Promotion Month
• Skin Care Awareness Month, Natl
• Southern Gospel Music Month
• Sports and Home Eye Health and Safety Month
• Strategic Thinking Month, Intl
• Subliminal Communications Month
• United Planet Month
• Update Your Resume Month

September-October

• Hispanic Heritage Month, Natl (Sept 15-Oct 15)

Social Networking Study: Two Thirds of Marketers now use Social Media

A recent study from the Association of National Advertisers cited on Mashable.com reveals that "66 percent of marketers have now used social media in some capacity in 2009." Not only does this report support the idea that "everyone is doing it" but it also confirms the idea that the "Big Four" Social Networks continue to dominate the marketplace. 

Among social networks being embraced by all marketers, the top sites used are:

• Facebook (74 percent)
• YouTube (65 percent)
• Twitter (63 percent)
• LinkedIn (60 percent)

The report also explores the online marketing effectiveness of newer media platforms as follows:

• Search engine marketing (SEM) (65 percent)
• Own Web site (59 percent)
• Search engine optimization (SEO) (55 percent)
• E-mail marketing (45 percent)

Without a doubt, this study and its findings should be shared and incorporated into your marketing planning.  Use the information to convince non-believers that social networking is, indeed, here to stay!

Share your thoughts below.  Have you had challenges convincing more traditional decision-makers that social networking is a powerful communication?  Have you overcome these naysayers? Do tell!

August Events - Don't Sweat it!

August is all about the end of summer and getting ready for school -- or is it?  Here's a few more celebrations from Chase.

August

• Black Business Month
• Cataract Awareness Month
• Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
• Children’s Vision and Learning Month
• Get Ready for Kindergarten Month
• Happiness Happens Month
• Immunization Awareness Month, Natl
• Inventors' Month, Natl
• Learn Japanese Month
• Neurosurgery Outreach Month
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
• Win with Civility Month, Natl

Health Care Legislation Could Benefit Parks and Recreation

An article in the Boston Globe today begins, "Sweeping health-care legislation working its way through Congress is more than an effort to provide insurance to millions of Americans without coverage. Tucked within is a provision that could provide billions of dollars for walking paths, streetlights, jungle gyms, and even farmers’ markets."

After reading some of the comments regarding the article, it seems the public is less than pleased about what many are calling "pork barrel" spending by the Obama administration.  The article summarizes, "Critics argue the provision is a thinly disguised effort to insert pork-barrel spending into a bill that has been widely portrayed to the public as dealing with expanding health coverage and cutting medical costs. A leading critic, Senator Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, ridicules the local projects, asking: 'How can Democrats justify the wasteful spending in this bill?’' "

I'm currently working with the RAND corporation on a park usage study and initial finding suggest that walking paths are one of the best ways to increase activity in parks and other open space.  The article also reports that "Advocates of the measure including Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, defend the proposed spending as a necessary way to promote healthier lives and, in the long run, cut medical costs. 'These are not public works grants; they are community transformation grants,'’ said Anthony Coley, a spokesman for Kennedy, chairman of the Senate health committee whose health-care bill includes the projects.

"'If improving the lighting in a playground or clearing a walking path or a bike path or restoring a park are determined as needed by a community to create more opportunities for physical activity, we should not prohibit this from happening,' Coley said in a statement.

The park and recreation profession is at an important crossroads.  Legislators are finally beginning to understand that we are an important part of the public health solution.  Show your support by writing to your legislators so that your voice can be heard.  Also, post a comment at articles like the one mentioned to combat negative comments about parks and recreation spending.  These comments are carefully monitored by legislative aids and local politicians to gage citizen response to polarizing issues. 

The squeaky wheel DOES get the grease.  So squeak, squeak, squeak.

Park and Recreation Budget Cuts in the News

I use a "virtual clipping service" via iGoogle that searches and scans the Internet continually for articles which relate to parks and recreation.  This week I couldn't help but notice how many articles focused on budget cuts and their impact on communities.  Here are a couple of examples:

Dallas Morning News: Dallas budgtet deficit may cut into the fun at parks, recreation centers

Fox 31 KDVR.com : Breckenridge trims $1 Million from budget, recreation, replanting

While funding cuts are nothing new to the parks and recreation profession; what seems to be new is their depth AND the attention being focused on the diminishing funds.  As your virtual publicist I strongly encourage you to ride this wave of media attention.  Even if park and recreation budget cuts aren't affecting you at this moment it's a good idea to update constituents about budget cuts in your near future and how they may impact your services.   You may want to educate people via your web site, activity guide or newsletter about how programs, parks and services are funded.  This is a great time to focus on some of the following:

• Your fiscal responsibility.  Let consumers and constituents know that you run a lean operation.  Share cost savings efforts, but never give the impression that your are scrimping on safety or security.
• The wisdom of your decision-makers to prioritize park and recreation programs (don't use sarcasm or make up stories, but it is a wonderful way to stroke some egos -- especially  if times are tough and your community leaders are feeling the heat.)

• Your agency's pricing model which enables cost recovery and (low cost) user fees.  Remind people that your programs do not rely (wholly) on tax payers, but rather are paid for by users and participants.

• Remind your community that sponsors make many of your programs possible.

• This is also a great time to thank Sponsors.  Why not list ALL of them on your website or in  printed material.  Take the time to formally thank sponsors with an useful, imprinted promotional item imprinted with the Benefits are Endless for Sponsors Logo (shown on the right).  This logo, customized with your agency name and contact info and given with no strings attached, will remind your business partners that they get when they give!

• Better yet -- use these media stories as a catalyst to breathe new life into your sponsorship program.  Look for new ways to help sponsors reach their target audience in new innovative ways.  Host a vendor Expo in which Sponsors can directly promote their products to your customers.  Host clinics and demonstrations so that your athletes, coaches, crafters and artists can try out new equipment, technologies and gear to improve their game and performance. 

Please share your comments and ideas below...