Little Red's Big Ideas

Great Rivers ACA is Great Group - Keynote Recap

Today's keynote session at the Great Rivers American Camp Association Fall Conference focused on the idea that marketing truly is part of everyone's job no matter what one's professional strengths or weaknesses.  While I tend to be high energy and mildly addicted to strangers, I rely on others to tackle the marketing details, timelines and administration.  As promised during my workshop I'm posting the PowerPoint slides for attendees to download or share with others in their organization.  Feel free to use them to guide a conversation with staff, board members or volunteers who can, certainly, become part of your marketing team.  Better yet, I'd love to help your camp or organization develop a "whole team" marketing approach.  Contact me to brainstorm ways I can help jumpstart this process.

Download Economy Stinks Keynote

Wisconsin Parks and Recreation Conference - Workshop Extras - Go Blog Wild!

During the WPRA 2009 Conference at the incredible Wisconsin Dells I presented a way to brief session called, "Save a Forest, Sprout a Blog" which introduced an enthusiastic group of park and recreation professionals to the wonderful world of web logs.  As promised during the session, I'm happy to share a few resources mentioned during the workshop.

The first is a link to a YouTube Video from "In Plain English" which VERY simply defines the what, why and how of blogging.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI

The link below will take you to the entire PowerPoint presentation. It's almost as good as being there -- I said almost...

Download Blog Wild 

If you attended the session -- please leave a comment below to tell me what you thought.  If you didn't attend but need help getting on the blog bandwagon -- let me know by posting a comment here. 

"The Economy Stinks, Your Marketing Shouldn't" Workshop Recap

Last Friday morning at the National Recreation and Park Association's Annual Congress in Salt Lake City, I presented one of my signature programs to more than 100 early risers. I promised these park and recreation professionals a non-stop whirlwind of ideas which I'm happy to share as a Word Document with my blog readers. 

Download the handouts from this session below.  But, if you want to feel the whirl of the wind -- you'll have to attend an upcoming live workshop.  If you'd like to learn how to bring the red-headed whirlwind to your community or conference shoot me an email and I'll make it happen (no matter how stinky your economy or budget.)

Download Economy Stinks - 101 Ways

NRPA Creative Critique Workshop Recap

For the first time at a National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress, I presented one of my most popular workshops "The Professional Creative Critique." This unique session encourages attendees to bring in their flyers, brochures, ads and other print promotional pieces to be reviewed, critiqued and evaluated.  Peer-to-peer feedback as well as evaluation by actual customers make this a truly practical event.

The following handouts offer the overview of the session, however they will never replace the live experience. 

Download Creative Critique

Shameless Self Promotion -- If you'd like to experience this or any of my sessions for yourself, why not pass my name along to your state conference committee OR better yet -- if you are serving on your state conference committee or want to bring a stand-alone educational workshop to your region -- contact me and I'll be happy to work out all the details.

NRPA Workshop Recap - Make Me an Offer I Can't Refuse

Today the NRPA Congress opened in Salt Lake City.  Although attendance overall is down about 30 percent, my session, Make Me an Offer I Can"t Refuse was filled to the rafter with more than 200 people looking for ideas to motivate today's customer with compelling marketing offers.  Not only was there lots of laughter, we also shared some "motivation memories" which enabled attendees to tap into their own behavior. 

Whether you were at the session or not, I'm happy to share the handouts from this session as well as a white-paper with dozens of specific techniques to create marketing offers sure to increase response, action and participation for their parks and programs

Download Make Me an Offer Short

Download Make Me an Offer with Definitions

The PowerPoint Presentation shown during the workshop is below:

Download Make Me an Offer I Can’t Refuse P&R

I hope you'll not only download and review the handouts -- but put the ideas to work for you.  Although there are more than 50 ideas included, it only takes ones to inspire action.  Comment below to share other ideas that have (or haven't) worked for you.

Invasion of the Podcasters

Everyone's going so high tech these days.  Last week while speaking at the American Camp Association's Midstate's Conference I was given a tiny iPod-looking thing which turned out to be a tiny digital recorder,  Then I was reminded that my workshop, Fundwriting Letters That Get Results,  was being recorded and would be made available post conference as a Podcast via the ACA website.  Of course, I had agreed to this recording months in advance and was thrilled at the opportunity to try something new -- all in the name of the greater camp community. 

So sure enough, just days after the final curtain fell on the 2009 Midstates Conference, my session is now posted for all to access. Now you can listen on your computer or your iPod, cell phone or mp3 player.And while the podcasts are raw and unedited, it still is a very cool technology allowing those unable to attend a conference to stay up on the latest information. 

But, because I aim to please, I'm going to go one step further.  As a blog reader, not only can you link to the recording here; you can also download the handouts for the session below.  Now that truly is almost as good as being there.

So go ahead and listen to your heart's (and ears') content by following this link.  There's lots of other great sessions from the conference there, too.  

To get the most out of your podcast I recommend printing and following along with these high content handouts.  Download Fundwriting_2009_Enhanced

If you do decide to listen, please let us know.

Tools to Creatively Critique Your Marketing Tools

The Midstates Camping Conference Leadership Institutes are a unique opportunity to share ideas, dig into critical camp issues and spend time with other camp professionals in smaller, more intimate settings.  This year, I decided to do something a little different and created a consultative training atmostphere in which attendees could bring their marketing pieces and get some objective suggestions from their peers about ways to improve effectiveness.  The program sparked lively discussion and honest input -- as well as some truly innovative ideas.  Although it would be impossible to duplicate the energy of the session, I'm happy to post the handouts used to guide our discussions. 

Download Creative Critique

Make Me an Offer I Can't Refuse

The American Camp Association's Tri State Conference is a highlight of my spring speaking schedule.  I love the east coast honesty, passion and confidence.  This year I participated in a pre-conference event aimed specifically at those in the day camp business, especially those in parks and recreation.  During regular conference hours I am thrilled to present two new programs, both which address critical marketing strategies for these tough economic times. 

For the first time ever, I've put together a program that focuses solely on one very important part of developing more effective marketing materials -- the offer or call to action.  I'm happy to share the enhanced version of these handouts from this session for those who attended the session as well as those who with they had. 

This document includes more than 60 specific compelling offers to inspire your prospects to try, buy and re-buy your products, camps and services. By incorporating just one of these ideas into your next marketing campaign you will likely motivate those that might need a friendly nudge (or a really big push) to check you out. 

 Download Make Me an Offer with Definitions

After reviewing the list, please add a few of your own! Sharing is good for the soul.

CPRS - Talkin' 'Bout My Generation

Boomers and Xers outnumbered Millennials, who got a chance to havee their say during a recent workshop a the California Park and Recreation's 2009 Conference in Santa Clara.  The audience, seated from oldest (most mature as they preferred to be called) to youngest -- learned the difference between Milestone Marketing and Generational Marketing during a fast-paced session full of laughter and truth.  (It's funny how the two often go hand-in-hand.)  For those who attended, and those who didn't, I'm happy to post these handouts from the session.  Full of tips and strategies, to reach everyone across the generational spectrum, I especially encourage you to review the information with front-line staff and volunteers.

Download Talkin' 'Bout My Generation 2009

CPRS - Let's Go Blog Wild

Blogging.  Should you or shouldn't you?  If you don't blog now will you forever feel behind the "eight   ball?"  Those were some of the questions pondered during my recent workshop at the California Parks and Recreation Society's 2009 Conference in Santa Clara.  For those in attendance, I'm happy to share the handouts from the session for your review.  If you're reading this you've already found my blog.  I encourage you to snoop around and see, not only what's happening at "little red's BIG Ideas," but also look at the many other unique and compelling blogs posted here, at Typepad's homepage.

Download Blog_Wild_20091

So, how ready are you to start a blog?  Or, do you already have one?  Promote it in my COMMENTS below.