Little Red's Big Ideas: March 2008

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March 2008

March 29, 2008

Turn off the TV Week

National Turn off the TV Week is April 21 - 27, 2008 and it's not to late to become part of the movement. After all, as park and recreation agencies, you are the community alternative to mind-numbing screen time. If you are not familiar with the movement click here to learn more. Then get in touch with your neighboring schools and libraries to find out if they are "celebrating" this special week with events or activities. If so, find out how you can help or participate. Could you...

provide programming, staff or volunteers?
bring instructors who can set up mini-workshops or hands-on arts and crafts activities for children AND adults?
Set up mini sports clinics?
Simulate summer camp with songs, scavenger hunts and camp games?
offer on-site registration for upcoming recreation programs?

Even if you or your community have no planned events for this year's "Turn off the TV Week" use it as an excuse to visit shools over the next month to talk about ways kids can have fun without turning on the computer or TV.

Don't forget to bring plenty of registration information for people who'd like to Power Down more than once a week by taking part in one of your programs, leagues or classes.

If your community seems to be unaware of the Turn off the TV Movement here are the dates for 2009 and 2010. Use the many resources on the organization's web site for upcoming years and you'll be able to position your agency as much more than fun and games -- you can be known as the solution for the problem of screen addiction. Now that's a turn on!

Dates For Upcoming Turnoff Weeks

2008 - April 21-27

2009 - April 20-26

2010 - April 19-25

Posted by Jodi Rudick in News to Use | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

Parks & Recreation - Where Everyday is EARTH Day

Less than a month away, Earth Day (April 22) is the premiere day to go Green. If your agency has always been in the business of preserving and maintaining natural beauty, open space and the overall environment -- then you are a real trend-setter. Today, it seems, everyone is going GREEN. As the official Earth Day approaches, remind your community that you are (and always have been) a critical part of the GREEN SCENE.

So whether you are part of a well-planned Earth Day event or want to take advantage of the media buzz surrounding this year's Earth Day, email/call ANDY (760-730-0333) to order some promotional giveaways such as "plant-able bookmarks," seed packets, "super-gro-sticks" Or mark this year's Earth Day by ordering office supplies (imprinted, of course! If people are going to steal your pens they might as well have your name/website on them) such as pencils, pens or post-its made from recycled or biodegradable materials. Download Green Giveaway Flyers here... Download Catalog2008green1.pdf, Download Catalog2008green2.pdf

And as our Earth Day Gift to you, we're happy to launch a brand new slogan...

Parks and Recreation - Where EVERYDAY is Earth Day.

Where could YOU put this slogan? Contact Andy to find out...

Posted by Jodi Rudick in Parks and Recreation, Promotional Power | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 26, 2008

More than Hot Air

As the festival season fast approaches I thought I'd share some of the latest innovations from the world of large format signs, banners and inflatable displays. For those involved with special events (and who in parks and recreation isn't?) such as tournaments, concerts, fairs, parades, picnics and other community celebraions -- there are many reasons to explore these unique ways to build brand and event awareness:

Size Matters -- These days it's difficult to break through the promotional clutter and get your message noticed. But, even the most jaded consumer admits it's hard to miss flying inflatables and great big graphics such as hot-air balloons, sky dancers or giant product replicas.
Geographic Control -- By strategically placing, parking or driving your message through your community you can create awareness in specifically targeted neighborhoods or communities. For instantce, park an inflatable "curbie" vehicle billboard, like the one at the left, with the message "Great Summer Jobs at www.yourtown.com" in the high-school or college parking lot as a way to recruit summer staff. These rolling billboards also make great parade floats.
You already have the traffic -- You have activities, events and programs which draw large numbers of people. Use display advertising and unique signage to cross promote programs to customers, participants, spectators and staff.
Signage has come a long way -- No longer are you bound by basic banners or standard signage. Human sign holders, inflatables and mascots are all part of the outdoor and display advertising mix. Check out abovealladvertising.com to learn more about dozens of amazing display options beyond your wildest imagination.
Media Magnets - Especially on slow news weekends it's not unusual for television camera crews to hit the streets in search of visual feature stories. All the press releases in the world are easily and literally dwarfed by a well-placed giant inflatable promoting your event.

Display advertiising takes many forms -- Here are the ten most common for you to explore:

Giant Inflatable Replicas

Indoor & Outdoor Signage

Giant Portable Billboards

Inflatable Costumes

Cold & Hot Air Shapes

Helium Filled Spheres / Balls,

Giant Inflatable Arches

Traditional nylon/fabic banners

SkyDancers / Air Puppets

Blimps

Building Sized Replicas

Can meet any objective -
Today, signage can be used indoor and out to attract attention, drive traffic, motivate attendance, announce special dates or shine the spotligh (literally) on facilities. displays can be interactive or traditionalome in all shapes, sizes and

Great Return on Investment - One high-quality display, banner or inflatable can be used over and over again at trade shows, on street corners, at special events and on-site at your locations or partner facilities.
Low or no mInimums fit any size budget or organization - Advances in digital printing allow those with the tiny budgets to take advantage of gigantic display options. Sure, larger quantities can help lower the cost per item, but now, it's affordable to test effectiveness and response of large format displays.
Higher quality, lower prices, new options - Inflatables, like this brand new product called an Aire Vue can work anywhere. This patented product is designed for display on top of a car, in front of stores or shopping centers, at concerts, and even on the water.

So don't blow your chance to make a big statement this spring and summer. Contact Andy (your promo-go-to-guy) learn more about any of the items mentioned or pictured or for an immediate price quote.

Posted by Jodi Rudick in Promotional Power | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 25, 2008

Worn Out Word #5 - EXCITING

Granted you offer programs and activities that are exciting. But there are at least 200 more ways to excite your readers beyond the word, exciting. This list created with the help of my favorite on-line thesaurus, should save you hours of time and energy as your developing future marketing materials. And – don’t forget to check out the antonyms at the end of this post to see why exciting is soooo much better than the alternative.

Exciting – meaning amusing, absorbing, exhilarating, hair-raising

Antonyms of exciting

Dull

Boring

Sedate

Unimpressive

Posted by Jodi Rudick in Worn Out Word of the Week | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 22, 2008

Contest: Win A FREE Training for Your Staff - It takes only minutes to enter

What's the best way to improve your marketing and customer service?

That's easy -- work from the inside out. Bring all levels of your staff together to brainstorm and share ideas to improve marketing and customer service in a non-threatening forum. By giving your whole crew a voice in your marketing future, you create a sense of ownership and accountability from the front line to the maintenance crew and everyone in between.

Better yet, bring in a marketing expert (redhair, optional) who can offer fresh perspective, nurture creativity and guide your staff through the process of creating a customer-centered plan and philosophy. Workshops, like the ones I present, should NEVER feel like work and, no matter what the content, should be a team-building experience.

So, how would you like to win a FREE marketing, customer service or fund-raising workshop with me, the little redhead with the big ideas. Here's all you have to do and it only takes a few minutes...

Little Red's Big Contest Rules

In 100 words or less, tell me why you, your organization or group deserves to win a fun-filled, high-energy, idea-packed workshop.

Keep it brief! No more than 100 words, please.
Sincerity and creativity are more important than writing skills and grammar
All entries must be posted or sent by midnite EST April 19, 2008.
There are two ways to submit your "entry." Either way your submission is totaly private and will not be publicly shared (even if you COMMENT).
1. Send me an email In the subject line of your email type: "FREE Workshop" OR
2. Post a comment below.
Multiple entries from the same organization or group are HIGHLY encouraged so forward this link to everyone in your organization or department to increase your chances.
Here's my last piece of advice. Do it now or chances are, YOU'LL NEVER GET BACK AROUND TO IT! Who knows? Maybe you'll be the only one that actually follows through and submits, so you'll win by default.
Winner will be contacted personally and announced via my blog by April 30.

Posted by Jodi Rudick in Camps, Deals and Steals, Parks and Recreation | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

March 21, 2008

2008 Summer Camp Designs

The designers at the ADvisors Marketing Group have been busy developing exciting summer T-shirt artwork are we're ready to take care of YOUR camp's needs. In addition to the very popular ENERGY collection, we have lots of other designs that you can use for FREE! Of course we'll add your camp name, web site and other info.

Or, if you have your own art -- you'll be thrilled with our super-low pricing, high quality and knock-your-socks-off service. With 61 classic and trendy colors to choose from, you can outfit each cabin, group or session in its own hue. Or, keep it simple and choose the best color for your camp's brand.

No matter what -- awesome Andy (yes, we have a real live person that loves taking care of the details) will be happy to send you a custom quote, samples or search for that hard-to-find item. (We do lots more than T-shirts, you know!)

If you're the independent type click here and you'll be taken to the best promotional search engine around where you can find over 250,000 items ready for your brand!

Posted by Jodi Rudick in Camps, Deals and Steals, Parks and Recreation | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 19, 2008

Spring is in the Air

Oh, I know it's a been a long, cold, snowy, rainy winter. But, Spring is just around the corner. Use these quotes to take the chill out of the last days of winter and to warm up your promotional copy.

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb

Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn. ~Quoted by Lewis Grizzard in Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. ~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go. ~Christopher Morley, John Mistletoe

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout

Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men. ~Chinese Proverb

The naked earth is warm with Spring,
And with green grass and bursting trees
Leans to the sun's kiss glorying,
And quivers in the sunny breeze.
~Julian Grenfell

In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain

I think that no matter how old or infirm I may become, I will always plant a large garden in the spring. Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth? ~Edward Giobbi

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
~Robert Frost

To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring. ~George Santayana

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo

For lots more quotes about anything imaginable check out Quote Garden AND COMMENT below to tell me your very favorite thing about Spring.

Posted by Jodi Rudick in Great Quotes | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 18, 2008

Teachers Face Vigilantes - Could you be next?

Last Tuesday while flying across these great United States I came across a the ad on the left and article in USA Today. The ad, funded by The Center for Union Facts, was asking readers to enter a contest, of sorts. But this wasn't your regular contest to win a car, a trip to the Bahamas, or a flat screen TV. This ad was asking readers to go on line and vote for the very worst teacher in America. As a mom, PTA board member and proud graduate of the Minnesota public school system; I have to say that I admire, respect and sympathize with teachers. But, the ad did its job -- it caught my attention and got me to read on. Here's what I learned...

It seems the ad's funders are combining the power of the press (and many other forms of advertising -- check out the mobile billboard to the right) with the power of the Internet to "out" America's ill-suited educators. And they're putting their money where their mouth is. Those teachers that get the most "votes" will be offered a cool $10,000 to quit their jobs. It seems this organization is not too fond of the tenure system claiming that, "Thanks to outmoded, union-defended employment laws and policies, it can be impossible to fire a bad union-protected teacher. That’s why the Center for Union Facts is going to pay the ten worst union-protected teachers in America $10,000 apiece to get out of the classroom - for good." The website continues to say that, "Dedicated, professional teachers have nothing to fear from this contest (in fact, it’s teachers unions who oppose paying better teachers more money); we’re here to showcase the worst of the worst."

To learn more about this eye-opening concept and the entire campaign go to the Teachers Union Exposed where you can even share your worst teacher tale.

To me this story is not nearly as much about teachers or unions but about the implications of this type of participative communication. Long gone are the days when organizations, public or private, can hide indiscretions, misconduct or defects. (Just ask Eliot Spitzer) Transparency is the new standard of business. Whether you are a public agency or private company you must behave and deliver the kind of products, programs and service that can be confidently viewed on the nightly news or YouTube. Teachers are only one group being put to the test. You could be next. Is there someone in your organization that could be nominated for "Worst front desk clerk? camp counselor? volunteer coach?

It's a scary thought but, nowadays, anything's possible. What are your comments about this type of transparency?

Posted by Jodi Rudick in Viral Marketing & Social Networks | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Worn Out Word #4 - TIRED

Whether you celebrated St. Paddy’s Day in true-green style, or just have a bit of the mid-week blues you may be feeling a little tired today. And who doesn’t feel a little tired now and then? Actually, research shows that Americans, today, are down-right sleep deprived. So why not capitalize on this epidemic and position yourself as the “anti-drug for exhaustion.”

Think about it… the most effective advertising campaigns are those that sell solutions to common problems.

§ Feeling tired? Take these vitamins.

§ Feeling tired? Buy our new mattress.

§ Feeling tired? Take this cruise.

§ Feeling tired? Call your doctor.

§ Feeling tired? Visit your recreation center!

You get the idea.

So, next time you want to promote a program, ask prospects, “Are you tired of feeling tired? Look no further! Your neighborhood parks and recreation is the perfect cure for tiredness.” But surely, there has to be other ways to say tired? After all, there’s nothing more tiring than the overuse of the word “tired.”

Okay, I’m done and here’s your list! And if this isn’t enough for you (I’m getting weary just working on this one) you can always find more at thesaurus.com

Tired – meaning dull, fatigued, worn, outdated (keep in mind that tired can refer to all types of nouns – people (tired teens) , places (tired teen center) and things (tired teen programs)

Whew -- if you feel like you need a nap, I don't blame you.
But before you kick back, post a COMMENT letting me know which word you are tired of?

Posted by Jodi Rudick in Worn Out Word of the Week | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 17, 2008

Happy Staff Mean Happy Campers

After speaking at the American Camp Association's two largest conferences in Atlantic City and Nashville, I wanted to summarize some ideas shared with attendees, particularly those that focus on internal promotions -- strategies used to motivate, train and educate front-line staff, volunteers and camp counselors.

Keep in mind that the items below are only a small sample of what is available for you and your staff. To get a complete picture click on the appropriate links, or check out the promotional products' industry's most comprehensive search engine by clicking here. Better yet, let Andy, the expert, do the searching for you. He'll make sure you get the best price and the best quality -- and always on time.

Year Round Recruitment - Recruiting great staff can be a tough job. Remember, that your previous counselors are part of your sales and recruitment team even when they're not at camp. Now is the time to connect with former counselors by getting and keeping your name in front of them. When you stay on the top of their mind you increase the likelihoood that they will tell friends, classmates and roommates what a great time they had or are going to have working at your camp.

This week, order some staff "thank yous" that can be used at school, such as highlighters (I love the carabiner version pictured on the left -- click on the photos to see larger versions) or mousepads. The photo frame version on the right is a perfect solution!

Reward Loyalty -- Don't be afriad to spend a bit more on loyal, long-time staff, either. Ear buds, thumb drives (or any computer accessory) are fantastic giveaways for students (and just about everyone.)

Music to their Ears - Camp counselors have many jobs including "song-leaders." Once staff have signed a contract, send them CDs filled with traditional camp songs. Package the CD in a useful compact disc case imprinted with your camp's mission or customer-service motto. Tons of styles, color and prices.

Once they Arrive - During staff training sessions, promotional items are a great way to show appreciation, reinforce important points and reward behavior. When imprinting items for staff, go beyond your logo and consider including a customer care quotation like one of those featured in my previous blog post. - Customer Service Words of Wisdom. "Well done is better than well said" -- Ben Franklin

Imprint the Necessities - Some items are camp necessities. Polycarbonate/Nalgene bottles insure that everyone stays hydrated during hot summer days and cool cabin nights. Water bottles also are great promotional items and can be used as trade show give-aways all year long. As a coffee drinker I also know that coffee mugs and travel mugs are an essential item in my foot locker. So check out these ceramic coffee mugs perfect for the dining hall (and dorm room before and after camp. And for those on the go (and what camp counselor/college student isn't constantly on the go -- a travel mug will keep your name in front of your staff all year round.

Finally, one of my favorite staff items for staff training is this little jotter which includes a handy pen and pad and a generous imprint area. My idea -- imprint this mini padfolio with the copy "Camper Comment Journal" and encourage staff to capture camper/parent feedback (no matter how trivial or annoying at the time. By giving this journal during staff training along with a brief (or comprehensive customer service training component), you create the expectation that ALL staff are responsible for listening and gathering ideas directly from customers. But, beware! Don't ask for cutomer input if you're not willing to hear ideas with an open mind. Customer centered management is a culture not just a promotional ploy.

Again -- don't do it alone. Andy is a real-live promotional product's guru with more than a decade of experience who can take care of everything on your list (yes, he does t-shirts) and find you the best deals. Call him at 760-730-0333 or send him an email and he'll work out the numbers!

Posted by Jodi Rudick in Camps | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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