Little Red's Big Ideas

Top 20 Most Popular Networking Sites Revealed - Are you keeping up?

The numbers are in and, while there aren't any big surprises, social networking sites are continuing to attract users exponentially.  In an article posted this week at eBizMBA.com, Facebook continues to crushed the competition in terms of usage, visitors and profiles.  The 20 Most Popular Social Networking Websites are ranked by using a combination of sources including Alexa, a leading web analytics and information service.  The article includes this disclaimer: "Although no traffic metrics are completely accurate we do believe the data below to be useful for gauging relative audience size."

As I reviewed the list, it struck me that some sites are particularly relevant to the parks, recreation and camps. For example, Classmates.com (#5 on the list) is a fantastic place to look for groups looking for indoor and outdoor places to hold reunions, events or gatherings.  The rest of the top five sites are as follows:

1. Facebook (wanna be my friend?  Facebook me, Jodi Rudick)
2. MySpace (still very relevant for younger audiences, musicians and indie culture. An important site for those promoting concerts and pop culture events.)
3. Twitter (follow me by clicking here (https://twitter.com/ParksMarketing)
4. LinkedIn (Have you joined the Park and Recreation Professionals Group, yet?  Why not? (Add me to your network  
5. Classmates.com

To see the entire list click here.  Spend some time exploring one or two of the lesser known sites and let me know which you think should be part of the must-participate list for the recreation professional. 

April Events - No Foolin'

Chase's is full of great events this Spring.  Starting in April you have everything from Alcohol Awarenss Month and Celebrate Diverstiy Month to Youth Sports Safety Month.  Look for tie-ins to your programs and share story ideas with your local media.

March-April

• Deaf History Month (Mar 13-Apr 15)

April

• Alcohol Awareness Month
• Car Care Month, Natl
• Celebrate Diversity Month
• Child Abuse Prevention Month, Natl
• Couple Appreciation Month
• Customer Loyalty Month, Intl
• Daffynitions Month, Intl
• Decorating Month, Natl
• DNA, Genomics and Stem Cell Education and Awareness Month
• Donate Life Month, Natl
• Emotional Overeating Awareness Month
• Fresh Florida Tomato Month
• Grange Month
• Holy Humor Month
• Humor Month, Natl
• Informed Woman Month
• Injury Prevention Month
• Jazz Appreciation Month
• Kite Month, Natl
• Knuckles Down Month, Natl
• Landscape Architecture Month, Natl
• Learn Thai Month
• Month of the Young Child
• Occupational Therapy Month, Natl
• Parkinson Awareness Month, Natl
• Pecan Month, Natl
• Pet First Aid Awareness Month, Natl
• Pharmacists War on Diabetes
• Physical Wellness Month
• Poetry Month, Natl
• Prepare Your Home To Be Sold Month, Natl
• Prevent Lyme in Dogs Month
• Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month
• Rosacea Awareness Month
• School Library Media Month
• Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, Natl
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Education and Awareness Month, Natl
• Southern Belles Month
• Soyfoods Month
• Straw Hat Month
• Stress Awareness Month
• Twit Award Month, Intl
• Women's Eye Health and Safety Month
• Workplace Conflict Awareness Month
• Youth Sports Safety Month, Natl

NEW T-shirt Designs for the Graphically Challenged - NOW ON SALE

Every year we work tirelessly to come up with new designs for you to use on your staff, summer and event t-shirts.  We've put all these designs in a brand new catalog (Park Ink from A-Z) and can send it to you lickety split when you email your address to andy@advisorsmarketing.com.  To give you a taste -- I've posted a few pages below. 

We offer use of these designs absolutely FREE for our customers so contact andy@advisorsmarketing.com about your upcoming apparel or promotional needs.  How's that for a super-simple solution for you to look like a creative genius with a little help from your favorite promotional experts at the ADVISORS.  These ideas are the latest in our ever-expanding logo gallery created especially for parks, recreation and camp customers all over the world.

If you're not familiar with our work -- why the heck not?  We are your one-stop shop to all things promotional and have worked in the recreation profession for almost two decades.  We understand everything from crazy deadlines to budget constraints.  Purchasing departments love us, too.  Did I mention that our shirts are on sale;  prices are AMAZING (white shirts are $3.95; colored shirts are $4.95 -- and that included a FREE THREE COLOR IMPRINT.)  How do we do it?  We've been in business for 51 years and have great relationships with our phenomenal suppliers.  So, give us a whirl -- we are at your service. 

Oh, yeah -- one more thing -- call us at 800.IADVISU (800)423-8478 and a real live, super smart person will actually pick up the phone (or call you back within minutes!).  It's almost like the good old days.  Sure you can email us, too.  But, I promised Andy the phones would ring off the hook -- so don't disappoint. 

You Can Quote Me on This! Add Clout to Imprinted Shirts and More

 

 
If you've ever wished that you could find a great spokesperson to endorse your camps, events or programs -- have I got an idea for you! This summer, text-based graphics are hotter than ever (think retailers like Abercrombie, The Gap and Hollister who put their company names on just about everything they sell).  Rather than using an illustration, cartoon or graphic to adorn your summer staff or camp shirts (or any promotional item, for that matter) why not add some words of wisdom from a famous person to your camp t-shirts.  When choosing a quote make sure you use something that captures the essence of what you, your programs or agency is all about. 

The Quotables Collection above (prices are only 3.95 for white shirts and $4.95 for colored shirts INCLUDING your imprint and the quote of your choice. Minimum quantity 144 shirts.)is just the beginning of they ways you can instantly add clout to your agency's logo apparel with no additional charge.  We've collected hundreds of quotes that relate to just about every area of parks, nature, volunteerism, camp, recreation, fitness, community and sports of every kind. 

Contact andy@advisorsmarketing.com or call us at 800.IADVISU (800)423-8478 to get a Quotables Quote now. 

 

People for Parks President Says City of Los Angeles Layoffs Wipe out 20 Years of Progress

Jack Foley, President of People for Parks, is a vocal park and recreation advocate in Los Angeles.  In an article which appeared in the Los Angeles Daily Times,Foley, a former professor of Recreation Studies at California State University, Northridge has harsh words to say about layoffs which have hit the recreation side of the department especially hard;

"This budget crisis is about to wipe out 20 years of progress in greening Los Angeles' urban core. Last month, the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks began informing employees they were subject to layoffs. The first wave of pink slips set a troubling pattern: Almost all, 118 out of 125, are on the recreation side of the department. And none are in management.

Layoffs may be a reality, but eliminating recreation programs to keep up maintenance - aka the "Mow and Blow" strategy - will plant the seeds of social disaster. Across-the-board cuts should concern all Angelenos."

I've worked with the City of Los Angeles for more than a year as a marketing consultant as part of a Park Usage study being conducted by the RAND Corporation.  During my work I've had the chance to visit about 20 Los Angeles parks and am continually impressed by the amount of programs, events and customers served by a single Park Director and limited staff.  Foley's concerns are shared by park and recreation fans all over the country as staff are being asked to do more with less -- and less and less. 

Early findings of the RAND Park Usage study show that, without a doubt, the factor which drives people to the parks is programming.  Whether athletics or festivals -- structured activities are magnets.  Foley suggests the following:

"Layoffs may be inevitable, but Mow and Blow is not the right course of action. Instead, RAP must prune wisely to position the department for new growth when the economy revives. Until then, officials should do two things.

First, they should preserve and promote partnerships that share resources with other public and private agencies. The future belongs to efforts like Community-School Parks, a joint-use program between the city, Los Angeles Unified School District and People for Parks to tear up the asphalt and landscape elementary school playgrounds for students during the day and the community during weekends and breaks.

Secondly, they should hold the line in neighborhoods that cannot afford alternative recreation services. That means cutting managers and noncritical office staff while retaining front-line personnel and encouraging new partnerships and economic support."

So what types of drastic measures is your community being forced to take to save its precious resources? Please share!

New Fitness Franchise Merges Personal Training and Affordability

Be on the lookout for another fitness franchise (think Curves, Fitness Together, Anytime Fitness) popping up in your community as Fitness Franchisor EduFit Expands Nationally.   Edufit, which now has locations in Arizona, merges the benefits of having one-on-one personal training with the affordability of group prices. The idea, which could be easily adapted to community recreation and fitness center, seems to combine the best of both worlds -- especially when looking to attract those a bit intimidated by new-fangled fitness equipment, regimes and jargon.

As you read Edufit's press release, which follows, ask yourself how this hybrid might be applied to your programming. Why not explore the idea of Group Personal Fitness classes? An oxymoron -- maybe.  But it certainly is worth exploring.

A press release posted by EduFit on PRNewswire on March 3 follows

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Tighter budgets and hectic schedules are prompting consumers to find an alternative fitness program, which is creating tremendous demand for Arizona-based, EduFit. The franchised fitness concept that provides affordable, convenient, appointment-based personal training services is increasing its presence in a big way - expanding nationwide with a goal of 200 personal training studios in five years.

EduFit's unique business model puts it at the cutting edge of the fitness industry. The EduFit Personal Training Studios model differs from circuit or group training concepts, because EduFit certified personal trainers provide customized training for up to five clients during workout sessions as opposed to traditional one-on-one personal training. Each client's training is customized to address his or her particular fitness goals.

EduFit's model allows clients to benefit from more affordable and flexible fitness options while studio owners maximize client volume, retention rates and potential revenue. EduFit's per-session pricing eliminates monthly fees and long-term contracts.

"Many people can't afford one-on-one personal training," said Alan Katz, EduFit founder and president. "Oftentimes, we are a fraction of what you would pay for one-on-one training."

Founded in 1998, EduFit launched its franchising program in spring 2009 and has three locations in Arizona - two in Scottsdale and one in Phoenix. Katz expects to have 25 studios open or in development by the end of 2010 with 200 locations nationwide within five years.

"EduFit is a great business investment," said Katz. "There are less moving parts, fewer trainers to manage and potentially more dollars created per hour with one trainer than you would get with traditional one-on-one training."

As a proven business model with more than a decade of experience, EduFit offers a competitive industry advantage to both its franchisees and clients.

"People think they can buy used equipment and open a studio on their own, but many fail because they haven't endured all the potholes that we have endured and learned from to become successful," Katz said. "We've created value in an EduFit franchise by providing a turnkey business model. There's no reason to go out and re-create the wheel. It's already here. Everything has been done for both our franchisees and clients to succeed."

Visit www.edufit.com or call 602.770.7050 for more information about EduFit and franchise opportunities.

Source: EduFit

Web Site: http://www.edufit.com/